Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-06-15
Bennington" intcrposed n of

Aooy OAANA W. NAAA>
stand this milo young man.
Look here. Mr.. Morrissy, I'll make
you a proposition"
"What?"
You and l will go down to the mold-
lng-room and ave it out with our fists.
II you win. Chittenden goes; If / win,
ne stays and the men return to work"
This isn't no kids play, Mr.. Ben
nington. You've got a big strike look-
ing you in the face"
you're a coward. So Mr.. C%hittenden
must join the supion or go. 1t isn't a
question of wage scale or hours; it
simply revolves around Mr.. Chittenden.
Suppostng he joins the union, what will
you give him to dog" B%ennington's
voice was that Of a man who wishes to
know all sides of the question.
We'll, he'll have to learn where they
all started FROM"
M C~hittenden. are you willing to
join the union?" Bennington smiled
as he piled this question.
mot l! My word. I'd as lief starve
as become a union man. and under
such a 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
mad q 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. MIR.
Morrissy. l am a gentleman. and you
are not. Not q word!" as Morrissy
clenched his fists. MIR. Shipley," said
Bennington to one OF the committee,
will you get all the men together? I
have a few words to say to them be-
fore his 10 minutes is up. I want to
give the. men a fair show"
You can nave 20 minutes, my Eng
Nsh- bred gentleman" snarled Norris
sly. I'm kind of anxious myself 10 hear
What you've got to say"
The committee went out solemnly.
Morrissy was next. to the last to go
down stairs. Bennington followed
closely behind him.
you. Mr.. Morrissy. I shall see to it that
the law will be found to At your case"
Look here. you ant talk to me that
way, Bennington
Cant l? I'll proceed. In the frst
place, you're q scoundrel. You've all
father. md this seems to be your
chance. I should be willing to wait 10
years to call o a thief and a black.
guard IN public. But I 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 iabby
rufiian with n arm. easily.
Nothing more was said. and the way
to the great molding room was
orders, and in a few minutes the men
oongregated to hear what the boss had
to say.
Bennington mounted a pile Of molds
and raised his hand.
Men. Q have no grievance" hi
said. This man Chittenden, the al
legged u OF your striking, takes no
food or pay from your mouths or your
pockets; he interferes with you In no
manner whatever. The contrivance he
Is trying to complete will not limit the
output, but will triple It, necessitating
your leader says that the present out
put Is wholly SUFFICIENT, and you are
taking his word for II. MI. Chittenden
represents progress. but you have taken
1t into your heads that you will have
none OF It. He refuses to Join the
union, n I refuse to discharge him
on that ground. I do not ray that this
shall not. be a union shop: I say that
shall employ. whom I will for any
purpose I see at. It IL your say. 20 say
1t; yours IL the power: use It. : . :
Patience. just Q little longer. I have
shown much OF It during the past
year."
The men swayed restlessly.
Men. tf you 60 out this day, not one
OF you will ever ana employment here
again. Ny Of Justice 10 large.
and nothing but that shall dictate to
me. shall employ and discharge
whom ! will; no man or organization Of
4 me- 1h0lI DQV Tn ma that fh2a ~ tt,oA
shall DO done here. am master. but
perhaps you will understand this too
late. Stay or 20: that II a. you please.
Il you stay. nothing more will be said
on my part; lf you go : . Well, I
shall tear down these walls and sell the
machinery for scrap iron!"
He stood erect, his chin aggressive
ana his mouth stern.
We'll. which 10 It to be?" he de-
wen 80 out. MI. Remington, and
what's more" said Morrissy. well zee
that nobody else comes In"
He lighted . cigar. showed his hands
insolently toward the exit. The major
ity OF the men were grinning. Tear
down this placer Il was ~preposterous.
| Why, no man had ever done Z thing
like that. II was 70 cut 81 ones nose
to spite ones face. Il was a case of
blum. pure n simple. So they began
lAling out Ia twos ana threes, their
blouses and dinner pals tucked under
their arms.
Bennington jumped down from his
|impromptu platform ana closed Is
Ipond6eous d0oFN. Then he hurried 10
She IqalnSo0Ice. where he notified the
|clsrh9. HhAs bad happened. He re-
|tanqad his paper. Mechanically, closed
IthA NeG6. A66s6ots 1S9A -eH