Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-11

who he'll pay 'em to. deny II!
deny it,"
A ripple of applause greeted this de-
fiant note, and the orator continued
more f1ercely- ...
Just as soon as you stand by and
see this man, or any man, turned down
because he's a union member or favors
union men, then l say you've begun to
forge the first fetter for yourselves,
and before you know 1t. they'll click
upon your feet!" ......
McMannis, who had been punctuat-
ing his remarks with swinging right
arm and closed hand, brought his
clenched fist down on the table with
O crash which evoked genuine burst
of applause from his hearers.
There's no safety for the laboring
man." he continued, as the plaudits
broke forth, and then waited with up
lifted arm for them to subside. Il
say, there's no safety for the laboring
man outside his own ranks! Dissolve
the unions tomorrow and what do you
think would be the rate Of wages? d
you suppose Mr.. Kennard would make
no change? He'd have to do 1t or be
undersold by all his competitors, anc
be ruined inside { year. There's no
man in the world to-day that's good
enough. or strong enough. or rich
enough to protect the laboring man"
A volley Of applause drowned the
crash of McMannis' fist.
81 tell you the unions have made the
working-men Of this country what
they are to-day" he continued. "and
they're the only power that can keep
him where he Is. The man who suf-
fers another to be discharged because
he favors them" g..
"Oi hov me doubts" interrupted Pat
Mullin, "if Hcmans has the rights aV
the story at all. Shure, II t was me
wuz the boss, he'd been hunted long
ago."
T move a committee be appointed to
wait on Kennard and ask him to ex-
plain Ben Homans' discharge, and re-
port accordin'," spoke up "Pupsey"
Knox, with the glibness Of recitation,
and the consciousness of newly discov-
cred power.
Second the motion!" ripped out
another of the younger element.
The motion was quickly put by Mr..
McMannis, and If 1t was not carried
by acclamation the protesting voices
were too feeble to reach the temporary
chairman.
81 suppose the sense Of the meeting
is for the chair to appoint the commit
tee," began McMannis, looking about
the room for confirmation, which he
received wherever he looked, "and with
such understanding" he went on, "the
chair appoints Mr.. Pat Mullin-"
"Oi be domned II We do!" interrupted
the appointee, rising to his feet, AN
II any man miscalls me"
-"Aw. shut up. Pat!"
-"Divil a bit"
Don't name him-he's no good"
-"He's a better man than you'll ever
be-"
Jaw dry up, Kerriean!" ,.--'
Hes dried up already"
"Since Mr.. Mullin refuses to act"
shouted McMannis, making himself
heard above the din and restoring
quiet, "Mr. Mullin having declined, the
chair appoints Mr.. Kerrigan and"
"The hell Won do Not on your life!"
broke In Kerrigan.
"Mr. Kerrigan and Pupsey Knox"
continued McMannis.
mo. you don't" contradicted that
gentleman. I'm not gettin' myself
chased for any Ben Homans."
Hes scared"
you're a liar!"
"Ye're all a domned silly pack av
fools!" beloved Mullin, as he elbowed
himself out Of the hall.
McMannis looked about the room
with a shrug of his shoulders, and
gesture which was at once an admis-
sion of the helplessness Of the situa-
ton, and an invitation for sugges-
tions. They came after. somewhat
noisy interval
81 guess none of us wants to get too
observed an individual
leaning against the wall. "and | guess
Homans don't want nobody chased for
lnquirin' after him. So | move that
the chairman, bein' an impartial party
an havin' nothing to lose, act for US as
this committee"
Second the notion" sang out half
q dozen voices from different parts OF
the room.
"If anybody wants to debate this
notion" announced McMannis, 81 sur
render the chair"
But no one apparently cared to de-
bate 1t, and Peter McMannis was ap-
pointed the committee of one so easi-
!y, that he smiled as he thought Of the
needlessly elaborate plans he had for
mulated to accomplish the result.
That the Fates were favoring
him Peter McMannis knew, but
he failed to appreciate at once
he full extent of their good will.
Even while he sat in Kennard's hall
way, the next morning. growing an
grier and angrier with every minutes
delay, he little realized the trend OF
events. His card had been delivered
soon after the boss had reached his
office, and five minutes, ten minutes,
twenty minutes, half an hour had
slipped by without result. Then he
stopped a hurrying messenger and sent
in a second card. which ELECTED no
reply. 1t was more annoying than be-
ing sent from pillar to post In Mr..
Harlan's labyrinth. There at least he
received some attention; here he was
utterly ignored. Messengers and clerks
walked in and out of Kennard's room,
and once or twice mechanics favored
the committeeman with grin as they
passed the visitors bench. One went
so far as to ask him how things were
progressing, and McMannis swore In
answer, and rising began to pace i'm
patiently up and down.
At last the door swung open, and
the committee of one found himself
face to face with tall, youthful-look-
ing man, dressed for travelling and car