Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-07-22

! when he wasn't no more'n knee-high
| to a hop-toad!"
We'll, you bet your life he's heap
| highenn that now" said another, who
| had CHANGED to be at the station when
| the Gordons, father and son, left the
| train together. He's g. half a head
| taller than the old man. an built like
| one O. Maize Dabney's thoroughbreds.
| But l reckon he amt nothin but a
school boy, for all O. that
"Gar-r-r!" spat a third. We've had
! one kid too many in this outfit, all
| along"
Yes, chimed in a fourth, buckle
| berry miner from the Bald Mountain
district Il don't believe the old man
| knows, himself. He fit around and 1T
| around, talkin to me, and never said
| nothin' moren that there was goln 10
| be a meetin' here at o'clock, and Tom
| his son Tor1-was goin to speak to
| it,"
| Tom and his father entered the
| building from the cupola side, and Tom
| mounted the k-built platform while
| the men were scattering to find seats.
| He made a goodly figure of young
! manhood, standing at ease on the pie
| of frames until quiet should prevail,
| and the glances flung up from the
| throng of workmen were friendly rath-
er than critical When the time came.
| he began to speak quietly, but with a
| certain masterful quality in his voice
| that unmis takably constrained atten-
| ton.
Il suppose you have all been told
| why the works are shut doWn-Why
| you are out of a job in the mlddle OF
| summer; and l understand you are not
| fully satisfied with the reason that was
| given-hard times. You have been say
| ing among yourselves that If the presl-
| dent and the treasurer could go Off on
holiday trip to Europe, the situation
| couldn't be so very desperate. Isn't
that SOP"
That's so; you've hit it in the head
| first crack out O. the, box, was the
swift reply from a score of the men,
| Good; then Wen settle that point
| before we go any further l want TO
| tell you men that the hard times are
| here, sure enough. We are all hoping
| that they won't last very long; but the
| fact remains that the wheels nave
| stopped. Let me tell you: I've just
come down from the North, and the
| streets of the cities up there are full OF
| idle men, All the way down here L
| didn't see a single ron-furnace IN
| blast, and those of you who have been
| over to South Tredegar know what the
| conditions are there. Mr. Farley has
| gone to Europe because he beleVes
| there is nothing to be done mere, ana
| the facts are on his side. For anybody
| with money enough to live on, this is
| mighty good time to take vacation
| There was a murmur Of protest,
| voicing itself generally in a denial ot
| the possibility for men who wrought
with their hands and ate in the sweat
| of their brows.
! Il know that" was Toms rejoinder.
Some of us can't afford to take lay
| off, l can't, for one. And that's why
we are here this afternoon. Chiawas-
see can blow in again and stay in blast
| if we've all got nerve enough to hans
| on If we start up and go on making
| pig, it'll be on dead market and Wen
| have to sell it at loss or stack 1t IN
| the yards We can't do the first, and
| | needn't tell you that it is going to
take a mighty long purse to do the
| stacking It will be all outgo and 40
| income If
Spit it out" called Ludlow, from the
| forefront of the miners division. Il
reckon we all know what's comm"
| It's a case of half a loaf or no bread.
| If Chiawassee blows in again, 1t Will
be on borrowed money. If you men
| will take half-pay in cash and half IN
promises, the promised half to be paid
when we can sell the stacked pig, we
| 60 on. If not we don't. Talk 1t over
| among yourselves and let us have your
| decision
| There was hot caucusing and a fair
| imitation of pandemonium on the foun-
| dry floor following this bomb hurting,
| and Tom sat down on the edge of the
| platform to give the men time. Caleb
| Gordon sat within arms reach, nursing
| his knee, diligently saying nothing. 1t
was Tom, undoubtedly, but Tom who
| had become a citizen of another world,
| a newer world than the one the ex-ar-
| tilleryman knew and lived in. He
| Caleb-had freely predicted a riot as
| the result Of the half-pay proposal;
| vet Tom had applied the match and
| there was no explosion. The buzzins,
| arguing groups were not riotous-only
| tiercely questioning.
Ito be continued.)