The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-06-08

must join the union or go. 1t isn't
question Of wage scale or hours; 1t
simply revolves around Mr.. Chittenden.
Surprising he joins the union, what will
you give him to do?" Bennington's
voice was that of a man who wishes to
know all sides Of the question.
wen. he'll have to learn where they
all started from"
Mr.. Chittenden. are you willing to
join the union?'' Bennington smiled
as he piled this question.
mot /! My word. I'd as lief starve
as become union man, and under
such master"
"Then out he goes" said Morrissy,
| recovering his turbulence.
You are mistaken. I am master
| here. Mr.. Chittenden will remain on
the pay roll"
Then in 10 minutes the men will
walk out on my orders" Morrissy
made gesture toward his watch.
Don't bother. about the time. Mr..
Morrissy. Wen spend the 10 minutes
in the molding room"
Morrissy turned pale.
| "Oh. we shan't come to fistcuffs. Mr..
Morrissy. am gentleman, and you
are not. Not world" as Morrissy
clenched his fists. "Mr. Shipley," said
Bennington to one Of the committee,
will you get all the men together? !
have few words to say to them be-
fore this 10 minutes Is up. I want to
give the men a fair show"
| You can have 20 minutes, my Eng
Inbred gentleman" snarled Morris
sy. I'm kind of anxious myself to hear
what you've got to say"
| The committee went out solemnly.
Morrissy was next to the last to 20
down the stairs. Bennington followed
closely behind him.
Some day I'll get a good chance at
you, Mr.. Morrissy. shall see to 1t that
the law will be found to fit your case
Look here you can't talk to me that
way, Bennington"
Cant 1? I'll proceed. In the first
place, you're scoundrel. You've al
ways harbored a grudge against my
father, and this seems to be your
chance. ! should be willing to wait 10
years to call you a thief and a black
guard In public. But say to you now
privately, you are both a thief and a
blackguard"
Morrissy stepped back, red in the
face.
Bennington laughed sinisterly. He
could crush the life out Of this flabby
ruff1an with one arm, easily.
Nothing more was said, and the way
to the great molding room was
traversed silently. Shipley sent out
orders, and in few minutes the men
congregated to hear what the boss had
to say.
Bennington mounted a pile Of molds
and raised his hand.
Men, you have no grievance" he
said. This man Chittenden. the al
legged cause Of your striking. takes nc
food or pay from your mouths or your
pockets; he interferes with you in nc
manner whatever. The continuance he
is trying to complete will not limit the
output, but will triple It, necessitatine
the employment of more men. Blu,
put Is wholly sufficient, and you are
taking his word for IL. Mr.. Chittender
represents progress, but you have take1
it into your heads that you will have
none of it, He refuses to join tn.
union, and I refuse to discharge him
on that ground. do not say that this
shall not be union shop / say tina,
shall employ whom 1 will for any
purpose see fit. 1t is your say. so say
it.; yours is the power; use 1t. :
Patience, just little longer. / have
shown much of 1t during the past
year"
The men swayed restlessly
Men, II you go out this day, not one
Of you will ever find employment here
again. My sense OF justice is large
and nothing but that shall dictate to
me. shall employ and discharge
whom will; no man or organization Oh
men shall say to me that this or that
shall be done here. ! am master, but
perhaps you will understand this toe
late. Stay or go; that is as you please
II you stay, nothing more VIII be said
on my part; IL you go' Well,
shall tear down these walls and sell the
machinery for scrap iron!"
He stood erect, his chin aggressive
and his mouth stern.
well, which is 1t to be?" he de-
handed.
what's more" said Morrissy, "we'll see
that nobody else comes in"
He lighted a cigar, showed his hands
into his trousers pockets and walked
insoIently toward the exit. The major
ity Of the men were grinning. Tear
down this place? 1t was preposterous
Why no man had ever done thing
to spite ones face. 1t was case Of
bluff, pure and simple. So they began
filing out in twos and threes, their
blouses and dinner pals tucked under
their arms.
Bennington jumped down from his
impromptu platform and closed the
ponderous doors. Then he hurried to
clerks what had happened. He re-
turned to his private office. He ar
ranged his papers methodically. closed
the desk, and sat down. His gaze wan
dered to the blue hills and rolling pas
lures, and his eyes sparkled; but he
forced back what had caused 1t, and
presently his eyes became dry and
hard.
"'You and your actress and her
lover" he murmured softly. My God,
am very unhappy"
Mr.. Franklin Haldene went to the
club. while his wife took sheet Of
writing paper and began to write a let
ter. Half an hour went by before she
completed her work with any degree OF
satisfaction. She then took pair Of
shears and shipped the crest from the
sheet and sealed II In a government en-
velope. Next she threw light wrap
over her shoulders and stole down TO
the first letter box, where she deposited
the trifie. She returned to the house,
feeling that a great responsibility had
been shifted from hers to another's
shoulders. Indeed, she would have gone
to any lengths to save Patty a life OF
misery. Poor Mrs. Bennington, with
her grey hairs 1t would break her
heart when she found out. She
Strengthened her shoulders and pressed
her lips firmly and contemplated a
duty, painfully but vigorously per-
| formed. She cast the scraps OF paper
| into the CRATE and anplied "A match. II