The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-04-09


"Say mister. look down into that val
ley there" the stranger began. "See
all them houses-they're the little
houses O. the poor. See how smooth
the land Isl Who built them housesf
Who cleaned that land7 Was 1t Mr..
Livingston? BY hockey nettie guess
not. The men who live there built the
houses an cleaned the land. We amt
got nothin' else-not a dollarl It's Ill
gone to the landlord. am for the
men who made every rod o. that land
an who own not a single rod Of 1t.
Years an years ago king gave II to
Q man who never cut one tree G. laid
one stone on another. The deeds say
that we must pay rent o. SO many
bushels o. wheat year but the land IL
NO good for wheat. an amt been for
q hundred years. Why, We see. mis-
ter, good many things have happened
In three hundred years. The land was
willin' to give wheat then an a good
many folks was willin' to be slaves. BY
hockey nettiei they had got used to II.
Kings an magistrates an slavery
didn't look so bad to 'em as they do
now. Our brains have changed--that's
what's the matter-same as the soil
has changed. We want to be free like
other folks In this country. America
has growed up around us but here we
gre Twin back In old Holland three
hundred years ago. 1t don't set good.
We see lots o. people that don't have
to be slaves. They own their land an
they amt worked any harder than we
have or been any more savin'. That's
why I say we can't pay the rents no
more an We mustn't try to make us.
BY hockey nettiel You'll have trouble
II We do"
The truth had flashed upon me out
Of the words of this simple man. Un-
I'll then had heard only one side of
the case. If were to be the servant
OF justice. as Mr.. Wright had advised,
what was to do? These tenants had
been Grimshawed and were being
Grimshawed out of the just fruits of
their toll by the feudal chief whose
remote ancestor had been kings IA
vorite. For half moment 1 watched
the wavering needle Of my compass
and then:
'Tf what you say is true I think you
are. right" I said.
IT don't agree with you" said young
Latour. "The PATRONS have a clear
title to this land. II the tenants don't
want to pay the rents they ought to
get out and make way for others"
Look here, young man. my name is
Josiah Curtis" said the stranger. ~
live In the first house on the right
hand side o. the road. You may tell
the Judge that won't pay rent no
more-not as long as / live-and I
won't gft ont. either"
aNr. LAtour. you and Purvis may 60
on slowly-Tll overtake you soon," /
said.
They went on and left me alone with
Curtis. He was getting excited and i
wished to allay his fears.
Don't let him try to serve no writs
or there1l be hell to pay In this val
ley" said Curtis.
sTn that case ! shall not try to serve
the writs. I don't want to stir up the
neiehborhood. but want to know the
facts. / shall try to see other tenants
and report what they say. 1t may lead
to q settlement"
We went on together to the top Of
the hill near which we had been stand
AinR. Far ahead ! saw cloud Of dust
hut no signs of Latour and. Purvis.
They must have spurred their horses
info a run. The fear came to me that
Latour would try to serve the writs IN
spite Of me. They were In his pocket
What q fool had been not to call fo'
them. My companion saw the look O
concern In my face.
II don't like that young feller," sait
Curtis. "He's in fer trouble"
He ran toward his house. which wal
only a few rods beyond us. while
started on In pursuit Of the two mel
at top speed. Before my horse hat
taken dozen jumps heard a hor'
blowing behind me and Its echo In tn
hills. Within half moment dozei
horns were sounding In the valley
around me. What contrast TO IN
ouiet In which we had been riding wa
this pandemonium which had broker
loose in the countryside. A little anea'
could see men running out OF IN
fields. My horse had begun to intne1
for the sun was hot. My companion
were far ahead. could not see IN
dust of their heels now. gave up Try
ling 10 catch them and checked IN
Kpeed of my horse and went on ~
-,r IN. ho~na more still sounding