The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-10-31

"rm Offering It as Possible AIterna'
tive to Putting You Out OF susI
ness!"
you aren't. That's the joke of 1t. How
ever, the point is. you forbid re to
conduct my own business In my own
way. And your authority"
The power" answered Henley qul'
city. ito smash you-and the VIII.
We've got labor where we want 1t In
this business and we propose to keep
| 1t there What you propose would be
a dangerous precedent. If we let you
succeed, we'd have the men all over
the country yammering for the same
freak conditions. There. -.e, we won't
let you succeed"
Il see. And your"
81? / made you-have you forgot
ten that?-and I'm responsible for you.
/ helped to put labor where 1t is, at
some risk to myself, and / don't pro-
pose to have a man of my own max
ing undo the biggest thing I've ever
done. Therefore, | won't let you sue
ceed."
You are quite sure you can do it
smash me?"
"Truitt, every steel company in the
country will make it its business to
put you out"
And you won't stand aside and let
me fight it out with the rest of them?"
mo" Henley seemed astonished at
the question. Certainly not. What
did you expect?"
81 had hoped" Mark answered
slowly, that you'd stay out OF It.
, realize had no reason to hope that
Henley stirred reetlessly, turned to
look out upon the valley. upon the city
that had not yet arisen. An uneasy
qualm moved his heart, continued with
. a sharpness that was almost akin tc
pain. He found himself resisting ar
absurd. an incredible impulse-a ten
. derness such as he had used to know
stealthily and unadmittedly, for {
young half invalid with the habit o
triumphing where robust men fell
L multiplied now for this man.
"Truitt, /" Henley stopped, al
impulse upon him, and turned agail
to the window.
II "Truitt," he began again, yer,
y grufly, eyes still fixed on the city tn
l. magic of the hills revealed to him, q
" well, like you. I've always counte
al you my friend. | don't want to hav
'r to fight you. l don't think you wan
70 Gnht 20
ot another alternative" He turned t
ID face Mark Take me in with you.
Il Mark looked his establishment.
Il say" Henley went on, 81 Nigh
De do 1t. I've seen something this morl
IN ing-something you've been seein,
Id The city out there. It's big-big
lie And If the figures you've given m
of are correct, it's possible. This plac
was intended for a city. And with U
d. working together. 1t could be ten time
1t. -epic-stupendous
ID, He got to his feet, and shooting U
I'd the shade, stood looking thoughtful
out of the window.
m Wed make It," Henley seemed g
ell most to be thinking aloud, "a eli
CT. lIOul Tue DeslHulHs. we u get tue 20
I'd. eminent to make the river navigab
re to the mouth and ship our coal by boz
ac> to the gulf. | can think of a dozt
yer concerns / could get to move the
els plants here and contractors who'd u
lal dertake to house the people. In fl,
th years we'd have fifty thousand her
and coming as fast as we could D
roofs over them. But we'd build /,
steel. We'd quadruple your plant
once-for a start We'd make this d
steel center and this overgrown tru
with its graft and favoritism and sl
shod methods would have US to reck
Its with. We'd leave Quinby and tn
Of Scotch bagpipe. grown fat on 9th
lad mems brains, in the shade BY God
I'm Henley's voice was ringing, as
wheeled on Mark again. 1T won
be the big thing Of the century-ms
ETY. ing a city to order. And guess 1
vi that you'd be willing to give up 20
ev- little two-by-four paternalism."
THAT would be stipulated"
Certainly! Well" Henl
len seemed unconscious of the change
;, mood and tense. We'll leave fads
per the cranks. Well build this city
a rock-on a sound financial foun,
be tion-and use the profits for ext
sions."
led II think you don't understand wi
to +"