The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-11

grimly, proudly, kissing the words
through his teeth. There's thirteen
hundred of US out now in all the shops
more than when the strike began.
The men are loyal.
That's just it." snapped the Prasl-
dent. his own manner changing in
stantly. "The men are lot of stub
born fools. We've been patient with
you as long as we can. You compel
us now to harsh measures"
Harsh measures?" questioned Mar
tin soberly. Amt they harsh enough
now? Amt it harsh to steal the milk
off my babys mush?v
Mr.. Collins's face turned white with
anger and resentment. but his control
was perfect.
Now, see here he said. Don't be
fanatical- We We're paying you a liv-
Ing wage-the best We were able, and
you spurned it. It's you men. you
stubborn, ignorant fools who are starv-
ing your babies 10 death. Babies?
Why, good heavens. man. I've got a
baby of my own. Call him little wig
gier myself, sometimes. too, and-but
we'll, business Is business. We arc
going 10 act,t this strike, In the ne
ginning we put in small crew of out
side men to keep the shops going and
wait till you men came to your senses.
We waited three months, and that's
long enough The time has come for
aggressive measures. We're going to
carry the war into Africa
ooh, you can't put niggcrs on our
jobs gloated Martin. That's coal
mine trick, hut 1t can't work in our
business
NO: No! Not" said Mr.. Collins.
Il don't mean that" realizing that his
classical allusion was lost. II mean we
must go vigorously to work to, man
our shops. Look Mt this He took
up from his desk an advertisement cut
from the liner department OF daily
newspaper. 1t read: "Molders and
machipists wanted. Top wages, good
conditions, permanent work, Fare
paid. Apply Box Ell"
THAT advertisement" he went on,
this country east of the Mississippi
River. And now. look at this,"
He placed in his visitors hand a
telegraph message dated at Philadel-
phia and reading: Twelve tonight
via Short Line" There we're half
dozen more of the messages. Each
spoke of the despatch OF from as few
as six to as many as fourteen men
from various large cities. all bound for
Rockport.
Johns furn2ce-tanned face was paier
as he looked from the advertisement
to the kilograms and back again For
the first time he was deeply dlscour-
aged. A chill of despair curled ieiiy
through the nerve ends in his cheeks.
'9Good God!" he exclaimed. you
will fill the shops in week"
Yes" said the President, his lips
tightening and his eyes narrowing,
while little puff Of pride filled his
cheeks.
"But it amt fair" protested Mar
tin bringing outsiders I'VE hundred
miles and paying their fare. The
fights between as"
Between us-nothing. You are out
Of 1t. You resigned your jobs, buy
my labor where can buy 1t cheapest
just as do my pig and coke
But, Mr. Collins" urged John sol
EMMY. labor amt Ike iron or coke
Coke and iron work for You Labor
works nth you. That's your shop;
but in kind of a way 1t seems to ne
Ike it's mine, and like you haven
any more right to import man to
work In my place than / have to I'M
port bcss to work in yours
"Nonsense,'' exclaimed Mr.. Collins
testify That's rank socialism. .
"But 1t isn't right. Mr.. Colling
There's principle. The Governmen
has recognized that principle in the
contract labor law which GAYS yog
shall not import cheap European labor
TO compete with American labor. Nov
if that's right, il that's the principle,
why. Us wrong aad against that prin.
ciple to import cheap philadelphia
labor TO compete with Rockport work.
men"
"Fiddlesticis." exclaimed Mr.. Col.
Inns. We have a right to do what.
ever we find II necessary to do to pro-
tect our business from destruction. IL
ne can't employ men here at salts.
factory terms, we have right to bring
men in II they are willing to come
Here John lost his temper.
Then" he said hot.y, .'if we cant
keep men from destroying our bust.
ness by coming In here and taking our
jobs in peaceful way. then we have
right TO do it IN the only way we
can"
Which isl"
by breaking their necks.' said John
hosrsely, desperate light coming into
his eye.
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