News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-04-17
His Brothers
Keeper
BY REV. CHARLES Nj.
S n E l. O N

II WAS Two udg > dlltI that jldI plu-
art, Eric and Andrew met again to talk
over matters, this time at Eric's cot
tage. Rhena had recovered. She was
up and doing part of her work. Stu
art had called to inquire after her, but
had not seen her. He could not help
feeling that when he did have an op-
pOrtunity to speak it would be an
eventful meeting for him. He had in
herited a large portion of his fathers
abrupt determination of conduct and
action. All this faculty, intensified in
another direction under the influence of
his spiritual awakening, burned as
strong as in the old Stuart only for
another purpose. Paul was Saul Chris
tianized. And the new Stuart was as
likely to act in matters that required
decision with as much quickness as
the old Stuart, only with a larger and
truer vision of the meaning of the ac-
ton.
The three men met with a more seri-
GUS and thoughtful bearing than at the
other meeting. Every day in Cham
Dion now intensified the situation and
increased the sum total of suffering
There was no outward sign of the I'M
Son weakening. The winter had set in
definitely, and it looked very much as
If the mines had closed down for the
season. Stuart remembered one Win
ter when the mines had closed for a
month through action of the owners in
order to force up the price Of ore. That
was when he was boy. He could still
remember something of the suffering
at that time. Now it promised to be
Infinitely worse.
Erie, you have more influence with
the men than any one on the ranges,
Can't you persuade the union to do
something to arrive at a deciSion?"
asked Stuart little vaguely He was
feeling around after answers to q thou
send questions. and he started the talk
aimlessly because he was preoccupied
We'll, what can l do? The owners
are the ones to arrive at a decision
Can't you persuade them to agree 10
our demands and your own promise Of
So a day." replied Eric, who never hes
itated to say what he felt no matter
how abrupt it might seem.
'NO: | have no influence that way
with the other owners. You ought to
see some of the letters | get from
Cleveland L tell you the owners will
not give in The whole situation is
horrible. Sometimes, Eric, Andrew,
feel as if the men were destitute of all
sense. What right have a third or a
fourth of them to keep the rest from
work because all cannot get the same
wages"
'"rhey don't look at it that way The
principle is with them all based on the
right or wrong side of the demand for
the 50. At the same time, as said the
other day, look at the strike from an
other point of view. am ready to ac
knowledge it is miserable way to try
10 get justice done. The men can new.
GER make up what they have lost by this
ddleness. But, good God, Stuart, ejac-
ulated Eric. hobhling to the window
and looking out on the snow covered
hills just back of the cnttage, what
other way is there if the owners refuse
TO listen to appeals and arbitration?
Are we to submit indefinitely to starva-
zion wages because WE can't help our
selves? OF course look at it from a
wOrkingman's standpoint Boiled down
TO its simplest terms. the men don't see
anything but reason in asking that a
business like the ore industry. that has
made a few men princely rich, ought
10 divide up its profits more fairly and
make good r,any persons more com
Portable instead of making a select few
uncomfortably wealthy"
do you believe a man can be I'M
comfortably wealthy" asked Andrew,
with smile, as if he believed it him
self.
You don't need to 90 outside this
COON to find one" answered Stuart
Soberly. what good can | do3with all
any money in a case like this? | seem
TO be as helpless as either of you"
''No, you're not. You can relieve a
great deal Of distress. Money is a
great power in that way"
"But look here, Eric. Isn't this the
situation? Here are 5000 men out on a
strike. A thousand of them have beer
offered their demands. They have re
fused out of sympathy for the rest
who will never get what they ask, fol
can't compel the other companies tt
Slo what | think is the right thing
Now, then, these men are faced will
starvation or at least with great suf
fering this winter. Shall | say to then
practically Never mind; | have mon
icy. | will take care of you indefinite
ay or until the money is gomez |
seems to me that the thousand mel
ought to 20 to work If they have al
offer at their own terms. What do yol
think, Andrew
Il think as you do. | regard tn
strike as a disaster. At the same tim
Rhe men are doing as thousands of me
have done and win continue to do unit
we have a better system than we hay
at present of settling the difference
between men who labor with the brai
and those who labor with the hanC
Would it be possible to provide tn
men with work of any kind, so tho
they would not be fed in idlenessY
"Why, what can miners do exceI
sheir own kind of work? Who ca