Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Itsexecutivecommittee,ofwhichMagnuswaschairman,hadbeen,throughOsterman’smanipulation,mergedintotheoldcommitteecomposedofBroderson,Annixter,andhimself.Promptlythereathehadresignedthechairmanshipofthiscommittee,thusleavingMagnusatitshead.PreciselyasOstermanhadplanned,Magnuswasnowoneofthem.Thenewcommitteeaccordinglyhadtwoobjectsinview:toresisttheattemptedgrabbingoftheirlandsbytheRailroad,andtopushforwardtheirownsecretschemeofelectingaboardofrailroadcommissionerswhoshouldregulatewheatratessoastofavourtheranchersoftheSanJoaquin.Thelandcaseswerepromptlytakentothecourtsandthenewgrading—fixingthepriceofthelandsattwentyandthirtydollarsanacreinsteadoftwo—bitterlyandstubbornlyfought.Butdelaysoccurred,theprocessofthelawwasinterminable,andintheintervalsthecommitteeaddresseditselftotheworkofseatingthe“Ranchers’Commission,”astheprojectedBoardofCommissionerscametobecalled.

           ItwasHarranwhofirstsuggestedthathisbrother,Lyman,beputforwardasthecandidateforthisdistrict.Atoncethepropositionhadagreatsuccess.Lymanseemedmadefortheplace.Whilealliedbyeverytieofbloodtotheranchinginterests,hehadneverbeenidentifiedwiththem.Hewascity-bred.TheRailroadwouldnotbeover-suspiciousofhim.