Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-03-08

dreams. Are not the dreams OF
the women to be realized7 In this
evil thing, as in all the others, the
prayers of the kneeling women
will avail. Their tears cannot be
denied. Their dreams must be full
filled"
Mannersley started to interrupt
but Smith, his voice bell like, his
attitude heroic, swept on, refusing
to be quieted. Two members of the
House and several employees i'll
the building, attracted by the
sound of the discussion, had
opened the corridor door and
were standing, silent, caught up
by the %imperious scene. Neither
M%annersley nor Smith knew that
they We're there. Waller wrote
about it afterward for his paper.
"Think of it, Mr.. Mannersley!
his words rang out. You stand
there, a whisky agent at your
back, and utilize your official po-
sltlon to uphold the thing that
starves children and impoverishes
men-the thing that some day may
break the hearts of your own
daughters. 1t is useless to deny it.
1t is folly to call it by any other
name. The statistics of investiga-
tors and the voice of your own
conscience must be in accord.
There is no escape from it! 1t is
written on the face of this coun-
try-that whisky, the thing you
defend, is our national disgrace,
our foe, and our degradation. [
have given you my arguments
the money, the sin, the misery. l
ask you: what is your answer?"
He fell back a step, waiting.
Miss Downey, surrendering to the
spell of what he had said, placed
her arms on the desk and, lower
ing her face into them, sobbed.
The sob was almost a groan. The
group in the corridor doorway
was motionless, like figures on a
piece of tapestry.
"And the right of personal lib
erty," Mannersley answered him,
his voice cold and cynical, his
manner reluctant, as if he argued
unwillingly with the man con-
fronting him, "the right of per-
sonal liberty, which is the key
stone in the arch of our govern
ment, our democracy? What of
that?"
Indignation took hold of John
Smith-indignation and scorn.
personal liberty!" he made the
phrase a scourge. can argument
for murder and a motto for anar-
chists! The cry of the coward
the refuge of the rascal! Mr..
Mannersley, when will you realize
that there is no such thing as per
sonal liberty? When will you, and
those like you, understand that
nowhere under the stars of heaven
can there be such a thing as per-
sonal liberty in the sense in which
you have just profaned it? None
Of us can do as he pleases. Each
OF us is bound to many others bv
the golden chains of duty. the
beautiful bonds Of sympathy.
Separate us and we are grains OF
sand, blown hither and thither bv
the winds of ~wildness, mere shad-
ows that pass and leave behind
nothing that is good, nothing that
is strong. You + your brothers
keeper. Deny that, and you deny
all decency, all government, all
civilization. You are your broth
er's keeper. You are!"
He paused, his right hand drop
ping to his side.
$50 that's what you had to
say7' Mannersley attempted to
disregard him.
Smith smiled a little YEARLY.
"Surely," he said, lit is
enoughY"
Quite" the congressman re-
piled dryly. "And, of course, it
doesn't change the situation. We
shall not report the resolution.
You know that"
"You won't3"
There was in Smith s tone the
promise Of menace.
Mannersley, checking the move
lie had made to turn away,
laughed at him:
Certainly not!"
"Then-one moment, Mr.. Man.
hershey! Wen put this resolution
through the House, through con-
gress, in spite Of you! Do not de-
lude yourself with the idea that
eight or 10 men can stand in the
way of the wishes of the nation.
Your committee will hold its first
MEETING i'm the fret v,aaLy of No