News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-02-13

day"
How about the rest of the compa-
niesY asked a voice.
AYE, that's it. How about the lower
range? What's the mind on that point"
said another
81 cannot answer for them. l am
here today to speak for myself. If the
men who are employed in the Cham
plon mines will come back at any time
now, l will give them what they ask
for"
This statement was greeted with
cheers, but at once there followed a
storm of cries from all over the park.
"All or none"
Union rules firstp
"The owners must treat with the
unionw
well never go back on terms that
shut out part"
STAND together, men! That's what
the owners does"
Eyes, they fixes wages. We fix they
if
Eric stood up and waved his hat.
There was a gradual settling down Of
the confusion, and as he stood there,
evidently waiting to be heard, the men
soon became quiet again. Stuart ad-
mired his control of the crowd. Eric
had great influence with it.
Brothers," he said slowly, 81 be-
lieve we have reached a critical point
in this movement. Here is one of the
owners who has expressed his willing
ness to grant our demands. The ques-
ton now is, Shall the Champion men 60
back to their mines while the rest con-
tinue to deal with the other owners?
This is question for the union to set
tie"
Eric" spoke Stuart in low tone
as he stood close by him, "let me say
a word or two more, will you? | be-
lieve the decision of the men today
will be a serious one, and want to do
all can to make it right"
Eric at once raised his voice. "Men,
Mr. Duncan wants to say a word
again. | am sure you will give him
careful hearing"
aye, that we willw
"He's no bad for a millionairew
give him a chance. He doesn't often
have itv' shouted a voice with a touch
of irony in it.
Stuart took advantage of the lull that
followed these and other shouts to
speak as he had never thought Of doing
when he came to the park. He believ-
cd that the result of the mems action
would be exceedingly important for
themselves and himself. He had never
had such a great desire to explain his
own attitude toward the whole prob
lem of labor and capital as it affected
him.
1t is not possible to describe his
speech. Eric thought at the time that
it was the best speech he had ever
heard from a moneyed man. At times
| it was impassioned, then quiet and con-
versational. 1t is doubtful if very
many of the miners understood it as
Stuart meant. He was in reality voic-
ing a policy for the men of money
which he afterward followed out with
some changes.
This much he made clear to the men:
He sympathized with their demands
for larger wages, while he could not
agree with their methods, and he would
do all in his power to give them their
Just demands as far as he was at liber-
ty to act Independently. He told them
he was going to Cleveland the next day
to confer with the other mine owners
and would use all his influence to get
the others to agree to the rise in wages.
He repeated his offer to treat with the
thousand or more men employed in the
Champion mines at any time they
chose to return. AS he closed he made
an appeal to the men to use reason and
spoke of the religious influence that so
far had prevailed for the good of the
community.
There ran through the whole of Stu
| arts speech this second time passion
ate desire to be understood as a man
before men. He had never before had
such longing to be understood; neither
had he ever felt thegap between himself
| anu the men 10 ne So Wlue anu ueep.
AS has been said, it is doubtful if parts
of his speech were understood at all by
| the men.
AS soon as he finished there was a
great uproar Of applause and shouts.
Eric himself could not restore quiet.
The committee politely asked Stuart
to leave the park while the union went
into a conference over his proposals.
Stuart was glad to get away. He felt
exhausted with his unusual effort.
1t was o'clock in the afternoon
wheE Eric came to the house with the
news of the decision reached by the
miners union. Stuart at once saw by
his face that the situation was serious.
"The men voted by large majority
not to go back to work till all could go
back on the same terms-that is, they
! demanded that all the mine owners rec
ognize the union and make terms with
it for all the men,"
do you mean that the men who
work in the Champion mines refuse to
accept my offer of the wages they de-
mandf
"Yes-that Is, the Champion miners
will not go back until the other owners
make the same terms you make and