The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-09-26

shut down or put their men into the
ranks"
'You have asked my men to join,
haven't you?"
Eyes"
''What did they say?"
Munro Clipped in, 'They> said, GO
to blazes.'' %
Raymond smiled. "How impolite Of
them! Well, now, let me say once
again, Carter, l am in sympathy with
your main objects. I think man
should be paid for every minute he
works, but don't believe in any meth
od Of forcing men who are working
and want to work into strike. I can't
afford to go into any such organiza-
ton"
"You can't afford not to-" growled
Brock.
His tone angered Raymond "What
have you to say in this matter?''
"I'm g member of the executive COM
mittee."
"Since when?'
"No matter when. What I say goes"
"Does it? Well, you keep a civil
tongue In your jaws when speaking to
me-"
Brock rose. you'll close down to-
morrow or we'll close you down."
Raymond faced him. "We will not
close down, and you can't close US
down. Carter knows, and you know,
Jack, I've played fair in this. 1 have
not believed in your methods. I stood
with Larned, your own organizer,
against violence. If you can't convince
my men by argument you needn't come
to me to dragon them into your ranks.
What difference will my hands make
anyway
Carter seized upon this. cit will
make all the difference there is. There
are dozen Of these small operators
holding out because you and Kelly do.
Your men are all strong men and
ought to be with US. Besides, It weak
ems our discipline"
Raymond interrupted. "We've been
all over that before. I am not concern
ed with your discipline. I have no
quarrel with my men. They are satis-
fled with our present arrangement.
You're going at this back end to. If
you would turn your attention to re-
forming mining laws and crushing out
these speculative owners Of mining
lands, you would really be doing some
thing, but your assault on men who are
paying labor full wages weakens your
case"
Kelly opened the door and entered
while Raymond was speaking.
whats the meaning Of all this"
he asked.
Raymond coldly replied. 'These mem
have come to serve final notice on
us to discharge our nonunion men or
shut down"
"Not at allr' cried out Carter, who
feared Kelly. Call we ask is that you
recommend your men to join the un-
ion'-
Brock Spsans t. lis feet again. "oh,
rats. What's the use beating around
the bush: We know that you fellers
are the backbone of the free miners
association ard that they woujd al
come ii II you said SO, aid Nc need
you and your men. We want you to
head 'em our way
Kelly. smiled. "Ye're not asking
much. $50 far as I'm concerned, Car
ter, I don't believe a word in you and
your schoolboy. tomfool antics. From
the very start ye've gone wrong. You
began by defending lot of drunken
blaggards, and that queered ye with
every decent man. Go back to camp,
arrest Denver Dan, San Juan Jones.
Hob Smith and The rest Of the bunch
and send them down to the valley as a
peace offering; then serve notice on
the men that blew up the Red Star
that they'll be hung tomorrow morn
ing. By that time I'll begin to believe
in you and your love for the honest
workingman."
Carter, utterly unable to stem the
food Of kelly's indignant speech, sat
with dropping head. He stammered,
"Tou-you're traitor to labor"
81 am traitor to nothing that is
good, but I am worn out and weary
with your yellin', cursin', gamblin',
drunken looms that assume to be work
men. / have more respect for the
weak little dagoes, for they do want
work and need it, but the buns that
fill the streets are a sorry threat to
decent man, let alone decent woman.
And here's Jack Munro''-kelly turned,
and the smile died out of the young
desperado's face-"he's chief Of gang
of hoodlum cowboys and still pretends
to be keepin' the peace. If you want
to help the cause Of labor, Jack, me
boy, close the saloons while this strike
is going on, protect the women and
children, arrest and throw out the men
that blew up the Red Star mine-you
know who they are
81 do not" said Munro.