The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-04-11

din7 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!
mfr. 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
close that break? That depends on
you. Withdraw your suits. Do more.
Stop fighting against US. Fight with
US"
The audience stirred ominously,
angrily. Before MacLean was done,
I voice screamed from the balcony.
'sYou can't quit. That's a threat
/ You're in too deep. You 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 WistaFia, jumped on his
chair. 81 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
money with it. I tell you. your blur
won't go. We want justice. We are
going to have justice"
"Justiceg' came from the surging
ranchers.
Fair play" yelled Black. ''You can't
trick u.s. 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 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 Babcock, humping
his gaYel. aLet Mr.. Black have the
: floor"
. Black had not stopped. Wildly his
hands cut the air, His speech, though
high-pitched, had 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. HOLSTER and Wilson of
] the Palo Verde, the ranch q scream
: ing horror. Scores of others" He
5 would not mention his own case; and
I then he itemized his misfortunes. Par
I rish, his place secured beyond all fu-
: ture usefulness. What had they come
: into the valley for? Who had urged
them? There were pledges of the D.
: r., water pledges. That was all those
ruined men were pleading, the redemp-
z ton of those pledges, Individual ruin,
what did it mean? A curtailing of lux
J uries, or personal indulgence. 81 tell
{ you, it 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, cor
: poration, what does a loss mean to
J them? Poverty? 1 tell you, no. a
], smaller dividend, maybe, to whom7
: Yes, to whom? To the men who live
!. in Fifth avenue, whose wives are
{ dragged about in limousines. With
1 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, swaying
and pushing. The air was fetid with
. breaths. wilson's crowd had forgotten
:. its lorgnettes. 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
J in that minute of turning. Hollister.
;, of the Palo Verde, was striving to be
heard; Babcoek's hammer sounded in
: vain. But Marshalrs eye had caught
!. spark from the yellow sheet. He
: sprang forward, throwing the dispatch
! toward MacLean. His excitement
I caught the eye of the crowd. 1.-THE
! river!" There was sudden hush.
''The rivers out againl" A groan
! swept througs tie house. there vas q
break toward the doors.