The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-05-31


extended In his well-known orntorical.
strlnging down his shirt front; his
black clothes were the worse for his
lunch. But no one, save the Eastern
girls, saw spots or tie. The future of
that valley lay In that mans hand, no
matter how Black or Grace might
harnngue. In FIVE minutes, the dining
room was emptied.
AS snow gently falling, had gath
cred the first damage suits of the
ranchers. The last food had prccipi-
tated temperamental storm. Men
were suing for the possible values Of
their farms impossible values OF
crops. Not alone the companies had
been blanketcd with the accusing pa
pers, but against Mexico the white
drifts had piled up. Mexico No one
knew better than Hardin how absurd
1t was to accuse the sister country of
responsibility. A pretty pickle they
were in Where was 1t all going to
end?
In the lobby, Hardin ran up against
Brandon, who was following II news
scent. Through the valley It was being
rumored that subscriptions were to be
asked for the completion of the work.
If this were the intention, there would
be hot meeting.
you are going on the PLATFORM"
assumed the newspaper man. mo?
Then will you sit with me?"
,,,II gtt
Hardin, II don't want TO be dragged
onto the platform"
Down in the orchestra, Black from
the Wlstaria was haranguing n group
of gestlculating ranchers. Phrases
climbed to the men on the balcony
seats. keep their pledges. Promise
makers. Let them look Ut our crops ]"
'Hf Marshall expects to coerce
those men. / lose my guess Then he's
no judge Of men," cried Hardin.
"Look ut those faces" The floor was
q sea of impassioDed features. Il
I. Something's going to Drop echoed
Brandon.
From the wings, Babcock's inquisi-
tive glasses were seen TO sweep the |
ihhuse,..9 Hardin could catch The sum-
mons of an excited forefinger. to the
group unseen. There was a 'mlhute1
Of delay. .S.Then Babcock's nervous
.roxtdhe, carried him onto the stdge..Ss.
3, De Ia Vega followed Babcock.
There was a hush Of curiosity. The
house did not know who he was. Be-
hiPIklhim. soldierls, stiff. stalked Mac
Lean. Marshnll's entrance released
the tongues. There was an interval
Of confusion on the stage. Babcock.
like a restless terrier, was swapping
at the heels Of the party. At last,
they were all fussily seated. De In
Vega was given the place of honor.
Marshall. Babcock put on his left,
MacLean on the right.
Babcock raised his staccato gavel.
A hush fell on the house. His words
were clipped and sharp.
"You have left your plowIng TO come
here. You are anxious TO hear what
we have to say TO you. You cannot
afford to be indifferent to It. You &C.
knowledge. by your presence, a de-
pendence, correlation which you
would like to deny. Irrigation means
cooperation, suffering together, strug-
Cling together, succeeding together. I
You prefer the old individual way, }
each man for himself. l tell you IL
won't do. You belong In other coun-
tries, the countries of old-fashioned D
rain. You want to hear what we have I
10 say to you, the company who saved
he valley, the company you are suing.
But you have also suits against Mex
co. There is a gentleman here who y
has message from Mexico about
hose suits. / have the honor, gentle
men, to Introduce, Senor de la Vega" u
Ladies'" bowed the Mexican. "Gen-
lemen, Mr.. Chairman. II ls with an u
appreciation Of the honor that / nc u
'epted for today the invitation of Mr.. u
Marshall to speak before you, to speak -
o you; ] must tell you first my "
hought as ! sat there and looked at o.
'ou, the youth, the flower OF the Amer
can people. A few years ago, we w
we're calling this the great Colorado
esert; now, the world calls Il the jt
othouse of America. This theater u
) built over the bones OF gold-seekers, ID
'ho dared death in this dreaded tr
esert to find what was buried In IN
hose mountains beyond. The man, IN
say, who crossed this desert, took
ne hazard Of death. II was a cOun- dr
'yman OF mine who plloted, fifteen -
ears ago, little band of men, across tn
he desert. Perhaps he camped on nc
lis very spot. 1t Is not impossible
is here, perhaps, that he got his III
SEPARATION. He saw wonderful ter by
tory; he dreamed to quicken II with dr.
10 useless waters of the Colorado. sa
Du VIII all agree that It was Gull
rmo Estrada who dreamed the dream lil
AT has come true; that It was W.
rough him that some OF your coun-
ymen secured their privilege to re- M,
aim this land. Later, when one of your de
untrymen found he could not fulfll let