The Pulaskian., 1919-05-02


 whole bunch on the stage down yon- 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 shinsl
 ssMr. Marshall has given you Mir. 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 MT. 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"
  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. 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 Wistaria, jumped on his chair. 'I 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 bluff won't go. We want justice. We are going to have justice"
 "JusticeI" came from the surging ranchers.
 Flair 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 growing accompani- ment from the back rows, herding to- gether.
 Order" cried Babcock, humping his gavel. 'Let MT. Black have the fioor."
 Black had not stopped. Wildly his hands cut the air. His speech. though high-pitched, had prepared sound; 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; and then he itemized his misfortunes. Par 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- tion of those pledges. Individual ruin, what did it mean? A curtailing of lux uries, or personal indulgence. q tell you. it means food, bread, potatoess 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 n afr " fn kf Tn O 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, a cor poration, what does loss mean to them? Poverty? I 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 limousines. 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 it's feet, swayiSgs and pushing. The air was fetid with breaths. Wilson's crowd had forgotten it's lorgnettes. "No," yelled the ranch CTS. we say, mo-"
 A boy made his way from the wings, 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 q spark from the yellow sheet. He sprang forward, throwing the dispatch toward MacLean. His excitement caught the eye of the crowd. "The river!" There was sudden hush. ''The river's out again p A groan swept through the house, there was q break toward the doors.