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courage to get up and oppose House Bill 709。 I watched him narrowly； the
suggestion intruded itselfperhaps he had been 〃seen；〃 as the Colonel
expressed it。 I repudiated it。 I grew impatient； feverish； the
monotonous reading of the clerk was interrupted now and then by the sharp
tones of the Speaker assigning his various measures to this or that
committee； 〃unless objection is offered；〃 while the members moved about
and murmured among themselves； Krebs had stopped making notes； he was
looking out of the window。 At last； without any change of emphasis in
his droning voice； the clerk announced the recommendation of the
Committee on Judiciary that House Bill 709 ought to pass。
Down in front a man had risen from his seatthe felicitous Mr。
Truesdale。 Glancing around at his fellow…members he then began to
explain in the impressive but conversational tone of one whose counsels
are in the habit of being listened to； that this was merely a little
measure to remedy a flaw in the statutes。 Mr。 Truesdale believed in
corporations when corporations were good； and this bill was calculated to
make them good； to put an end to jugglery and concealment。 Our great
state； he said； should be in the forefront of such wise legislation；
which made for justice and a proper publicity； but the bill in question
was of greater interest to lawyers than to laymen； a committee composed
largely of lawyers had recommended it unanimously； and he was sure that
no opposition would develop in the House。 In order not to take up their
time he asked： therefore； that it be immediately put on its second and
third reading and allowed to pass。
He sat down； and I looked at Krebs。 Could he； could any man； any lawyer；
have the presumption to question such an obviously desirable measure； to
arraign the united judgment of the committee's legal talent？ Such was
the note Mr。 Truesdale so admirably struck。 As though fascinated； I
continued to gaze at Krebs。 I hated him； I desired to see him
humiliated； and yet amazingly I found myself wishing with almost equal
vehemence that he would be true to himself。 He was rising；slowly；
timidly； I thought； his hand clutching his desk lid； his voice sounding
wholly inadequate as he addressed the Speaker。 The Speaker hesitated；
his tone palpably supercilious。
〃The gentleman fromfrom Elkington； Mr。 Krebs。〃
There was a craning of necks； a staring； a tittering。 I burned with
vicarious shame as Krebs stood there awkwardly； his hand still holding
the desk。 There were cries of 〃louder〃 when he began； some picked up
their newspapers； while others started conversations。 The Speaker rapped
with his gavel； and I failed to hear the opening words。 Krebs paused；
and began again。 His speech did not； at first； flow easily。
〃Mr。 Speaker； I rise to protest against this bill； which in my opinion is
not so innocent as the gentleman from St。 Helen's would have the House
believe。 It is on a par； indeed； with other legislation that in past
years has been engineered through this legislature under the guise of
beneficent law。 No； not on a par。 It is the most arrogant； the most
monstrous example of special legislation of them all。 And while I do not
expect to be able to delay its passage much longer than the time I shall
be on my feet〃
〃Then why not sit down？〃 came a voice； just audible。
As he turned swiftly toward the offender his profile had an eagle…like
effect that startled me； seemingly realizing a new quality in the man。
It was as though he had needed just the stimulus of that interruption to
electrify and transform him。 His awkwardness disappeared； and if he was
a little bombastic； a little 〃young；〃 he spoke with the fire of
conviction。
〃Because；〃 he cried； 〃because I should lose my self…respect for life if I
sat here and permitted the political organization of a railroad； the
members of which are here under the guise of servants of the people； to
cow me into silence。 And if it be treason to mention the name of that
Railroad in connection with its political tyranny； then make the most of
it。〃 He let go of the desk； and tapped the copy of the bill。 〃What are
the facts？ The Boyne Iron Works； under the presidency of Adolf Scherer；
has been engaged in litigation with the Ribblevale Steel Company for some
years： and this bill is intended to put into the hands of the attorneys
for Mr。 Scherer certain information that will enable him to get
possession of the property。 Gentlemen； that is what ‘legal practice' has
descended to in the hands of respectable lawyers。 This device originated
