Halstead Street Chapter 53

By Simahoyo

Putting up handbills on fences, poles, and trees occupied a lot of people named Munk or working for them for two weeks. Hans even handed out handbills at the fair, while Pasquale made sure his union brothers got some. As usual in the Lower 19th, the gossip spread. Pretty soon they knew they had to hold it in a big room. After hearing who the guest was, Jane Addams offered their biggest room–the one used for plays and dancing.

The night before, Franz Georg and Hans were summoned into the sitting room by Father. He had his serious face on, and the brothers looked at each other questioningly.

"As you know, we will have a very large crowd to hear Mr. La Follette and someone will have to mind the store and make deliveries until closing."

"But Father, we put up all those posters, and told everyone we knew.", said Franz Georg.

"I even gave then to the newsboys to give out, and I told all the best gossips.", added Hans.

"I'm sorry I know you'll miss it, but with Hugh and I both gone..."

"Father, couldn't Mother and Kate? They don't vote." Hans was waving his hands."

"Neither do you."

Franz Georg glared at him. "But we worked so hard. We don't even close until seven thirty and it takes half and hour to close up. Couldn't we have a family emergency?"

Father's eyes flashed. "We will not tell an untruth just so you can hear a speech."

"Is there someone in another store or even two of them who would do it?" Hans put on his pleading face.

Father opened his mouth, and closed it again. "If I asked Gretchen and Ernst, they might. But I must ask. I make no promises."

Franz Georg and Hans faced each other, slapped their hands on their own knees, to each other's hands, and then cross clapped grinning."

Father shook his head and sighed. "Ach, meine sohns."

God must have been on their sides because when the room began to fill with people, both Franz Georg and Hans were dressed in suits and smiles, as they picked out certain people who would also speak. Mr. La Follette was hidden in another room, going over his speech. Kate was with Hugh, waiting for Giovanna and Pasquale.

When everyone else was seated, Franz Georg was sent to get Mr. La Follette. He knocked on the door and the man opened it.

"It's time, sir.", said Franz Georg, "But if you don't mind me saying, sir, your letter sounds like a Lutheran pastor on Easter Sunday. A lot of the audience are factory workers and immigrants who might not speak such fancy English."

La Follette smiled, "Don't you worry, young man, I often speak to farmers and German and Norwegian immigrants. You are a courageous young man."

They went into the crowed room, and Franz Georg slipped away.

Father stood, and everyone quieted.

"I am so please all of you came to hear our speaker. Robert La Follette was a congressman from Wisconsin, and the misapplication of money to stop government from hearing the voice of the people. Good people of Chicago, Robert La Follette."

Father sat while La Follette stood. He looked kindly at the people. What a mix of humanity. He could see Chinese people, Greeks, Italians, Jews, Irish, Swedes, some Indians, some he couldn't place...Young, old, well-dressed, and those in shabby clothing with shoulders bent from labor.

"Good people of Chicago, I was born in Primrose, Wisconsin, as town as small as it sounds. I worked on our family's farm–probably the same hours many of you do. I have never been afraid of hard work.

What I am afraid of is what is happening to our democracy. Have you wondered who is running this great nation of ours? I have been in the U.S. Congress and the things I saw have convinced me that we must change the way things are done. I firmly believe that the voice of the people shall be the law of the land. Not of voice of the party bosses and not the voice of the railroads–your voice.

But they have so much money to buy votes from those who are supposed to represent you. How can we change it?

You may have heard of the Australian Ballot. It allows you to choose between candidates of either party on the same day. With the direct primary vote, this allows you to choose your candidates instead of having them all chosen by the party bosses. Imagine that you, the voter could choose the candidate for each office, up to and including President of the United States."

Here he was interrupted by enthusiastic applause.

"Now imagine that if you think of a good law that you would like passes, that you could get friends and neighbors who are registered voters to sign an official petition to put this law on the ballot so that all could vote on it. This would be for the city, county and state."

