Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-04-04
By
Ednah Aiken
Copyright, Bebbs-Merrill Company

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
MacLean was speaking.
''Mr. 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 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 pockets! Come
out and help US. You don't want the
government. I 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
adjourning. What is Mr.. Faraday to
say to Washington? Is he going to
you. Withdraw your suits. Do more.
Stop fighting against us. Fight with
us"
The audience stirred ominously,
angrily. Before MacLean was done,
voice screamed from the balcony.
"You can't quit. That's a threat.
You're in too deep. You can't fool US.
| rH-n tn
got to go on. Tell Faraday to tell that
to Washington"
The uprOar was released. Black,
from the Wistaria, jumped on his
chair. Il 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 S
money with it. l tell you, your bluff
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 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-
nept from the back rows. herding to-
gether.
Order" cried Babcock, humping
his gavel. Let Mr.. Black have the
floor"
Black had not stopped. Wildly his
hands cut the a:r. His speech, though
high-pitched, hal a 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 Verde, the ranch scream
ing horror. Scores of Others" He
would not mention his own case; anC
then he itemiZed his miSfortunes. Par
rish, his place secured beyond all flu
ture usefulness. What had they come
into the valley for? Who had urget
them? There were pledges of the D
r., water pledges. That was all thos'
ruined men were pleading the redemp
ton of those pledges. Individual ruin
what did it mean? A curtailing of lux
uries, or personal indulgence. Il tel
you, it means food, bread, potatoes
milk for the babies; or starvation"
Black had touched the deep note
5 This was the answer. This was wha
7 they wanted to say.
: ''You ask US to help you, US, we VIII
are taxed already to our breaking
{ point You say your company Won
go any further. What does that he'll
mean to you? Poverty? A few thou
sands, million to the o. P, 4 cor
poration, what does loss mean t
: them? Poverty? I tell you, no.
:. smaller dividend, maybe, to whom
Yes, to whom? To the men who liv
: in Fifth avenue, whose wives ar
dragged about in limousines. With
a draw their suits? Help Faraday, an
S ruin men like Parrish? Men of tn
valley, what is your answer to Fara
4 day?"
V The crowd was on its feet, swayin