Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Itissoinallourgreatcentres.Thereareothergreattrusts,Godknows,intheUnitedStatesbesidesourowndearP.andS.W.Railroad.EveryStatehasitsowngrievance.Ifitisnotarailroadtrust,itisasugartrust,oranoiltrust,oranindustrialtrust,thatexploitsthePeople,BECAUSETHEPEOPLEALLOWIT.TheindifferenceofthePeopleistheopportunityofthedespot.Itisastrueasthatthewholeisgreaterthanthepart,andthemaximissooldthatitistrite—itislaughable.Itisneglectedanddisusedforthesakeofsomenewingeniousandcomplicatedtheory,somewonderfulschemeofreorganisation,butthefactremains,nevertheless,simple,fundamental,everlasting.ThePeoplehavebuttosay’No,’andnotthestrongesttyranny,political,religious,orfinancial,thatwaseverorganised,couldsurviveoneweek.”

           Theothers,absorbed,attentive,approved,noddingtheirheadsinsilenceasthemanufacturerfinished.

           “That’sonereason,Mr.Derrick,”theotherresumedafteramoment,“whyIhavebeensogladtomeetyou.YouandyourLeaguearetryingtosay’No’tothetrust.Ihopeyouwillsucceed.IfyourexamplewillrallythePeopletoyourcause,youwill.Otherwise—”heshookhishead.

           “Onestageofthefightistobepassedthisveryday,”observedMagnus.“MysonsandmyselfareexpectinghourlynewsfromtheCityHall,adecisioninourcaseispending.”

           “Wearebothofusfighters,itseems,Mr.Derrick,”saidCedarquist.“Eachwithhisparticularenemy.