He heard a woman's voice behind him mummer, "I can think of a few."

"You could pass laws for safety measures at work, fewer hours and fire safety in the tenements."

Now the applause was nearly deafening.

"While we are on the topic of good laws, shouldn't the intelligence and good sense of women be part of the voice of the people by allowing them to vote?"

The applause went on for sometime. When it finally faded, La Follette smiled.

"My wife, Belle was the first woman graduated from the Wisconsin University Law School. Later, my law firm had to present written arguments in a supreme court case. There is a lot of work that goes into this, too much for our little, two man firm, so we asked Belle to prepare the brief.. About a year later, I saw Chief Justice Lyon, who told me that, 'It was one of the best briefs submitted to the court in years...' I said, You make me very proud. That brief was written by an unknown, but very able member of our bar–altogether the brainiest member of my family, Mrs. La Follette."

Laughter greeted his confession.

"I am still working on remedies to this situation. Please remember that your vote should not count less than those who are able to buy the votes of our representatives."

They stood and applauded for a long time. La Follette was moved as he looked at their faces filled with hope and determination."

When they finally stopped, Father stood again.

"Everyone, now we will hear from Jane Addams."

Oddly, there was sporadic applause from the well dressed people, until an elderly man turned to them and said, "We must all be quiet when teacher speaks."

La Follette leaned over to see who she was, as saw a determined woman whose very presence had the attention of everyone in the room,

"Friends and neighbors–and students, we are well aware of the troubles we have in government and although I support votes for women"...she paused," and Indians, with all my heart, we have proved that determination and large numbers...",she was interrupted by laughter, ..."can do things like taking out the garbage, and cleaning the streets."

There was more laughter.

"Hull House is open for you to take over our government. Some of you have already done so, others are telling the stories of why things must change."

People turned to applaud two young women sitting in the front row. La Follette mentally decided to learn more.

"The Socialist Club, union members, suffragists and others already meeting here are always welcome. We are open to all those whose work illustrates what I have been calling Active Christianity. And the urge young people feel to do good will always be nurtured here. Our classes to teach English, reading and writing and citizenship will continue was long as there is need. Should this initiative idea become law, I would most like to see us start one to end child labor so even the poorest child will be able to attend school. Are you with me?"

"Yes!" the audience roared.

"Well, this trip certainly has been beneficial." thought La Follette.

Bill Loftus was nearly exhausted. More rumors swirling around, but it was like trying to catch a fly. He dropped into bed and into sleep. It wasn't long before the dreams began. Like with Jullia Connor, spirits appeared–only now five women surrounded his bed. Bill groaned. He really hated having the sight.

The women all spoke at once, all talking about a, "murder castle.". There was no castle he knew of in Chicago, but the Fair–those buildings were huge and imaginative. Could they mean one of those? Could they mean one of those? All Chicago needed was someone preying on women. Bill did everything he could to sort out what the five were saying. Finally he noticed that all of them sounded like country girls. One was a Southerner, so Bill focused on her. She was talking about the World's Fair. A man with cold eyes and being tied up–He sounded like a real sick one.

It was times like this that made Bill wonder how these inhumans came among the rest of us. How anyone could do these things to anyone was beyond him. And yet, he saw the damage they left behind. And oh could they hide–like those drawings in Children's magazines, with objects hidden all over the big picture. Bill shivered, aware even as he was dreaming. When he opened his eyes, he wondered, wondering if the same older woman and young man would come by and help him.

Bill sat at his desk, waiting and doing paperwork. He was needing more coffee after a night of dreams, so he poured a cup. He heard his name come through the speaking tube and rushed to answer it.

"Yeah, I'm here."

"You got a visitor."

"Be right out."

When Bill got to the front office, the young man he expected was waiting for him.

The fellow held his hand out to shake. "Officer Loftus." They shook hands, and Bill waited, hoping he would supply his name and that Bill wouldn't wind up feeling like an eejit.

"Hugh Martin."

"Yes, I remember you. Shall we go back?"

