Social problems -- Fiction; Socialism -- Fiction; United States -- Fiction; Young men -- Fiction
Dr. Barton was to make the opening speech, introducing Samuel; and by
way of outwitting the police, he was to be particularly careful to get
into this “introduction” all the essential facts which it was desired to
lay before the people. He was to tell about the twenty thousand dollars
which Hickman paid to Slattery, and about the acknowledgment which
Wygant had made to Samuel, and about how the boy had been turned out of
St. Matthew's Church. If the police attempted to interfere with this,
the doctor was to persist until he had been actually placed under
arrest; and then others were to take up the attempt in different places,
until six had been arrested. In this case Samuel was to make no attempt
to speak at all; they would “save” him for an out-door meeting--and also
Everley, who was to defend them in court. More circulars would be given
out the next afternoon, and another attempt to speak would be made that
evening.
All this was duly impressed upon the boy, and then the little company
set forth. Dr. Barton walked on one side of him, and Everley on the
other; Mrs. Barton, Mrs. Stedman and Sophie came next, and Beggs and
Lippman brought up the rear. So they marched along; they kept their eyes
open, and every time they had to pass a man they gave him a wide berth.
So they came to the place of the meeting. At the corner were the Bremers
and half a dozen others, who formed a ring about them. There was a
huge crowd, they said--the lot was thronged, and the people extended to
streets on every side. There was a score of policemen scattered about,
and no doubt there were many detectives.
Promptly on the minute of eight the little group approached. There was
a murmur of excitement among the waiting crowd, as they started to force
their way through. Samuel's heart was thumping like mad, and his knees
were trembling so that he could hardly walk. The people gave way, and
they found themselves in the center, where several of the Socialists
stood guard over the half dozen boxes from which the speaking was to be
done.
Without a moment's delay, Dr. Barton mounted up.
“Fellow citizens,” he called in a clear, ringing voice; and instantly a
hush fell upon the crowd, and a thousand faces were turned toward him.
“We are here,” he began, “for a very important purpose--”
Instantly a policeman pushed his way toward him.
“Have you a permit for this meeting?” he demanded.
“We have been refused a permit!” proclaimed Dr. Barton to the crowd. “We
are here as law-abiding citizens, demanding our right to free speech!”
“You cannot speak,” declared the policeman.
“There has been bribery of the city council of Lockmanville,” shouted
the doctor.
“You cannot speak!” cried the policeman sharply.
“Henry Hickman paid twenty thousand dollars to the city council to
prevent the passage of the water bill!” cried the speaker.
“Come down from there!” commanded the officer, and made a grab at him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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