Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
Andasforleasing—leasinglandtheyvirtuallyown—no,there’spreciousfewaredoingthat,thankGod!Thatwouldbeacknowledgingtherailroad’sownershiprightaway—forfeitingtheirrightsforgood.NoneoftheLEAGUERSaredoingit,Iknow.Thatwouldbetherankesttreachery.”
Hepausedforamoment,drinkingtherestofthemineralwater,theninterruptingLyman,whowasabouttospeaktoPresley,drawinghimintotheconversationthroughpoliteness,said:“Mattersarejustrompingrightalongtoacrisisthesedays.It’samakeorbreakforthewheatgrowersoftheStatenow,nomistake.Herearethelandcasesandthenewgraintariffdrawingtoaheadataboutthesametime.Ifwewinourlandcases,there’syournewfreightratestobeapplied,andthenallisbeerandskittles.Won’ttheSanJoaquingowildifwepullitoff,andIbelievewewill.”
“Howwewheatgrowersareexploitedandtrappedanddeceivedateveryturn,”observedMagnussadly.“Thecourts,thecapitalists,therailroads,eachoftheminturnhoodwinksusintosomenewandwonderfulscheme,onlytobetrayusintheend.Well,”headded,turningtoLyman,“onethingatleastwecandependon.Wewillcuttheirgrainratesforthem,eh,Lyman?”
Lymancrossedhislegsandsettledhimselfinhisofficechair.
“Ihavewantedtohaveatalkwithyouaboutthat,sir,”hesaid.“Yes,wewillcuttherates—anaverage10percent.cutthroughouttheState,aswearepledged.ButIamgoingtowarnyou,Governor,andyou,Harran;don’texpecttoomuchatfirst.
