The Transgressors Story of a Great Sin

o be heard. Most of the members are glad that the meeting of the previous night had adjourned so as to aff

otion, as soon as the meeting opens, that three of the members be heard, and if their stories in any way coincide with the general views of the others, th

ell their life's history are chosen. The first of these is a man of the world, a fallen idol of socie

of the desperate men of Chicago, he h

ord a leader. He has the grace of manner and the personal charm that at once attracts men. His physical development makes him the envy of the male sex and the idol of the fe

h forehead, with dark brown hair and clear brown ey

s occasion, a flush of excitement adds to his attractiveness. H

ldhood and portray pictures of affluence and luxury that few of you could quite appreciate. But the days of my childhood are gone; I a

e cannot, and do not desire to pose as contented men, or as men who are looking for mild solutions of the problems that are now

n learning will be the reasons

hidden from you. I am here for th

he desire to see the men who caus

avenged that I here and now state to you that any thing radical th

ame me? Listen

man whom the people of the city and the country at large look upon as a paragon. Hi

deed fortunate to be associa

n his employ more than a month when I discovered that he was at the bottom of a plot to loot the treasuries of three of th

matter. For several days I was in a quandary, but my conscience at length conquered. I mustered up courage enough to speak to my employer. I chose for my time the hour after his return fro

mmoral, if not absolutely criminal, he attempted to prove to me in a plausible ar

t a stroke of financiering; it is what

e expression of scorn that came

business. Had I not enough to do to attend to my affairs in his office, without prying into his outside deal

useless to argue with

to quit your employ. But I wish to inform you that I shall expose this diabolical plan. It sh

ckster. He charged me with wishing to blackmail him. Then seeing that

h every advantage was to be seized and worked for all that was in it? At length he offered to let me in his firm

ake when he has to confront a momentous problem that is to have an effect on his after-life. I did not intend to accept hi

he incarnation of greed. A snake that sees its quarry edging inch by inch toward the fangs o

isten to reason.' He uttered these words n

aid,' was my reply, and

at you refuse to become a partn

you propose to commit.' "'Then I warn you, young man,' he thundered, losing his self control, 'th

me the most unmerciful enemy that was ever known. I h

of a nobody as against mine? Why, you will be lodged in

he bonds that I entrusted

otly. For even then I saw t

, that will not

ught that he had struck upon the pr

ne to a point where he might appear magnanimous. "'I do not hold any ill will toward you,' he continued, 'it is as a

would be impossible for me to all

your duties, and in the future let my outside matters be distinct fro

spoken we walked as if by co

alk. It was winter, and the cold bracing air soon made me alive to the

Did my silence at parting indicate that I had ac

reached the entrance of the Park at Fifty-ninth street and Fi

review the words

if this was not to be desired he could have me declared insane and put in an insane asylum. My word was as naugh

e called me into his private office and inf

scheme was succes

old was not credited. I lacked documentary proof. When the crash cam

cklisted. Wherever I go, from Maine to California, I am confronted by a

l because I possess a conscience that would not stoop to crime. I have stood out agains

on of an honorable New England family; the advantages of refined home surroundings and a college educati

avorite study, political economy. At fifty years of age he found himself the recognized authori

ufus Vanpeldt, the Woolen King, the patron of the university. Talbot is reviled by his fellow-collegians, and ostracized from the society in

s been a staunch supporter of the income tax; his views on the money ques

e political field as their most powerful adversary. He is one of the leaders of the Anti-Trus

est. Whatever view he takes of the proposition they dete

tion. Not that it is faultless, but because it offers the only r

ew men is the gravest mistake that a republic can permit to occur. It creates an oligarchy that is more pernicious than one of class distinction, since such

for much of the distress that exists in this country," he says, "but

aving machinery are the results of capitalists seeking to

ufacturer who adopts this invention, at the same time discharges his adult male operatives and s

, and the labor of women in trades and at

u an example by announcing that I pledge my support to Mr. Nevins in anything that he may do that has

ork. We in America should guarantee more than subsistence to our citizens.

all the land and property of the country to be owned and operated by the people as a whole, appear to him to offer an adequate solution of the

til American energy improves the surrounding property? What justification is there in permitting an ali

nd tax on my farm and a tax on everything I consu

ountry now. I will ever be loyal to

ot perfect; it is ou

ands of expatriated Amer

rt of the government does not deserve its pro

Trusts, the chairman announces that at the next meeting the memb

iction that at length the time has come when something