The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-23
{ Che Memoirs Of
LARlhlR[1GallG1ltilz
BY
Robert HERRICk-
,zos G T6 esl3Ec1x wa Sszszxy

plant ana So what could pe done WIN
the situation. There was a committee
OF the union waiting for me in the su-
perintendent's office. We talked back
and forth a considerable time. and
finally ! said:
See here. boys: I want you to come
over the plant with me and let me
show you what some Of you strikers
have done and what 1t will cost VI b.
fore we can open up"
So l tramped over the place with
the men. and l pointed out damages to
the property that would cost the COM
pany over $4,000 to repair.
'Now 60 home and ask your union II
they will stand for that bill"
They thought it was my little Joke.
They could rct understand that q un-
ion II it. Is to have the power to force
q rise In wages must be responsible
also for the damage done by its men,
bers. Nor could they see that II the
company wasn't making money they.
could not make more money out Of the
company.
At last after talking with the lot Of
obstinate Poles for three hours turn
ed them all away with the suggestion
that they might see q trainload Of men
coming in from the south In about a
week If they DIDN'T come back, for we
were going to open on the 1st Of the
month. They trotted OF to a saloon to
talk it over. The superintendent shook
his head and talked about a riot II we
shoulc try getting in new men. Then
he and I went over the place together
10 see about improvements and spent
another hour looking into every corner
Of the building.
He left me up in the loft Of the main
building. while he went back for some
plans that were In the Office. I poked
about here and there in the dusty,
cobwebbed place. There was only
rough scantling for . door, and below
my feet could see the gaping mouths
Of the great watts still filed with dirty,
Shiny water. Pretty soon I heard the
tread Of feet coming up the stairs.
1t didn't sound like the superintend-
emit He was q light man, and this
was q heavy person. I called out to
the man to take care, as the light was
none too good. and q tumble to the
door below into one Of those watts
would be no joke. He did not reply.
and l was bending over looking down
between the boards and trying TO make
out who 1t was when suddenly felt
myself Srasped by the neck. straight
ened up. and both Of us came near
tumbling over backward through the
loose boarding.
"Quit your fooling" I cried. wonder
ing what had got into the fellow.
Then I threw him of a bit and could
see that had to do with one Of those
men who had been talking with me
down below In the Office.
80 you get some other help, you do,
You do?' he began to spit at me. II
know you! know your
There WAS very little hight in that
loft. for the day was pretty we'll over
All that could be seen by me was a
stocky, short man, with a face covered
by heavy beard. l remembered that
l had seen him in the Office with the
other men, though he had not done any
talking.
"welk." said. what are you after.
John?"
! Z
It was as well to speak good natured-
ly. 1t wasn't Just the place for a wres-
Ting match.
Il know you!" He came forward
again and shook his fist In my face
''You are one of the men who muir
dered my friends! Yes. you did MUIR
der themv'
you're drunk. John" said as cool.
~ as could.
Eyes. you do know! Seven, eight
year ago! At the trial!'
80 you are an anarchist! Those
were your friends. were they?"
And this time just look out for
yourselfw
He made a grab for me, and Jump
ed out Of his reach. In doing SO l
slipped on one of the boards and went
through part way In the distance
below me could see those tough look
ing watts.
1t was only a question now Of how
soon the superintendent would come
I could hear the sound Of his steps be-
low. Perhaps my anarchist had set.
tied him first. In that case there was
he could kick me over the edge as east
~ as you could brush of a dy from
the side Of bowl. So to gain time
thought would try to make the man
talk. Then, at the least, l could grab
him by the legs ana fight 1t out in that
way or pull him down with me.
$50 you think you'Il get even by
killing me! What In the coed Of that,
You'll be caught the first thing. and
you and your mates won't get one
cent more for your days work than
you've had before. l don't count for
So much. Some one else will take my
place in this business, and you will
have the same trick to play over again.
He will boss you, and you win work
for him.
My theory Of life seemed to amuse
my earnest friend, for he undertook to
give me lesson then and there on the
rights Of the anarchist
Maybe all the others like you will
get killed some day." he concluded
Perhaps. john" I answered. But
you'll never kill Us all. That's one
sure thing. And IL by any luck you
should do away with all my kind your
| own men would take to robbin9 YOU