The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-04-11

history OIL tne TWO companies ClAn JNG
whole bunch on the stage down yen-
der. He could have told them, he
could have called on their justice.
their memory
MacLean was speaking.
'Mr. Marshall has likened the river
project to the old Ia of the sea. He
has it on his back. while 1t is busily
kicking him in the shins!
"Mr. Marshall has given you Mr..
Faraday's message. He has asked
you to dismiss your damage suits. I
ask you to do nor than that. Put
your hands in your pockets! Come
out and help US. You don't want the
government. / am told that is the
sentiment Of the valley. When you
called to them, they wouldn't help
you; they wouldn't give you IN ade-
quate price. Congress will soon be
adjourning. What is Mr.. Faraday to-
say to Washington? Is he going to
close that break? That depends ON
you. Withdraw your suits. Do more.
Stop fighting against US. Fight with
us"
The audience stirred %ominously,
voice screamed from the balcony.
"You can't quit. That's a threat.
You're in too deep. You can't fool us.
You've got to save yourself. You've
got t o go on. Tell Faraday to tell that
to Washington"
FTln~ ,,~onm Vr-0 ~n1rocnA lOn
from the Wistaria, jumped on his
chair. II am speaking for the valley.
We can't help. You know it. We're
stripped. We're ruined. You think to,
threaten us with the governmental
we wait for the government to decide,
the valley is gone-and the railroads
money with it. l tell you, your BLUM
won't go. We want justice. We are
going to have justice"
Justice" came from the surging
ranchers.
"Fair play" yelled Black. "You can't
trick us. We We're not born yesterday.
We have rights. The company brought
us here. What did we give our money
for? Desert land? What good is this
land without we+.r? We bought wa
ter. Give us b.ek the money we've
put in-that's what we're asking for.
We won't be scared out of our rights"
There was a growing accompani-
ment from the back rows. herding to-
gether.
Order" cried Bahcock. humping
his gavel. Let Mr.. Black have the,
floor"
Black had not stopped. Wildly his
hands cut the air. His speech, though
high-pitched. had a prepared sound
1t worked toward a climax. He gave.
individual instances of ruin. 'Grace,
Willard Grace, his crop gone, his place
cut in two. Hollister and Wilson of
he PalO Verde, the ranch a scream
ing horror. Scores of Others" He
would not mention his own case; and
then he itemiZed his misfortunes. Par
IRISH, his place secured beyond all fu-
ture usefulness. What had they come
into the valley for? Who had urged
them? There were pledges of the D.
r., water pledges. That was all those
ruined men were pleading, the redemp-
ton OF those pledges. Individual ruin,
what did it mean? A c~urtailing of lux
uries, OF personal indulgence. II tell
you, it means food, bread, potatoes 5
milk for the babies: or starvation"
Black had touched the deep note.
This was the answer. This was what
they wanted to say.
NVnIy och nj - hn1~ ~vNs sr ma 1vhn
are taxed already to our breaking
point. You say your company won't
go any further. What does that help
mean to your Poverty? A few thou
sands, Q million to the o. p, q cor
poratiOn, what does a loss mean to-
them7 Poverty l tell you, no. A
smaller dividend, maybe. to whomf
Yes. to whomf To the men who live
In Fifth avenue, whose wives are
dragged about In limousines. With
draw their suits1 Help Faraday, and
ruin men like Parrish? Men of the
valley. what Is your answer to Fara-
day1'
The crowd was on its feet, swaying
and pushing. The air was fetid with
breaths. Wilson's crowd had forgotten.
its lorgnettes. mo-" yelled the ranch
ers. I'VE nay. no."
A boy made his way from the wings.
Q yellow envelope IN his hand.
BabcOck waved him on to Marshall.
The audience was crying itself hoarse.
Babcock lost control OF the meeting
10 that minute Of turning. Hollistsr,
Of the Palo Verde, was striving to BE-
heard; Babc0ck's hammer sounded IL
vain. But Marshall's eye had caught
= spark from the yellow sheet. He
sprang forward. throwing the dispatch
toward HacLean. His excitement
caught the eye Of the crowd. ATher
riverl" There was I sudden hush.
The rivers out again. A cream
swept through the house, there was .
break toward the doors.
CTO BE CONTINUHD.)
Ven 0uotta Knew ThaA uncla
Fine dos Jon have there, ny liftle,
man. remarked The Kind old gentle-