Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-09
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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"
Il believe they ought to have the
scale they demand" replied Stuart
quietly.
I'VE DON'T exclaimed the first
speaker viciously. I'll see every strik-
er 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,
I 1.-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 were here last
night have gone on down to the lower
range early this morning. We have the
game in our own hands If we act to-
gether You are the largest owner
here. A good deal depends on your
action"
Stuart pondered. The men all looked
at him anxiously. At last he looked
straight at them, and his face lighted
up.
4 have given the men my word that
| would take them back at their terms.
They have refused to >ome back unless
all the other owners make the same
terms. | still think -Sm rigslt in the
matter, and the rest of you ought to
grant their demands. l do not see how
in honesty to my own convictions l 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''-Stuact paused
for a moment, then went on firmIy-'I
cannot see my way clear to hire the
men at smaller wages than So a day 1
do not agree with the statement that
the price of ore does not warrant the
increase in wages. l firmly believe it
does. The plain fact is that the work
of the men is such dangerous, difficult
work that So day is little enough for
the labor. There isn't a man of US
here or in Cleveland who would do the
work these men do for ten times So a
day. l cannot look at it as you do. /
shall do my utmost to prevent trouble,
but if at any time during the strike my
men come back l will open up with So
a 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 1 ever ex-
pected to hear a son of Ross Duncan
make a socialistic speech! You ought
to go on the platform, STRIP
The manner of the remark was So of
fensive that Stuart grew pale and
trembled. But he controlled his pas
sion and turned to the other men. For
half an hour more they talked animat-
edly, while the big man sulked and
smoked a bad cigar in the corner. At
last Stuart saw that he was not and
could not be understood. He could not
give his best reasons for his position to
these men. They lay too deep at the
foundations of his newly found life to
be explained to men whose spiritual
natures were buried under cash values
of existence.
When he was convinced that all the
talk would result in nothing satisfac-
tory, Stuart went out. He felt the need
of something that responded to his own
IA1S. Liz ICAL CAOASu anu pOlSOuCu
Che could not think of a less strong
world as he realized how firm a hold
the love of money had on the business
world. All the time he cried out in his
heart: "God help me! want to do the
right thing and will do it as fast as the
light comes" He examined his posi-
ton toward the strike so far in the I
light of his Christian discipleship and
heard no accusing voice in his heart
over the judgment that he had declared
to be just. and as he went out into the
street he felt at peace as far as that
was concerned.
AS he walked the street thinking it
all over he had great desire to have a
talk with some one he could trust who
would sympathize with him. At once
he thought of the new minister. 81
ought to go and inquire about him
anyway" He quickened his pace
across the street, entered the square |
and took one of the diagonal paths to
the hotel where Burke was staying.
He found Andrew Burke going |
through the hotel office with a large |
box. He ssw Stuart coming in and eX-
claimed:
"Come up, come up, Mr.. Duncan! /
I've got some beauties here. / want |
you to see them
Stuart followed up one fight of stairs |
and entered q large room in the corner |
of the hotel, and Andrew Burke set /
down his burden, shook hands strong
~ and asked Stuart to excuse him
while he opened his box. Stuart looked |
on WOnderingly.
1t was a box full of potted plants, |
young roses most of them. AS fast as /
Burke took them out he arranged |
them ON a Temporary shelf by the win