The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-04-11


buzzing tables. Faraday was not in
town; Marshall represented that pow
eE. As he walked out, bowling right
and left, his right hand occasionally |
extended in his weII-known oratorical,
courteous gesture. His black tie was /
stringing down his shirt front; his
black clothes were the worse for his |
lunch. But no one, save the Eastern |
girls, saw spots or tie. The future of |
that valley lay In that mans hand, no |
matter how Black or Grace might |
harangue. In five minutes, the dining |
room was emptied.
| AS snow gently falling, had gath |
cred the first damage suits OF the
ranchers. The last food had precipi-
tated a temperamental storm. Men
were suing for the possible values of
their farms, impossible values of
| crops. Not alone the companies had
been blanketed with the accusing pa
/ pers, but against Mexico the white
drifts had piled up. MexicoI No one
knew better than Hardin how absurd
it was to accuse the sister country of
responsibility. A pretty pickle they
were in! Where was it all going to
end?
In the lobby, Hardin ran up against
Brandon who was following a news
scent. Through the valley it was being
rumored that subscriptions were to be
asked for the completion of the work.
If this were the intention, there would
be hot meeting.
'fYou are going on the platformf"
assumed the newspaper man. 'No?
Then will you sit with mel"
"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 !"
eff Marshall expects to coerce
those men, I 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 forefnger 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. Babcoek,
like restless terrier, was swapping
at the heels of the party. At last
they were all fussily seated. De Is
Vega was given the place of honor.
, Marshall. Babcock put on his left
! MacLean on the right.
Babcock raised his staceato gavel
A hush fell on the house. His words
were clipped and sharp.
'You have left your blowing to come
here. You are anxious to hear whai
i we have to say TO you. You cannot
afford to be Indifferent to it. You &C
}. knowledge, by your presence, a de
: pendence, a 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 / tell you il
t won't do. You belong in other coun
i tries, the countries of old-fashioneC
|. rain. You want to hear what we have
t to say to you, the company who saved
:. the valley, the company you are suing
" But you have also suits against Mex
J. leo. There is a gentleman here who
d has a message from Mexico abou
T those suits. 1 have the honor, gentle
q men, to introduce, Senior de Ia Vega
Ladies'" bowed the Mexican. "Gen
e tlemen, Mr.. Chairman. 1t is with al
I appreciation of the honor that / &C
L cepted for today the invitation of Mr.
Marshall to speak before you, to speal
to you; must tell you first m!
e thought as l sat there and looked a
you. the youth, the flower of the Amer
n lean people. A few years ago, w
, were calling this the great Colorad,
s desert; now, the world calls it tn
e dollhouse of America. This theate
:. is built over the bones of gold-seekers
t who dared death in this dreade'
) desert to find what was buried ii
those mountains beyond. The man
g say, who crossed this desert. tool
e the hazard of death. 1t was a coun
tryman of mine who piloted. fifteei
years ago, little band of men. acros
the desert. Perhaps he camped oil
: this very spot. 1t is not impossible
$ 1t is here, perhaps, that he got his
e inspiration. He saw a wonderful ter
ritory; he dreamed to quicken it witt
, the useless waters of the Colorado
You win all agree that 1t was Gull
: lermo Estrada who dreamed the dream