with the resourceful Mr。 Theodore Watling； and if it had not had the
approval of Mr。 Miller Gorse； it would never have got any farther than
the judiciary committee。 It was confided to the skillful care of Colonel
Paul Varney to be steered through this legislature； as hundreds of other
measures have been steered through；without unnecessary noise。 It may
be asked why the Railroad should bother itself by lending its political
organization to private corporations？ I will tell you。 Because
corporations like the Boyne corporation are a part of a network of
interests； these corporations aid the Railroad to maintain its monopoly；
and in return receive rebates。〃
Krebs had raised his voice as the murmurs became louder。 At this point a
sharp…faced lawyer from Belfast got to his feet and objected that the
gentleman from Elkington was wasting
the time of the House； indulging in hearsay。 His remarks were not
germane； etc。 The Speaker rapped again； with a fine show of
impartiality； and cautioned the member from Elkington。
〃Very well；〃 replied Krebs。 〃I have said what I wanted to say on that
score； and I know it to be the truth。 And if this House does not find it
germane； the day is coming when its constituents will。〃
Whereupon he entered into a discussion of the bill； dissecting it with
more calmness； with an ability that must have commanded； even from some
hostile minds； an unwilling respect。 The penalty； he said； was
outrageous； hitherto unheard of in law；putting a corporation in the
hands of a receiver； at the mercy of those who coveted it； because one of
its officers refused； or was unable； to testify。 He might be in China；
in Timbuctoo when the summons was delivered at his last or usual place of
abode。 Here was an enormity； an exercise of tyrannical power exceeding
all bounds； a travesty on popular government。。。。 He ended by pointing
out the significance of the fact that the committee had given no
hearings； by declaring that if the bill became a law； it would inevitably
react upon the heads of those who were responsible for it。
He sat down； and there was a flutter of applause from the scattered
audience in the gallery。
〃By God； that's the only man in the whole place！〃
I was aware； for the first time； of a neighbour at my side；a solid；
red…faced man； evidently a farmer。 His trousers were tucked into his
boots； and his gnarled and powerful hands； ingrained with dirt； clutched
the arms of the seat as he leaned forward。
〃Didn't he just naturally lambaste 'em？〃 he cried excitedly。 〃They'll
down him； I guess；but say； he's right。 A man would lose his self…
respect if he didn't let out his mind at them hoss thieves； wouldn't he？
What's that fellow's name？〃
I told him。
〃Krebs；〃 he repeated。 〃I want to remember that。 Durned if I don't shake
hands with him。〃
His excitement astonished me。 Would the public feel like that； if they
only knew？。。。 The Speaker's gavel had come down like a pistol shot。
One 〃war…hoss〃as my neighbour called themafter another proceeded to
crush the member from Elkington。 It was； indeed； very skillfully done；
and yet it was a process from which I did not derive； somehow； much
pleasure。 Colonel Varney's army had been magnificently trained to meet
just this kind of situation： some employed ridicule； others declared； in
impassioned tones； that the good name of their state had been wantonly
assailed； and pointed fervently to portraits on the walls of patriots of
the past；sentiments that drew applause from the fickle gallery。 One
gentleman observed that the obsession of a 〃railroad machine〃 was a sure
symptom of a certain kind of insanity； of which the first speaker had
given many other evidences。 The farmer at my side remained staunch。
〃They can't fool me；〃 he said angrily； 〃I know 'em。 Do you see that
fellow gettin' up to talk now？ Well； I could tell you a few things about
him； all right。 He comes from Glasgow； and his name's Letchworth。 He's
done more harm in his life than all the criminals he's kept out of
prison；belongs to one of the old families down there； too。〃
I had； indeed； remarked Letchworth's face； which seemed to me peculiarly
evil； its lividity enhanced by a shock of grey hair。 His method was
withering sarcasm； and he was clearly unable to control his animus。。。。
No champion appeared to support Krebs； who sat pale and tense while this
denunciation of him was going on。 Finally he got the floor。 His voice
trembled a little； whether with passion； excitement； or nervousness it
was impossible to say。 But he contented himself with a brief defiance。
If the bil