Evening star., 1896-12-26
I'm going to see Mr.. sartwell."

"Oh, no, you're not.
TITS all right. mate. I've Just come from
headquarters. I am going with the COM
mittee's consent and Gibbons permission. -
whats on?" asked the picket In a whis-
per. while others of the strikers crowded
around
'Is the Jig up? Are we going to give in ?''
There's nothing new. I'll know more
when I come out. Perhaps sartWell has
something to propose. We haven't"
The men drew back, with a Simultaneous
sigh, that may have indicated relief, or per-
haps disappointment The sternness of
their resolution to hold out did not increase
tion was disintegrated, rotting. Each man
knew 1t and was suspicious of his comrades
The heart had gone out of the fight.
Marsten. crossing the deserted and silent
yard. mounted the stairs and raped at the
managers door. He found Sartwell alone,
standing at his desk. with some papers be-
fore him.
Now, Marsten," began the manager.
brusquely, turning from his desk. 'you
think I've asked you here to learn some-
thing from you. and you have firmly re-
solved to tell me nothing. That's right.
like to see man stick to his colors. We
save the ship if we can: If she sinks we go
down with her. You may be surprised,
then. to know that 1 am not going to ask
you single question. That will relieve
your mind and enable you to give full at
tention to what have to tell you. hope,
however, that you will keep your word, and
remember the promise you made me a
|
"What promise?"
"Have you forgotten it? Perhaps you
thought II was a threat You said Won
would give the men the information you
received I hold you to that. To tell Glib
bons is not necessarily to tell the men.
You said you would let the men know"
Il will repeat your conversation to Glib
bons and the committee
"Ah, that's not what you said. Neither
Gibbons nor the committee were mentioned
In our talk this morning.
las near as can recollect, said would
Use what information received in the in
terests of the men,"
Quite SO. l am as anxious about the
mems welfare as you are, and what have
to say to you must reach them. If you tell
1t to Gibbons and the committee. and they
do not pass 1T on to the men, as they will
take precious good care not to do, shall
then learn whether you are q man of your
word or not. The strikers meet tonight at
the Salvation Hall. If Gibbons does not
inform them what he will then know, I
shall expect you to stand up In your place
and add to the enlightenment of the situa-
ton. When you were here last showed
you sheet of paper. at the top of which
of the union. The remainder of the sheet
was blank. but 1t is now filled up. 1t shows
the expenditure, week by week, up to the
last payment made to those on strike. If
you cast your eye over this sheet you will
see that the union is now bankrupt"
'If that is all you have to tell me. Mr..
Sartwell, 1t is news. The men already
know they are depending on public sub
scriptions."
And they still believe in Gibbons as a
leader?"
Yes"
Very good. Now. I come to what is
news-news TO you, to Gibbons and to the
men. Most of this money has gone to loaf
ers from the east end of London. ! had
such unlimited confidence In Gibbons fool
ishness and in the stupidity of the commit
tee that have sent through the gates not
workmen like you. but such unfortunate
wretches as were out Of work and willing
to absorb strike pay merely on condition
that they would keep their mouths shut
1t never seemed to occur to Gibbons that
IL were able to fill up the works with men
transported to our uEyer steps on q steamer,
/ could either have fed and lodged them
here. or taken them back and forth In the
same way they came. He gathered them
into the union with . whoop which was
just what / expected him to do. but he
never tried to find out whether they were
genuine workmen or not.
you mean, then. that by q trick you
have bankrupted the union"
Sartwell shrugged his shoulders.
Call 1t q trick. IL you like. A strike Is
| war. You must not expect 1t to be fought
! with rose leaves. But aside from that,
have borne In mind the real interests Of
the men. I could have alled the works
with competent men, yes, ten times over.
II had done 30. where would the strikers
be at the end OF the light? Come would be
| In prison. some would have broken heads.
all would be out of employment. l want
my own men back here I want them to
J understand they have got fool for lead