Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-17

will best prove that you have no cause
to complain of the fidelity of my SER
vices. have worked we'll for you.tThe
men also especially in No. 2 pit. And
they deserve to have their exits safe
and clear In case of, danger,
"Mr. Grinding" said the owner Of
the Incubus pits, what have you to
say to this?"
THAT 1t is all sultry nonsense"
quoth the rotund manager Of the
Dock. This engineer. man is no better
than miners agent. His business
land ours) is to get as much work out
of the men as possible. The mems
business is to get as much out of us
as possible - and do as little for It.
Mr. Vic Morris is trying to straddle
the fence. But that's not my idea of
loyalty to ones employer"
Nor mine either groaned the SEN
ior manager. Mr. Hector McKill; ''he
that is not for us is against US SO it
is, written!"
81 have heard of the devil quoting
Scripture to suit his purpose before
now" said Vic sharply: IF you wish
me to tell you what I think, I will do
it, don't believe in men going first to
prayer meetings and then home again
to arrange for cutting wages 10 per
cent all round when profits are SO
per cent over all"
"Confine yourself to the matter in
hand, Mr. Morris, and you will do
well for yourself said Mr.. Romer,
his grim face a shade greyer and
grimmer than usual "And be good
enough to remember that outside that
window there is thirty thousand
pounds worth of property destoyed-
in all probability by the men whose
case you are pleading so eloquently."
"No, sir; not by them" said Vic
earnestly, but perhaps by the second
class men whom you have brought to
Kirktown by the second class wages
you are paying. By men who have not
that respect for themselves which only
comes of being respected by their en-
ployer."
The owner of thirty blocks Of min
ers' houses in Kirktown and Inch
gonna waved his hand.
eff the men are not satisfied he
said, they possess the same liberty
of going elsewhere of which you can
avail yourself. Mr.. Norris"
Exactly" said Vic; but. first Of
all you asked me to SPEAK and
speak will"
Certainly = delighted to listen,
Mr.. Morris!" said Jacob Romer. And
the Triplice of Kahn smiled, we'll
pleased. Already they saw Mr.. Vic
Morris going down the High street Of
Kirktown. dismissed man.
"As for the government inspection.
it was a farce, nothing less. Nor do
think it is altogether the fault of the
inspector Our last was man accus-
toned to dangerous flre-damp mines.
He thought nothing else was worth
looking for. He knew our good repute
In Kirktown in that respect. The
ironstone kills, the, fire-damp. Well.
Mr.. Grinding took him in hand He
treated him generously. The. obstruc-
tons had been cleared away from the
bottom Of the second entrance the
steam pipes covered up. In gay COM
pany our inspector went down, as if
to picnic. He admired the beautiful
working of the cages He took into
his lungs the full current Of fresh air
He walked along the working faces.
| He spoke to one or two of the men.
He asked If they were content They
were married men with families. and
! could be warned out Of their homes at
la weeks notice on the part of the
company. They had no complaints He
passed the tunnel. with the sheets
covering the steam pipes that led to