The Elbert County tribune., 1919-04-18

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 man of the sea. He
has 1t on his back, while 1t Is busily
kicking him in the shins
MIR. Marshall has given you Mr..
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 pocketsl 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 be
adJournlng. What Is Mr.. Faraday to-
say to Washington? Is he going to
close that break? That depends oni
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. Yon 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 Wlstaria, jumped on his
chair. II am speaking for the valley.
We can't help. You know 1t. 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 1t. l tell you. your blum
won't go. We want justice. We are
going to have justice"
"JustlceW came from the surging
ranchers.
Fair play" yelled Black. you can't
trick us. We were not born yesterday.
We have rights. The company brought
us here. What did we give our money
for2 Desert land2 What good Is this
land without water7 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.
Order" cried Babcocls. 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 climax. He gave
individual instances of ruin. "Grace.
Willard Grace. his crop gone, his place
| In ftuo LOTT nd nf
the PalO Verde. the ranch scream
ing horror. Scores of Others He
would not mention his own case; and
then he itemlzed his misfortunes. Par
rlsh. his place secured beyond all fu-
ture usefulness. What had they come
into the valley for?s Who had urged
them2 There were pfndges OF the ID.
r.. water pledges. That was all those
ruined men were pleading, the redemp-
tiOn of those pledges. Individual ruin,
what did 1t mean? A curtailing of lux
uries. or personal indulgence. II tell
you. 1t means food, bread, potatoes;
milk for the babies: or starvation"
Black had touched the deep note.
This was the answer. This was what
they wanted to say.
"You ask us to help you. us. we who
are taxed already to our breaking
point. You say your company won't
go any further. What does that help
mean to you? Poverty? a few thou
sands. million to the o. p, q cor
poration, what does loss mean to
them7 Poverty? 1 tell you. no. A
smaller dividend. maybe. to whom?
Yes, to whom? To the men who live
In Fifth avenue, whose wives are
dragged about in llmouslnes. With
draw their suits? Help Faraday, and
ruin men like Parrish? Men of the
valley. what is your answer to Fara-
day?"
The crowd was on its feet, swaylng
and pushing. The air was fetid with
breaths. Wilson's crowd had forgotten
Its Iorgnettes. NO" yelled the ranch
ers. 1--WE say, no."
A boy made his way from the wings,
a yellow envelope In his hand.
Babcock waved him on to Marshall
The audience was crying itself hoarse.
Babcock lost control of the meeting
in that minute of turning. Hollister.
of the Palo Verde, was striving to be
heard; Babcock's hammer sounded in
vain. But MarshalPs eye had caught
a spark from the yellow sheet. He
sprang forward, throwing the dispatch
toward MacLean. His excitement
caught the eye of the crowd. "rhe
river~ There was a sudden hush
''The rivers out againl" groan
swept through the house. there was a
break toward the doors.
CTo BE coNTINUED)
You oughta Know That, Uncle.