They sat in an interview room.

"Did you have a dream?", asked Bill.

"All night. Did you?"

Bill nodded, "Which explains the dark circles under my eyes."

"I have a special concern. You cannot let this get out, but you know the Tribune reporter, Kay Vann?"

Bill felt a thrill through his body. "Very. That's one brave fellow."

"What would you say if I told you he is actually two women?"

Bill was shocked to feel his jaw drop."whaaa?"

"And one is the woman I want to marry."

Bill nodded in sudden understanding. "She's been poking around. You are afraid for her."

"And she gives new meaning to the word, 'stubborn.'"

Bill chuckled, "Irish?"

Hugh shook his head ruefully, Worse, German."

"Good Lord. You'd better tell me what you saw."

Hugh sighed. "It was a thick darkness. I could feel it, like cloth, but impervious to light. I heard Kate's voice, playing the helpless female. Then a deeper voice, a man with a mesmerizing way of speaking. I heard him mention the World's Fair."

"That confirms what happened to me. Five female spirits surrounded my bed. They talked about a man with cold eyes, and being tied up."

Hugh gasped. "Good Lord! Now I'm really afraid. I've learned I can't tell her what to do–she'd just become more determined. The only thing I could think to do was alert you and follow her when I can."

"What about the other woman, the one who writes with her?"

"She just got married."

"Oh, so her attention is elsewhere."

"Yes, and Giovanna is the one with common sense."

Bill reluctantly edited what he said next since Hugh seemed alarmed enough. "Do you know anything about a castle?"

"If I were you, I'd find out today."

Hugh jumped up, looking at the door.

"Go ahead. I understand."

Hugh races out the door and Bill went to his desk and made notes. Then he took a deep breath. It was time to face his boss.

Bill knocked carefully on his Lieutenant"s door.

"Come in."

Bill's knees felt weak. What he had was as thin as a newsboy's soup. Bill went in and waited.

"Okay, sit and tell me what you have."

Bill sat. He fiddled with his notes."

"I have something–it's thin, but..."

His boss made a get on with it motion.

"Remember our medical school skeleton?"

"Sure do. Did you find another one?"

"No, but there are some interesting rumors out there. Woman in danger at the World's Fair..."

The boss slapped his desk with his hand. "Do you have any idea how many people attend that fair daily?"

Bill ducked his head. "I need to keep this police business only."

Now there was interest. "Oh"

"You maybe heard of that Tribune reported Kay Vann?"

The boss' eyes went wide. "Yeah. He finds out stuff people try to bury."

"I got this from a real good friend of Vann's. Looking into this, 'castle' and rumors of women disappearing from the fair."

The lieutenant sat back, his eyebrows furrowed.

"It's thin. How good a friend."

Bill crossed his fingers, showing his boss, "Like that."

"Look into it. Keep an eye out, but don't neglect your other work."

"I won't. Thanks. My gut is really bothered by this."

"Go then."

When Bill got back to his desk, he was not surprised to see Anna Frenchman sitting there. What surprised him was the baby in her lap.

"Hello mrs. Frenchman. Where did the baby come from?"

"She's my great niece. Her mother passed away."

Bill crossed himself, "God rest her soul."

"I had a dream–one of those kind."

"I say your friend Hugh earlier."

"Ah, that makes sense. It's his fiance, Kate who is in danger."

"Because she's looking into this castle?"

"And disappearing women–all from out of town."

"From the country, I noticed. And one from the South."

The baby wiggled and looked at him. She smiled, and Bill felt his heart melt."

"Kate is one of those women who are fearless when maybe they ought to let fear warn them of danger."

"So Hugh said. So there is no stopping her."

"Afraid not, But her youngest brother knows where this castle is. And he might enjoy keeping

an eye on her. You know, some of those Germans have romantic notions about rescuing folks.

Bill laughed, then stopped himself. I know a few like that. Could you get this brother to come and talk to me?"

"I think so, I'll sure try."