The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-10-07

when he wasn't no more'n knee hixs
20 hop-toad!"
Well you bet your life he's heap
nignenn that now" said another. who
nao cnanced to be at the station when
the Gordons, father and son, left the
train together. He's half head
taller than the old man, an built like
one O. MAZE Dabney's thoroughbreds.
But ! 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 fourth, "huckle-
berry" miner from the Bald Mountain
district. Il don't believe the old man
knows, himself. He fit around and tit
around. talkin' to me, and never said
nothin' more'n that there was goin' to
be meetin' here at 2 o'clock, and Tom
his son Tom--was goin' to speak to
it,
Tom and his father entered the
building from the cupola side, and Tom
mounted the flask built platform while
the men were scattering to find seats
He made goodly figure of young
manhood, standing at ease on the pile
of frames until quiet should prevail,
and the chances flung up from the
throng of workmen were friendly rath-
err than critical When the time came,
he began to speak quietly, but with
certain masterful quality in his voice
that Enthusiastically constrained atten-
ton.
Il suppose you have all been told
why the works are shut down-why
you are out of job in the middle of
summer; and I understand you are not
fully satisfied with the reason that was
given-hard times. You have been say
ing among yourselves that if the presi-
dent and the treasurer could go off on
holiday trip to Europe, the situation
couldn't be so very desperate. Isn't
that so?"
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 we'll settle that point
before we go any further. / want to
fell 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 have
stopped. Let me tell you:l 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 iron-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 believes
there is nothing to be done here, and
the facts are on his side. For anybody
with money enough to live on. this Is a
mighty good time to take q vacation.
There was a murmur OF protest.
voicing itself generally in denial Of
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; 1 can't, for one. And that's why
we are here this afternoon. Chiawas-
see can blow in again and stay in blast
II we've all got nerve enough to hang
on. If we start up and go on making
pig. it'll be on dead market and we'll
have to sell it at loss or stack it in
the yards. We can't do the first, and
needn't tell you that 1t is going to
take d highly lOhS PuASO ~ Wv SAA~
stacking. 1t will be all outgo and no
income. If
spit it out" called Ludlow, from the
forefront of the miners division. 4
reckon we all know what's comm"
TITS a case of half loaf or no bread.
II 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
| go on. If not we don't Talk it over
among yourselves and let us have your
| decision"
There was hot caucusing and fair
imitation of pandemonium on the foun-
| dry floor following this bomb-hurling,
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. It
| was Tom, undoubtedly. but Tom who
had become citizen of another world.
| a newer world than the one the ex-ar-
| tiileryman knew and lived In. He
Caleb-had freely predicted riot as
| the result Of the half-pay proposal;
vet Tom had applied the match ami
there was no explosion. The buzzing.
| arguing groups were not riotous-only
| fiercely questioning.
Ito be continued
L