The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-18

MacLean's superb figure rose from
q tree-paneled background. -
"He should sing Brown October
Ale,'" suggested Brandon to Hardin
humorously.
Hardin's eyes were on MacLean.
What did he know about it? What
could he tell those men that they did
not know? MacLean was a fgurehead
In the reorganized irrigation company.
Why hadn't they called on him, Har-
din? he knew more about the involved
history Of the two companies than the
whole bunch on the stage down yon-
der. He could have told them, he
could have called on their justice,
their memory ;:?e+
MacLean was speaking. ''+'.@ rr.-''
sNfr. Marshall has likened the river
project to the old man Of the sea. He
has it on his back, while it Is busily
kicking him in the shins!
"Mr. Marshall has given you MIR.
Faraday's message. He has asked
you to dismiss your damage suits. I
ask you to do more 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 an ade-
quate price. Congress will soon bo
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,
angrily. Before MacLean was done, a
voice screamed from the balcony.
"You can't quit. That's threat.
You're in too deep. You can't fool us.
You've got to save yourself. You've
got to go on. Tell Faraday to tell that
to Washington" -'--.-'".>'---
The uproar was released. Black,
from the Wistaria, jumped on his
chair. IT 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 government-if
we wait for the government to decide,
the valley is gone-and the railroads
money with it. I tell you, your bluff
won't so. We want justice. We are
going to have justice" r
"Justice" came from the surging
ranchers. ...
"Fair play" yelled Black. t"You can't
trick US. We were 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 water? We bought wa
ter. Give Us back 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. " IL:
"Order,". cried Babcock, humping
his gavea. Let Mr.. Black have the
floor" .. -.
Black had not stopped. Wildly his
lands cut the air. His speech, though
nlgh-pitche6, had q prepared sound
it 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
the Palo V%rde, the ranch a scream
ing horror. Scores Of others" BE
would not mention his own case; and
then he itemized his misfortunes. Par,
rish, 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 curtailing Of lux.
uries,. Of personal indulgence. Il tell
you, it means food, bread, potatoes