Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-02-13
CHAPTER M-coxr1SuEp.

CHAPTER H-Coxr1NuEp.
| Thus. it was resolved that another
mcumbrance Should be laid on the
| broad back of the breadwinner, who
shouldered the burden cheerfu1ly, for
George Harland had big heart and
never fretted over trifies.
The young women retired to put the
children to bed, and the mechanic, well
pleased with himself and his surround
1nSs, 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 roseate-a feel
ing OF unrest possessed him. Ally's
broken health and Cohen's brutality
ranked in his mind, and for the first
time in his life he found himself wan
dering whether 'Windy" Atkins, the
demagogue of the yard, was not right
after all in his denunciation of capital
lists and his forid portrayal of the
wrongs of labor. It did seem cruel
that fairly-educated, well-behaved
girl like Ally should be wearing herself
out for a bare subsistence.
Then, there was that little trouble
down at the yard-not worth making a
fuss about, certainly not to be men
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. Glchrist tossed into the waste
basket, and see many good points in it
perhaps too conservative for these
critical times, but that is good fault"
swell, sir" Harland answered, Il
don't know, after all, that I'm right.
It does seem hard that there should be
so much suffering in this land of plenty,
that one man should be rolling in
riches and another equally industrious
for 1 take no account of loafers-
should hardly be able to keep the wolf
from the door"
1T does, indeed" Grey responded, de-
cisively, thinking of his own attenuated
services and inability to secure en-
piOS iiCIib. IL - ldI1l pIODISu 10
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 l
may be one of its pioneers"
Harland gazed at him with open
IaoGthed 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.
VIC have law enough, but no justice.
Who cares for the law who has money
ard influence sufficient to defy it? Our
tax administration is disgrace to civ
iiizatioa, and"
still it's u 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,
ycu might think it charming place to
dwell in
And what are you going to do about
it,"
MASS labor against capital"
by trades unions?"
Eyes. BY concentrated action. By
the power of the ballot box"
Talking of trades unions, I want
your advice as to a case in point"
Proceed"
ave had two men in our yard who
have scamped their work and, as the
saying goes, 'sasscd the boss who
gave them the sack. Now, there's
Il - oh no
and some OF the men are attending a
over. don't suppose it viii amount
TO much. but I'm kind of uneasy, and
that why came upstairs"
.'Oh. that is ali nonsense. The work
inEnen of this country are too intelli-
gent to make mountain of such a
molchiu as that. Iwouldn't worry about
it il were YOU"
Nevertheless, just as Harland that
night was going to bed. a tap came to
the door, and fellow workman beck
oncd him outside.
I've been to the meeting. George,
AID thought I'd drop in and tell you
how things went"
''You might have saved yourself the
trouble" Harland laughed. 81 know
how things went. just as though I'd
been there. Windy Atkins made a
scrccd On the bloated lumber lords, |
there was good deal of beer con-
sumed. and then Fred Sawyer and a
few old hands just sat down on the sill
II performance"
You are wrong, George" was the
serious reply. The only man who spoke
at length was the walking delegate
from New York, and"
ssWho in thundcr's hep" Harland |
asked fcrccly. What can New
Yorker know about our local 1uarrels?
And what did he Say?"
''Ordcred us az cut on strike acitaout
al hours notice"
CHAPTER X
TOMAN'S WORD. |
Il r.