Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-10-02

pride had died out. The confidence
which sprang from his possession Of
gold had dulled into doubt.
As he sat thus, bordering over his
problem, he heard voices, and mo-
ment later loud rap shook his door,
ominous with decisiveness of stroke.
"Come in" he shouted somewhat
surlily, for he did not enjoy Interrupt
ton.
Munro, Brock, Carter and one or two
others he didn't know entered, covered
with snow.
Good evening, gentlemen" He in
dictated chairs. What can do for
you this EVENING"
Carter seemed very nervous and took
seat without looking at his host.
Munro was smiling, but his eyes were
aslant as he replied;
"oh, we just called to pass the time
Of night and inquire about your good
health"
Raymond glanced from Munro's wag-
gish lips to the frowning or troubled
faces Of the other men and braced him
self for trouble.
"Out with it. Carterl What do you
want Of me?'
Garter fdgeted on his chair. 'Well,
you see, it's this way, Rob: We held
meeting today, and we decided that
In view of the struggle that labor Is
making here all the mines should either
shut down Of put their men into the
ranks"
you have asked my men to join,
haven't your"
EYES,"
what did they say7"
Munro Clipped in, 'They said, Go
to blazes.'"
Raymond smiled. Glow impolite of
them! Well, now, let me say once
again, Carter, am in sympathy with
| your main objects. / think a man
should be paid for every minute he
works, but I don't believe in any meth
cd Of forcing men who are working
and want to work into a 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 member Of the executive CON-
mittee."
"Since when?"
mo matter when. What I say goes"
"Does it? Well, you keep 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. stood
with I.arned, your own organizer,
against violence. # 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. ut 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. have no
quarrel with my men. They are salts
fed 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 men
have come to serve final notice on
us to discharge our nonunion men or
shut down"
"Not at ALP cried out Carter, who
feared Kelly. "All we ask Is that you
recommend your men to Join the un-
ion"-
Brock sprang to his feet again. "oh,
ratsl What's the use beating around
the bush2 We know that YOU fellers
ore the backbone Of the free miners'
association and that they would all
come In If you said so, and we need
you and your men. We want you to
head 'em our way"
Kelly smiled. "Yere not asking
mhch. So far as I'm CONCERNED, Car
TER, don't believe q word in you and
your schoolboy, tomfool antics. From
the very start we've gone wrong. You
began by defending lot of drunken
blaggards, and that queered We 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 n
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
1tS 40 1suf lsvs for tns honest