Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-02-20


neered by Salvation Army cranks and
other fools of the sort"
Stuart had all he could do to keep
from striking the man in the mouth as |
he spoke of the Salvation Army. That
delicate face in the army bonnet, that
kneeling figure in the midst of the mob
that prayer, the sweet, clear, refined
yoice-all smote his Imagination and
memory as his eyes looked past the big
man out of the window which opened
OH the scenes of the past evening. 1t
was good proof perhaps of the genuine
nature of Stuart's new manhood that
he calmly listened until the speaker
was through and then said quietly: II
do not regard the Salvation Army as
you do, Mr.. Wyman. My dearest
friend, Eric Vassall, is member Of 1t,
and believe we owe our freedom SO
far from lawlessness to the religious
influence exerted by the army
Stuart's reply surprised all the other
men. The big man REDEEMED and was
about to say something when one of
! the others spoke up:
THAT aside, Mr.. Duncan, we do not
see your reason for refusing to get new
men in and starting up again. Your re-
fusal gives the strikers encourage
ment."
~ believe they ought to have the
scale they demand" replied Stuart
quietly.
I'VE don'tw exclaimed the first
speaker viciously. "I'll see every strik-
err starve before I'll grant anything like
the terms they ask. The price of ore at
present wouldn't allow it."
"But," said another of the men,
speaking to Stuart, who remained
standing in the middle of the room,
.the Cleveland men are determined to
set new men at work today. The first
load will come in on the noon train,
Troops are coming with them. The
two companies that We're here last
night have gone on down to the lower
range early this morning. We have the
game In our own hands II we act to-
i gether. You are the largest owner
here. A good deal depends on your
action"
Stuart pondered. The men all looked
+ Mt him anxiously. At last he looked
straight at them, and his face lighted
up.
Il have given the men my word that
I would take them back at their terms.
Thsy have refused to come back unless
al! the other owners make the same
terms. stil think l am right in the
matter, and the rest of you ought to
grant their demands. do not see how
in honesty to my own convictions / can
do otherwise. My present refusal to
get in new men is certainly not adding
to the danger of the situation here In
Champion. Gentlemen"-Stuart paused
for a moment, then went on firmly-"I
cannot see my way clear to hire the
men at smaller wages than 50 day.
do not agree with the statement that
the price of ore does not warrant the
increase in wages. l firmly believe ii
does. The plain fact is that the work
of the men is such dangerous, difficult
work that 50 day is little enough fol
the labor. There isn't man of us
here or in Cleveland who would do the
work these men do for ten times 50 q
way. tOOh IL uS yOu 0O.
shall do my utmost to prevent trouble
but if at any time during the strike my
men come back will open UP with 81
day for the underground men,
The other men looked at Stuart in
added establishment. There was silence
in the office, broken finally by the big
man who had spoken first:
well, that beats me! If ever ex.
pected to hear a son Of Ross Duncan
make socialistic speech! You ought
to go on the platform, sir"
The manner of the remark was SO Of
fensiye that Stuart grew pale and
trembled. But he controlled his pas
sion and turned to the other men. Fol
half an hour more they talked animal
edly, while the big man sulked ant
, smoked a bad cigar in the corner. Al
last Stuart saw that he was not ani
. could not be understood. He could no
: give his best reasons for his position tt
!. these men. They lay too deep at tn,
foundations of his newly found life t,
be explained to men whose spiritua
natures We're buried under cash values
Of existence.
When he was convinced that all til,
talk would result In nothing satisfac
tory, Stuart went out. He felt the meet
of something that responded to his owl
:. life. He felt choked and poisoned
Che could not think of less stronl
world as he realized how firm hol,
= the love of money had on the bushes
world. All the time he cried out in hi
heart: God help mel. want to do til
right thing and will do it as fast as til
light comes" He examined his posi-
ton toward the strike SO far In til
y light of his Christian discipleship an,
heard no accusing voice in his hear
over the Judgment that he had declare,
to be just, and as he went out into tn
street he felt at peace as far us tina
was concerned.
AS he walked the street thinking
all over he had great desire to have
talk with some one he could trust VIII
would sympathize with him. At one
he thought of the new minister. ..
ought to go aud inquire about hir
anyway" He quickened his pac
across the street, entered the squar
and took one of the diagonal paths
the hotel where Burke was staying.
He found Andrew Burke goin
through the hotel Office with larg
box. He saw Stuart coming In and ez
claimed:
Come up, come up, Mr.. Duncan
| I've got some beauties here. wan
you to see them"
Stuart followed up one fight of stair
and entered a large room in the corne
of the hotel, and Andrew Burke Sc
lie down his burden, shook hands strong
ly and asked Stuart to excuse hir
p while he opened his box. Stuart locke
is Oh wonderingly.
i 1t was box full of ported plants
young roses most of them. AS fast a
IF Burke took them out he arranget
a them on temporary shelf by the wiz
It dow.
s,Tl,a.oy. :, N,,,~t,o4t,l z,, 80 A., -, ~