The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-08-14
CHAPTER IX-CoNT1NUED.

Thus, it was resolved that another
incumbrance should be laid on the
broad back of the breadwinner, who
shouldercd the burden cheerfully, for
George Harland had big heart and
never fretted over trihes.
The young women retired to put the
children to bed, and the mechanic, well
pleased with himself and his surround
ings, drew his chair closer to the stove
and lit his pipe to enjoy his usual even
ing smoke. AS the clouds curled up
wards to the ceiling the tint of his
thoughts became less roscate-a feel
ing of unrest possessed him. Allys
broken health and Cohcn's brutality
ranliled in his mind, and for the first
time in his life he found himself wan
,dering whether WINDY" Atkins, the
demagoguc of the yard, was not right
after all in his dcnunciation of capital
lists and his Aorid portrayal of the
wrongs of labor. 1t did seem cruel
that fairly-cducated, well-behavcd
girl like Ally should be wearing herself
out for bare subsistence.
Then, there was that little trouble
down at the yard-not worth making a
fuss about, certainly not to be NEIL
toned TO Nell-perhapS, after ALL he
ought to have taken more interest in it
and attended the meeting at O'Brien's
saloon tonight. Hanged, if he didn't
think it would be good thing to go
and talk the matter over with that
editor-fellow, Grey, if he should chance
to be in his room.
He found our hero up to his eyes in
study, but cordially glad to see him.
II read that paper of yours, which
Col. Gilchrist tossed into the waste
basket, and see many good points in it
perhaps too conservative for these
critical times, but that is good fault"
"Well, sir" Harland answered, Il
don't know, after all, that I'm right.
at does seem hard that there should be
80 much suffering in this land of plenty,
THAT one man should be rolling in
riches and another equally Industrious
for / take no account of loafers-
should hardly be able to keep the wolf
from the door,"
"Itdocs, indeed" Grey responded, de-
cisively, thinking of his own attenuated
services and inability to secure en-
ployment. 1T is a hard problem to
solve, and" He paused and blushed
scarlet. I'm trying to master it.
Don't think that ever hope to be the
apostle of the New Civilization, but 1
may be one of its pioneers"
Harland gazed at him with OPEN
mouthed wonder.
Concentration of wealth led to the
French revolution, class privileges, and
unequal taxes. How is it in America?
Big concerns backed by huge capital
crush the life out of small tradesmen,
who must become servants or starve
We have law enough, but no justice.
Who cares for the law who has money
and influence sufficient to defy it? Our
tax administration is disgrace to civ
ilization, and"
"Still it's pretty good country to
live in, Mr.. Grey"
"Yes, as long as your OK is not gored.
If you could shut your eyes to the mis-
cry of thousands in this city of Chicago,
you might think it charming place to
dwell in"
Sand what are you going to do about
it?"
"Mass labor against capital"
"By trades unions?"
"Yes. By concentrated action. By
the power of the ballot box"
"Tallsing Of trades unions, want
your advice as to case in point"
Proceed"
1--WE had two men in our yard who
have scamped their work and, as the
saying goes, 'sassed the boss who
gave them the sack. Now, there's
some kind of fuss about the matter
and some of the men are attending q
meeting tonight to talk the matter
over. l don't suppose it will amount
to much, but I'm kind of uneasy, and
that's why / came upstairs"
"Oh, that is all nonsense. The work
ingmen of this country are too intelli
gent to make mountain of such a
molehill as that Iwouldn't worry about
it If were you"
Nevertheless, just as Harland that
night was going to bed, tap came tC
the door, and fellow workman beck
oned him outside.
"Ive been to the meeting, George
and thought I'd drop in and tell yov
how thingp went"