Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-15

Look at those faces" The floor was
sea of impassioned features.
Something's going to drop" echoed
Brandon.
From the wings. Babcock's inquisi-
tive glasses were seen to sweep the
house. Hardin could catch the sum-
mons of an excited forefnger to the
group unseen. There was minute
Of delay. Then Babcock's nervous
toddle carried him onto the stage.
De la Vega followed Babeock.
There was a hush of curiosity. The
house did not know who he was. Be
hind him, soldierly, stiff, stalked Mac
Lean. Marshall'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 la
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 .anxiods to hear what
we have to say to you. You cannot
afford to be indifferent to it. You ac-
knowledge, by your presence, de-
pendence, a correlation which you
would like to deny. Irrigation means
cooperation, suffering together, strug-
Cling together, succeeding together.
You prefer the old individual way,
each man for himself. l tell you 1t
won't do. You belong in other coun-
tries, the countrles of old-fashioned
rain. You want to hear what we have
to say to you, the company who saved
the valley, the company you are suing.
But you have also suits against Mex
leo. There is a gentleman here who
has a message from Mexico about
those suits. / have the honor, gentle
men, to introduce, Senior de la Vega"
Ladies'" bowed the Mexican. Seen
tlemen, Mr.. Chairman. 1t is with an
appreciation of the honor that l ac-
cepted for today the invitation of Mr..
Marshall to speak before you, to speak
to you; / must tell you first my
thought as l sat there and looked at
you, the youth, the flower of the Amer
ican people. A few years ago, we
were calling this the great Colorado
desert; now, the world calls it the
hothouse of America. This theater
is built over the bones of gold-seekers,
who dared death in this dreaded
desert to find what was buried In
those mountains beyond. The man,
l say, who crossed this desert, took
the hazard of death. 1t was coun-
tryman Of mine who piloted, fifteen
years ago, little band Of men, across
the desert. Perhaps he camped on
this very spot. 1t is not impossible |
1t is here, perhaps, that he got his
inspiration. He saw wonderful ter
ritory; he dreamed to quicken it with
the useless waters of the Colorado.
You will all agree that 1t was Gull
lermo Estrada who dreamed the dream
that has come true; that it was
through him that some of your coun-
trymen secured their privilege to re-
claim this land, Later, when one of your
countrymen found he could not fulfill
his promise to you, the promise to de-
liver water to your ranches, he came
to my nation and got permission to cut
into the river Oh our territory. Most
gladly did Porfirio Diaz grant that
privilege. For that, today, you are
suing him. This, / am told, is your
complaint"
His abrupt pause betrayed a con-
fused murmur of voices. De la Vegas
polite ear tried to differentiate the
phrases. There was tumble of sound
De la Vega looked inquiringly at Bab-
cock, who waved him on.
''It has nothing to do with the his
tory, but would like to say in passing
that so assured were your people Of
our friendly feeling toward you that
they did not wait to receive permis-
sion from Mexico to make the cut.
Your people were in hurry. Your
crops were in danger. First the lack
of water, then too much water dam
aged your valley. A few acres"
A voice from the crowd cried out.
"a few acres? Thousands of acres"
Instantly others were on their feet.
Thousands of acres. Ruin" One man
was shouting himself apoplectic.
Babcocks gavel sounded a sharp
staccato ON the table.
Thousands of. acres" De la Vega
was unruffled. sand more than that.
The valley 1t must be remembered,
1oes not stop at the line. Mexican
lands, too, have been secured by the
action, the result of the action of your
irrigation company. 1t was mutual"
he paused, and quaint word came to
his need. "A mutual bereavement. 1t
did not occur to us to accuse you Of
our troubles. Your damage suits panied
and astonished us. But they gave us
also suggestion"
The rustling and the murmurs sud
denly ceased. A prescient hush wait
ed on De la Vega. "You have been ad-
vised to sue us. To sue us for giving
You that concession. Therefnre. the