The weekly examiner., 1901-07-20

on the scenes of the past evening. I
 was good proof perhaps of the genuin,
 nature of Stuart's new manhood tha
 he calmly listened until the speaker
 was through and then said quietly: "l
 do not regard the Salvation Army as 1 you do, MT. Wyman. My dearest i friend, Eric Vassall, is a member of 1t
 and I Believe we owe our freedom SC
 far from lawlessness to the religious
 influence exerted by the army"
 Stuart's reply surprised all the other
 men. The big man reddened and was
 about to say something when one o1 l the others spoke up:
 That aside. MT. 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 i ment."
 | 'I believe they ought to have the
 scale they demand" replied Stuart l quietly.
 eve don'tw exclaimed the first l speaker viciously. "Ill see every strik-
 CT 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 l load will come in on the noon train. Troops are coming with them. The two companies that were here last l 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.
 II have given the men my word that would take them back at their terms. They have refused to come back unless all the other owners make the same terms. I still think I 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 I can do otherwise. My present refusal to get in new men is certainly not adding to the danger of the situation here in
 
 for a moment, then went on firmly-"I cannot see my way clear to hire the men at smaller wages than $2 day. I do not agree with the statement that the price of ore does not warrant the increase in wages. I firmly believe it does. The plain fact is that the work of the men is such dangerous, difficult work that $2 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 $2 a day. l cannot look at it as you do. I shall do my utmost to prevent trouble but if at any time during the strike my men come back will open up with $2 day for the underground men,"
 The other men looked at Stuart in added astonishment. There was silence i ta tf1es sg4ice, broken finally by the big man who had spoken first:
 well, that neats 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 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 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 life. He felt choked and "poisoned" Che could not think of a less strong | word) as he realized how firm a hold 1 the love of money had on the business l world. All the time he cried out in his | heart: God help me! 1 want to do the | right thing and will do it as fast as the | light comes." He examined his posi- l tion toward the strike so far in the | light of his Christian discipleship and | heard no accusing voice in his heart l 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 a great desire to have a talk with some one he could trust who l would sympathize with him. At once l he thought of the new minister. II l ought to go and inquire about him He quickened his pace aoross tho street entered the Sn11ara 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 saw Stuart coming in and ex- claimed:
 "Come up, come up, MT. Duncan!