Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-22

Sharply he sat down before the au-
aience realized that his message was
finished. The house had not found its
voice. when Babcock's gavel was
pounding again for attention. The
question, he felt, had not been put to
them completely. Perhaps, they did
not gather the full import Of Mr.. Mar
hhalI's message. Mr.. MacLean would
follow Mr.. Marshall.
MacLean's superb figure rose from
h tree-paneled background.
"He should sing Brown October
Aie,'" 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 flgurehead
IN the reorganized irrigation company.
why hadn't they called on him, Hnr-
din? He knew more about the involved
history OF the two companies than the
whole bunch on the stage down yon-
Her He could have told them, he
could have called on their Justice,
their memory
MacLean was speaking,
'Mr. Marshall has liliened the river
project to the old man Of the sea. He
has Il on his back, while 1t is busIly
Mcking him In the shlns!
"Mr. Marshall has given you Mr.
irarnday's message, He has asked
you to dismiss your damage suits. /
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-
uuate price. Congress will soon be
adjourning. What is Mr.. Taraday to
t,ay to Washington? Is he going to
close that break7 That depends on
you. Withdraw your suits. DO more.
Stop fighting against us. Fight with
us"
The audience stirred ominously,
augrily. Before MncLean was done, u
voice screamed from the balcony.
'You can't quilt. That's a threat.
You're in too deep. You can't fool us.
You've got to save ycusself. You've
rot to 60 on. Tell Faraday to tell That
70 Washington"
The uproar was released. Black,
from the Wistarla, jumped on his
chair II am speaking for the valley.
We can't help. You know II. We're
stripped. We're ruined. You think to
threaten us with the .government--if
we walt for the government to decide,
the valley is gone.-and the railroads
money with 1t. l tell you, your blur
won't go, We want justice. We are
going to have Justice"
"Justicel" came from the surglng
ranchers.
.'Fair play" yelled Black. "you can't
trick us. We were no. 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 ln-that's what we're asking for.
We won't be scared out Of cur rights"
There was growing accom2anl-
ment from the back rows, herdlng to-
gether.
.'Order," cried Babcoek, 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 prepared sound; ;
Il worked toward climax. He gave
individual instances of ruin. "Grace,
willard Grace. his crop gone, his place
cut In two. Hollister and Wilson of
the PaIo Verde, the ranch scream
ing horror. Scores Of others" He
would not mention his own case; and
then he Itenlzed his misfortunes. Par
rish. his place secured beyond all fu-
fufo usefulness. What had they come