Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-15
talked Of for q fortnight.

talked Of for q fortnight.
1t was known throughout the valley
that the work at the intake was not
| yet begun; that Rickard was waiting
there for orders; that Faraday and
the president of the United States
were involved In correspondence as to
the responsibility for the future con-
troll of the river. Faraday's eagerness
to shift his burden was looked upon
as suspicious. II was in the air that
the officers Of the Overland Pacific
would demand recall of the damage
suits before they would complete the
/ protective works at the Heading. The
men Of long vision. members of the
water companies, and Brandon,
through the valley Star. were pointing
out that the valleys salvation depend
ed on the immediate control Of the
river; that the railroad, only. had
power to effect 1t. These conservatives
were. counseling caution. Only that
morning, the Star had issued an extra,
special edition pleading for co-opera-
tion. "If the river breaks out again"
warned Brandon's editorial, without
immediate force to restrain it, recla-
nation for that valley is dream that
Is done. And the only force equal to
that emergency is the railroad. Why
deliberately antagonize the railroad?
The Desert Reclamation company, 1t
is well known, is bankrupt. For the
instant, the railroad has assumed the
responsibilities of the smaller organi-
cation. Apply the same situation to
individuals. Suppose private citizen
is in straits, and another comes for
ward to help him. Must every cred
itor assume that the Samaritan should
pay the crushed citizens bills? In the
present issue, self-interest should urge
consideration. Better a small loss
today that tomorrow may amply re-
fund, than total ruin in the future"
Hardin, from his morose unshared
table, could see the anxious curiosity
setting toward the railroad group.
Over glasses, heads were close to-
gether. Near him, the talk ran high.
Scraps of inflammable speeches blew
his way from Barton's party.
Hardin's mouth wore a set sneer.
"Water company talk!" Black was
haranguing his comrades. "Stand out
against them. Don't let them bluff
you. Marshall will try to bluff you.
Stand together!" Barton's resonant
organ broke through the clatter.
Marshall is not going to bluff U.S."
Grace and Black began to talk at once.
Hardin's lip grew rougher. Where had
they all been IL it had not been for
him? Why, he'd pulled them from
their little farms back East, where
they were toiling- they'd be
toiling yet. They'd had the vision of
sudden wealth--they hadn't the grit
to work for 1t, to wait for it'll How
many years had he been struggling?
He was young man when he'd gone
into this thing, and he was old now.
Coffee and cigars had been
reached of the midday dinner. Bab-
cock was nervously consulting his
watch. shouldn't we arrange the
meeting?" he asked for the third time.
The social and casual air of the meet
, ing had teosed him. What had the po-
litical situation in Mexico to do with
the important session confronting
them? His fussy soul had no polite
salons; office rooms every one Of
them. MacLean looked to Tod Mar
shall to answer.
II think it will arrange itself" His
voice was silken. ''It is to be a dis
cussion, conference. You can't slate
that"
"We could program" began Bab-
cock, looking at his watch again.
II don't think we'll have to-" Mar
shall smiled across the table. you'll
find this meeting will run itself. There
is not q man here who is not burning
to speak. Look. at them nowI Drop
paper in that crowd, and see the
blaze you'd get! You can open the
meeting, Mr.. Babcock, and 1 would
suggest that you call on Mr.. De la
Vega first"
The eyes of the dining room fol-
lowed the party as they filed past the
buzzing tables. Faraday was not in
town; Marshall represented that pow
er. AS he walked out, bowling right
and left, his right hand occasionally
extended in his well-known oratorical
courteous gesture. His black tie was
stringing down his shirt front; his
black clothes were the worse for his
lunch. But no one, save the Eastern
girls, saw spots or tie. The future of
that valley lay in that mans hand, no
matter how Black or Grace might
harangue. In five minutes, the dining
room was emptied.
AS snow gently falling, had gath
cred the first damage suits of the
ranchers. The last flood had precipl-
tated a temperamental storm. Men
were suing for the possible values Of
their farms, impossible values Of
crops. Not alone the companies had
been blanketed with the accusing pa
pers, but against Mexico the white
drifts had piled up. Mexicol No one
knew better than Hardin how absurd
1t was to accuse the sister country Of