The sun., 1919-10-19
Endowed His Hero Fighting
Powerful Forces OF Evil

silent partner in two comniss,or
houses In the city which waxed fat NV
the gentle art of paying small strin,
of postage stamps for large consiKn.
ments of produce. In farming he FOL
ing the last atom Of fertility out of thu
land without putting anything back.
His motto was Let posterity look out
for ITSELF"
His neighbors hated him with
hatred made up of equal parts Of
righteous indignation, envy and fear
He was feared because in addition To
his financial power through mort.
cages, actual or potential, he was a
political power of sinister influence,
He controlled the negro and "whits
trash" vote, and in local elections
could generally keep things in his
own hands however the State and Ma.
tional tickets Jared.
His son, Dick, whom heard d..
Tending T. B. that day in the post
office, was his fathers antithesis. He
was as generous as his father was
careful" as unselfish as the other
was eaten with self-interest. Again
whereas the father was himself
total abstainer the son was a royster.
ing tank, a constant customer for
Tom Meanings brand OF general mer.
chandise, and his favorite greeting
was "what1l you have?" Accordingly
he was the idol and hero of the black
population, to whom indeed he had
shown many favors besides supplying
them with drink.
We found Mr.. Rudolph at home
and he greeted us with a cautious
reserve.
what do you want?" he insiru.
ated with an information that gave US
to understand that whatever it was
he was just out Of it
"I want to enlist your active sup
port in the fight I am going to make
against the vicious influence Of the
stores in this neighborhood which are
nothing more than public gambling
| dens and Illicit bar-rooms."
Mr.. Rudolph smiled relieved smile,
| But surely there Is nothing illegal
| going on. The States Attorney tells
me that the unpleasant rumors going
around are entirely unsubstantiated
by any legal proof. We mustn't give
| too hasty credence to idle gossip,
Rest assured the courts will take care
| Of all violations of law"
But the courts are not doing that
very thing and apparently intend not
to do it. The sheriff complains that
there is no use making arrests, the
case is dismissed and he is in bad The
foreman of the Grand Jury tells me
that the States Attorney blocks the
indictment Of any liquor offenders"
Are you criticising the administn.
ton Of the present States Attorney
II am-emphatically!"
"He's friend of mine, sir!"
$50 I understand. That's why I
have come to you"
IT am not responsible for him or his
| acts"
| II have heard that you are"
There was scarcely perceptible start
and Tightening of the mouth as Mr..
Rudolph grasped the import OF the
clergyman's accusation. Then with
crisp, nervous tautness:
IF you have come here to insult me
you may consider that you have &c
cmoplished your purpose. II you are
really trying to ring me in on any
of your fool activities you have not. !
advise you to confine your efforts to
building up the church. You ar,
serving tables, sir, leaving the word
Of God, sir. to serve tables. Remembe:
thar I contribute generously towards
your honorarium though not a mem
Der of your church and have q
right to advised"
Flushing with indignation. T. B. re.
piled, Your advice would be nors
highly valued II it were not thrown
in as part payment on your subscnp
ton to the church. Please don't
assume too much credit for that hun
dred dollars. You set your moneys
worth. If II were not for the rem.
pant of Christian public sentiment
preserved in this community by ths
church you would long since havs
been lynched by your devoted neigh
bors.
LAS to my fool activtties'-you COM
plain Of financial loss by the consta1
removal Of labor to the city. You oon-
plain OF further loss from the ignors