The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-08-25

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one spoke.
81 don't believe it," mutterea Ker
rigan, on the second bench; "the bosi
don't care whether we're union mel
or not. and | amt heard nothing abou
Romans being bounced"
We'll, | have" asserted another
man. Barton paid him off at the whis
tie not long since"
| McMannis smiled
| That's what I've been telling you,
he said; you don't know what's going
IN. 1t may be all right and ii may be
all wrong, but what I say is. if you
don't like what's happened after you
10. find out, you can't help yourselves
Or each other, unless you're organized
to do It. What's that you say?"
He stopped toward a man on the
front bench who whispered something
and pointed toward the rear door
Then he peered for moment over the
heads of the audience, as though try
ing to single out some individual.
"A gentleman up here says Mr.. Ben
Romans has just come in" he an
nounced, as he gazed down the room
If so, I'd like to ask him if he's been
turned down. and if so why
There was movement in the group
If men gathered about the door, and
Ben Romans took a cigar out of his
mouth and gave surly glance at the
speaker Every head in the room
turned to look at him.
yes, was" he answered shortly,
and walked on like dirt, too"
McMannis waited to observe the eff
sect of this announcement before he
spoke again.
Il was telling the meeting just be-
fore you stepped in, Mr.. Homans," he
began, that I'd heard you'd lost your
lob, but as some here didn't believe
me"-he looked at Kerrigan-"Tm
clad you're on hand to tell us the story
Yourself. Won't you step up and let's
know what's happened. l guess we're
Ill interested, amt we?"
The audience applauded as Ben
strobe through the crowded room. and
as he reached McMannis, the latter in
troduced himself in a loud tone of
voice calculated to convince the spec
tators that the meeting was entirely
accidental.
Then he invited Romans to tell his
own story, and sitting down, lit a ci.
gar.
''The facts are just this" began Ho-
mans. 81 called on Kennard about
whistle-time and put it to him that he
let me have some of the horses shoed
over to Cutters, instead of all of em
at Benefits. Benefits not a union
man, but | didn't see no reason to boy
cott Cutler cause he was. L discharge
YOu!' he says. What for?' asks. For
tryin' to tell me who to employ he
says. I'll have no union interference
here I've been workin' for you some
years. says. Well, you'll not work
ten minutes more!' he says, and rings
for the super to pay me off. And |
heard him tell Barton to take on a
Swab whose name he had ready on a
bit of paper in a book"
An Oh lay months wages We give
him a lot av yur lip, Ben Romans, be-
fore ye got chucked," sang out Pat
Mullin. "Shure, livery man here
knows yur jaw"
What's the hell's difference does
that make, Pat?" interrupted another
man. I'VE know Benefits no union
man and Cutler is, and he don't get
none of the work If union mems
not wanted here, we ought to know
it."
who's the Teller he's takin on in
your place, Benz" asked "Pupsey"
Knox, one of the younger men.
You'll find out when the boss gets
ready to tell you" Romans answered
Better ask him whose
names in the book to take your job,
Pupsey. He's got 'em all ready, you
bet, and they won't come from round
here, either, I'm thinkin'"
Il move, Mr.. Chairman" began one
Of the front nchers, rising to his feet.
Il amt no chairman" interrupted
in surly tone, as he
slouched back to his place at the door.
ue CIOWu laughed at Ile speaker, |
who remained standing.
Il move the meeting" he began
again. that we sign petition asking
Mr., Kennard to employ Cutler as well
as Bennett. l know them both, and"
Il amend the motion" began another
nan, standing up, and | move we pass
esolutions declaring we condemn the i
of Mr.. Ben Romans and"
But Steve Kerrigan was on his feet.
Il move we don't do nothing Of the
ort. The boss has got the right to say
Who he'll have and who he don't want.
lie pays the wages, and if he lays off
1omans l don't think it's any of your
or mine either, so long as he
reats us right. But if anybody thinks
is, let him go and find OUT
You're satisfied, l suppose, to get
hased tomorrow for attendin' this
leeting?" sneered Romans.
mo, | amt, and l amt heard why
on got chased from anybody except
ourself." retorted Kerrigan.
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