The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-09-22
CHAPTER XVI.


The information which Maddox had
obtained proved correct in every par
ticular. The motion directing the gen.
eral manager 10 announce a ten pei
cent. cut in wages was duly made by
Trundell at the next meeting of the
board 1t was intended, he explained
to head off an expected demand on the
part of the employees for a higher
scale
For a few moments after the prOpo-
sal was made no one spoke, and the 13
men sat staring at one another in sol
emn silence across the long directors
table.
"Well?"
Mr. Trundells sharp interrogatory
made Kennard glance at the speaker
and from him to the other members
Does no one wish to be heard on
this motion?" he asked at last.
Spaulding shook his head.
Whats the use?" he muttered !;
"everything's cut and dried here"
One or two others nodded their con-
currence, and Kennard glanced inquir-
ingly at Maddox, but the latter mere
ly shrugged his shoulders.
well, Mr. Chairman"
Trundell's tone was sarcastic and
impatient, and in reply Kennard mo.
toned Maddox to the chair, and walk
ing slowly to Dawes place, sat down.
For few heart-beats he could think
of nothing but the most incongruous
subjects-the neat cabinet-work Of the
long table, the handsome polish of the
ood-border surrounding the center
of crimson cloth. an ink-stain on the
silver paper-U e ght-of everything eX.
cept the Thoughts clamoring for Ut,
ierance. Even when he rose to his
feet, absurd trivial things attracted his
eye and held his attention for the mo-
ment-the guilt picture molding OF
the room, the double shade in the We
lour draperies at the high windows
the bronze doOr-knobs. the unevennes3
Of Hardness crayat. and the constant
shifting of Mr.. Harlan's glanca. C@c2,
twice he followed Joshua Harlan's
eyes as they sought TO avoid his; then
suddenly he held them, and at the
same instant he commenced to speak.
Il do not suppose he began slowly,
that anything can say will be likely
to change the policy upon which the
majority of this board is determined;
still it is my duty to make the attempt.
IT, however, no one who hears me is
persuaded by my words. | shall not
have spoken in vain if the record Of
this days work be made perfectly I'M
mistakable. intend that no man in
this room shall be able to say here
after that lie did net fully understand
what he was doing. | propose to fix
the responsibility of each and every
vote cast to-day so there may be no
more than Is years | have been an en-
ployeT of labor. During that time 7
have conscientiously worked to i'm
prove the condition of the wage-earners
under my personal control. | cannot
claim to have accomplished any lasting
result, hut l have learned something
from my failures 1t is only since
became connected with this company.
however, that L"
"Is this from the advance sheets of
yorr biography" interrupted Mr..
Trundell. "It so. it seems a pity to
anticipate what we shall all doubtless
read with pleasure.
Kennard turned like fash upon the
speaker, but checked a retort and
merely gazed at him in silence for
The issues at stake, Mr.. Trundell,
are too important for me to be dis
turbed by any personalities, and they
cannot be dic0os I'd d by ridicule. If,
however, l &C mo e)e2k here without
may have to seek a lal-
ger audience. from which l shall I'M
receive proper attention"
He paused, but Mr.. Trundell merely
smiled.
"The condition of this company is
we'll known to every director" he con-
tinued. 1T is making money-more
than fair commercial return upon
large capitalization representing good
will and other intangible assets. You
know by what economies this has been
made possible II has been effected
by the substitution of cooperation for
and by %Se concentration
If capital. This company is merely
typical of any we'll organized and con-
Quoted enterprise based on similar
lines. Everywh ere capital is combin-
ing TO secure like results. But if vou
have watched this Increment at al,