The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-09-27

you are going on the PLATFORM?
assumed the newspaper man. mo?
Then will you sit with me?"
IF you will sit upstairs" scowled
Hardin, 81 don't want to be dragged
onto the platform"
Down in the orchestra, Black from
the Wistaria was haranguing a group
Of gesticulating ranchers. Phrases
climbed to the men on the balcony
seats. keep their pledges. Promise
makers. Let them look at our crops !"
IF Marshall expects to cOerce
those men. lose my guess. Then he's
no judge Of men," cried Hardin.
'Look at those faces" The floor was
a sea Of impassioned features.
Something's going to DROP" echoed
Brandon.
From the wings, Babcock's inquisi-
tive glasses were seen to sweep the
house. Hardin could catch the sum-
mons Of an excited foref1nger to the
group unseen. There was a minute
Of delay. Then Babcock's nervous
tOddle carried him onto the stage.
De la Vega followed Babcock.
There was a hush of curiosity. The
house did not know who he was. Be
hind him, soldierly, stiff, stalked Mac
Lean. Marshall's entrance released
the tongues. There was an interval
of confusion on the stage. Babcock,
like restless terrier, was swapping
at the heels Of the party. At last
they were all fussily seated. De la
Vega was given the place Of honor.
Marshall, Babcock put on his left,
MacLean on the right.
Babcock raised his staccato gavel.
hush fell on the house. His words
were clipper and sharp.
"You have left your blowing to come
here. You are anxious to hear what
we have to say to you. You cannot
afford to be Indifferent to it. You ac-
knowledge, by your presence, a de-
pendence, correlation which you
would like to deny. Irrigation means
cooperation, suffering together, strug
Cling together, succeeding together
You prefer the old individual way
each man for himself. l tell you II
won't do. You belong in other coun
tries, the countries Of old-fashione(
rain. You want to hear what we have
to say to you, the company who savet
the valley, the company you are suing
But you have also suits against Mex
leo. There is Il gentleman here who
has message from Mexico abou
those suits. 1 have the honor, gentle
men, to introduce, Senior de Ia Vega
Ladies'" bowed the Mexican. Gen
tlemen, Mr.. Chairman. 1t is with al
appreciation of the honor that | &C
| cepted for today the invitation Of Mr.
Marshall to speak before you. to speal
4 to you; / must tell you first m.
thought as I sat there and looked a
you, the youth, the flower of the Amer
lean people. few years ago, w
were calling this the great COLORADO
desert; now, the world calls it tn
| dollhouse Of America. This theate
is built over the bones of gold-seekers
who dared death in this dreade
desert to find what was buried il
those mountains beyond. The mar
I say, who crossed this desert, too
the hazard of death. 1t was q coun
tryman of mine who piloted, fiftee
years ago, little band of men, acros
the desert. Perhaps he camped o
this very spot. It is not impossible
It is here, perhaps, that he got hi
inspiration. He saw a wonderful tel
ritory; he dreamed to quicken it wit
the useless waters of the Colorado
You will all agree that it was Gui
lermo Estrada who dreamed the drear
that has come true; that it wa
through him that some of your cour
trynen secured their privilege to RI
claim this land. Later, when one OF you
countrymen found he could not fulfil
| his promise to you, the promise to d.
liver water to your ranches, he cam
TO nv nation and got permission to Gu
into the river on our territory. Mos
gladly did Porfirio Diaz grant ths
privilege. For that, today, you al
suing him. This, I am told, is you
complaint"
His abrupt pause betrayed col
fused murmur of voices. De la Vega
polite ear tried to differentiate tn
phrases. There was tumble OF SCUM
De la Vega looked inquiringly at Bal
cock. who waved him on.
..It has nothing to do with the hi
torv. but would like to say in passiI
that so assured were your people
orr friendly feeling toward you TIL
thew did not wait to receive perml
sion from Mexico to make the Gu
Your people were in a hurry. Yo1
crops were in danger. First the lat
If water. then too much water daI
aged YOUR valley. A few acres"
A voice from the crowd cried OF
"A few acres? Thousands of acres
Instantly others were on their fee
"Thousands of acres. RUM" one ma
was shouting himself apoplectic.
Rabcock's gavel sounded sha
staccato. on the table.
ssrhousands of acres" De la Vel
5 was unruf1ied. "And more than ths
! Tho valley, it must be remembers
4 docs not stop at the line. Mexic;
+ lands. too, have been secured by Z
: cotton. the result Of the action OF 70
! irrigation company. 1t was mutual
9 he paused, and quaint word came
his need. "a mutual bereavement.
aid not occur to us to accuse you
! our troubles. Your damage suits pain
80 ostonished ms. But they gave