The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-06-01
TELL him I sent you"

eat his lunch?"
Usually in the Office"
We'll. I'm off"
Ben always had his eye on the story
of. tomorrow, and he would face all
or any difficulties in pursuit of the end.
II he could stop the strike at the Ben
nington shops 1t would be a great thing
for the Telegraph and a great thing
for Ben. So he hailed a car, s%erenely
unconscious that he was taking a pos
ition absolutely opposed to that of his
employer. He arrived at the shope
some time before the noon hour. His
letter opened all doors. Bennington
was in his private office He read the
letter and offered Ben a chair.
II have never been interviewed" he
said.
II am not here for an interview"
said Ben. your men will go out Mon
day.
Monday? How did you learn that"
My business. takes ME among the
unions. What shall o do in the event
Of the strike. 2"
And I have no desire to be inter-
viewed"
You read Mr.. Warrington's letter.
Perhaps, if / knew what stand o Will
take, I could talk to the men my self.
l have averted three or four strikes
in my time simply because the boys
know that I always speak the truth,
the plain truth. In this case l feel
that you have the right on your side.
You haven't said anything yet The
union is practically trying to bluff you
into coming to its terms: the discharge
Of the inventor or a strike"
Are you representing the nion?"
II am representing nobody but my
| SELF"
Il may tell you then, that l shall not
dicharge the inventor. Nor will ], if
the men go out, take a single one OF
them back"
1.-The men will not believe that. They
never do. They have been so success
full in Pennsylvania that they are at
tempting to repeat that success all over
the country. They have grown pig
headed. l feel sorry for the poor devils,
who never realize when they are we'll
off"
II feel sorry, too, Mr.. Jordan said
Bennington. He played a tattoo on his
strong white teeth with his pencil.
Mr.. Warrington seems to know you
WELL"
I'VE began on the Journal together.
You will not tell me what your plan is,
them"
I'd rather not, for. honestly, can
not see how 1t would better the case"
1T might be worth while to give me
q chance"
Bennington re-read Warrington's
note. Then he studied the frank blue
eyes of the reporter.
Miss Ward, you may CO." he said
to the stenographer. Now,"-when the
girl had gone,-"will you give me your
word2"
TITS all I have"
How can YOU convince the men
without telling them?"
"Oh, I meant that whatever you tell
me h not see light in the papers
till l have your permission. There's
q weekly meeting tonight. They will
decide finally at this meeting. Tomor-
row will be too late"
Bennington was an accurate Judge of
men. He felt that he could trust this
s~hock-headed journalist. If without any
loss Of self-respect, If without receding
a single step from his position, he
could avert the crash, he would gladly
do SO. He had reached one determine
ton, and nothing on earth would
swerve him. So he told Ben just ex-
actly what would happen If the men
went out. Ben did not doubt him for
a moment. He, too, was something Of
q Judge Of men. This man would never
back down.
st give vol this to show them, If
your arguments do not prevail" con
cluded Bennington, producing a folded
paper. They will hardly doubt this
Ben opened 1t. 1t was a permit from
down a brick structure within the
city limits. Ben slowed the permit in
his pocket. He locke with admiration
at the mar who could plan, coolly and
quietly, the destruction of a fortune
that had taken a quarter of a century
to build. He was grave. There was a
big responsibility pressing on his shout
ders.
Much obliged. You will never regret
h confidence you repos in me. Now
I'll tell you something on my side. 1t
is not the inventor, though the men be-
| Have ~ jc Th4 5r,,a~{o-s t.
Of Morrissy, the union leader"
IA pretext?"
"I can't prove what say, that's the
trouble; but McQuade has his hand in
this. I wish to heaven I could find SOL
i'd proofs"
"McQuade?" Bennington w He
could readily understand now. Nc
Quade! This was McQuade's revenge
He could walt patiently all this while!
"I'l do what | can, Mr.. Bennington;
Ill do what I can
That particular branch of the local
unions which was represented in the
Bennington steel mills met in the loft
of one of the brick buildings off the
main street Morrissy called the meet.
ing to order at $50. He spoke briefly
of the injustice of the employers, To-
cally and elsewhere, of the burdens
the laboring man had always borne
n would always bear, so long as he
declined to demand his rights. The
men cheered him. Many had beer
drinking freely. Morrissy stated the
case against Bennington. He Used his
words adroitly and spoke with the air
of a man who regrets exceedingly a
disagreeable duty.
From his. seat In the rear, Jordan
watcher him, following each wore
closely. He saw that Morrissy knew
his business thoroughly.
We'll get what we want, men; VIZ
always do. It isn't a matter of money
it's principle. II we back down, we are
lost; If we surrender this time, well
have to surrender one thing at a time
till were way back where we started
from, slaves to enrich the oppressor
We've got to fight for our rights
Here's an inventor who. If we permi,
him to remain, will succeed In throw
ing 200 men out OF work Bennington