The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-09-06
THE STRIKER
By P. &. AAcrAgLANE
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KIN hint"
STOPPING, he snatched up from the
ground a featureless thing with hair
and beard matted in blood and mud
out Of the center Of which came a
| harsh, inarticulate cry Of terror and
pain John balanced the creature on
| IN uncertain legs till car came, and
then, thrusting 1t on turned to face
the mob Bat the mob had gone. In
fits stead was a crowd Of wondering in.
diyiduals that seethed round and
| looked at him admiringly.
why didn't you let us finish him?"
shouted one.
Shut up!" commanded another, and
the first subsidized
We've got to cut out that kind OF
work IL we want TO win. exclaimed
John, 1t turns public opinion against
us, A strike like ours makes an ap-
peal 70 public sympathy, which Is the
| greatest force that can fight IN our
favor. A single deed Of violence like
this Will prejudice people against us
| more than weeks Of good conduct and
aelfcontrnl can overcome. Remember,
menl No violence"
The words rang out fesolutely as
John lifted his hand with a gesture of
domination and emphasis Ii was his
first public speech He did not know
II was a speech II was just hts soul
talking 10 other souls more tempest.
tossed than his, but sailing on the
same sea with him.
Quit blocking the streets, and go
3,s.f
ITS over for to-day"
The crowd broke into sections. the
sections divided into groups, and the
groups crumbled into squads Of threes
and twos that melted away into the
surrounding streets In an incredibly
short time John found himself practi-
cally alone, his breast for the first time
thrilling with the JOY that comes with
the conscious mastery Of other wills.
Besides, his principles and his courage
had been put to the issue and they
had won A glow was on his cheeks
and he was feeling very much at home
with himself
1t is a eonsiderate God that hides to-
morrow from the twilight of to-day
John Martin did not know of the fur
,
his soul nor that some day his mighty
frame, in a swirl Of primal passion,
might turn and hurl itself like a hui
man pro1ectile upon the ranks of the
place-takers. And Jennie, when she
heard about it. was filled with foolish
pride, for she, too, was untutored Of
tomorrow.
When q month went by wearily and
they sold the sittiner room furniture
to pay the instalment on the house,
and the end Of the strike was not yet
in sight, they had learned a little.
When another month dragged its un-
ending coils yet more wearily over
TIC threshold of their life. and the bed
sieads went and few books and
Johns watch, and the children were
wan and pale, while husband and wife
were tortured into irritabilty by anx-
iety and the constant halfhunger from
which they suffered, they had learned
much more and knew they were bat
ting with a dragon whose nostrils
gushed fiery terror.
But Martin aeld to his convictions
firmly. and when some of the more
ignorant of che men broke bonds with
discretion and pounded strike
breaker within an inch Of his life re-
proved thom sOundly; but his own
sitting day was approaching fast.
Sickness follows hard upon priva-
ton and is less easily withstood
John carc face 10 face one day with
a coffin that was long and black They
were carrying 1t out Of a strikers
home lie paused by a trolley pole and
took OFF his hat, and stood gazing |
lolemuly his soul deeply moved by
what he saw and the shutting Of six |
pairs OF heavy feet as they moved |
icr0ss the bricks A young doctor |
'amaibuf from next door and stood |
lhtNii& hia horse lOhn knew him. /
pr be had treated Tommie when his
eg Nas injured
Death hy violence. said the doctor
o John. I'm significant tones noadiug |
O wharo the hoarse doors We're clos
nc Il.1ts a weary ~ Jrher 0f six
hildIen thct lust naturally lay down
nd died she literally starved her
elf 30 death 10 keep her children alive
n her husbands strike benefits. /
aw &C. ! did what | could. Never a
-bimper Never a complaint She
fitted unprotestingly. But she died
violent death. all the same. | don't
now Who I'm blaming for 1t. Martin.
nt somebody. some power there ought
, he TO compel you men and bosses to
et together and settle your grievances
efore any more lives are taken. It's
ie children mostly There's a couple
lex In here There's one over there.
lsy're all around. and it's nothing in
lc world hut priysti0n. lack OF
roper food for children.
Johns eyes misted over
Sly own baby. Little Wiggler. ain't
obin' SO awful peart" he said. and
Is eyes we're on the pitiiul little fun q
al party as il turned on at the next q
rect The doctor drove away. Three
ingtes after. his husgy came dash 9
K back He had little Jack Martin
with him. Jacks face was pale so I
az an his frecSles stood out above 2
II tam Il
"6et la." said the physician quietly. L
- boy just fouud me up The street"
One wlid. of The iect0r's manner
"a one eiancR az Jacks ave filled face II
nj Z chin rs the bottom OF John Mar
as haalt re gct in without q word.
king Jack between his knees.
The baby's awful sick" whispered
ck grinping his fathers great hands
.htiy Hes hasin' hts. ii
Little Wisgler." murmured John 4
skily. "Oh. Cod" MI
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