Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-04

HUSH III lace anu lO1e. WOulQ
never stand for cent of my money
to so as a bribe to a man | couldn't
beat look at it this way. They
would have lost out pretty soon any
way, but this man Martin, who is
mixture of genius and fanatic, would
always he dangerous. What we did was
to give him a sort of subsidy 20 get
out Of the country. so he couldn't be
around making trouble for us. It's
just like buying out troublesome
competitor. Isn't that the way you
regard it, Smonds?"
Exactly" answered Mr. Simonds.
highmindedly.
There had been crowds in the union
hall before, since the strike began. but
never such a one az that which pressed
and damned and struggled for admit
lance on Saturday night. BY seven
thirty every available space was taken.
The mystery Of Martins disappearance
was still unexplained. At five minutes
to eight McKichnie and Kaufman, An
dersOn, Bolan and the other members
of the Executive Committee filed into
the hall from the stage entrance and
filed the chairs upon the rostrum.
The secretaries were at their desks.
In the center OF the platform was the
chaiman's table. Upon it was glass,
n pitcher and a gavel. Beside It was a
chair. The chair was empty.
At three minutes TO eight Bolan con-
ferred with Anderson Gerson and
other members of the Executive Com
mittee. There was a solemn nodding
of heads. Bolan held his watch in his
hand. At one minute of eight Bolan
extravagantly dropped a half-burned
cigar into box of sawdust, spat some
shreds of tobacco leaf from his mouth,
buttoned his coat. cleared his throat
and passed his hand with composing
gesture over his features. In the in.
teryal shadow appeared TO pass in
front Of him. An instant later a sharp
blow upon the gavel smote upon his
ears. He looked up 10 see John Martin
standing at the speakers chair.
The effect of his appearance was
electrical. It aroused interest and ex-
pectancy. The men had entered the
hall dispirited and gloomenshrouded
half inclined to believe John Martin
a traitor. The Executive Committee,
slipping in like defeated warriors. had,
by their demeanor. only previsaged the
defeat which every man felt in his
soul. But now, after an unexplained
absence Of twenty-four hours. had come
John Martin, the man who again and
again since the strike began had re-
versed the current of its trend
He stood there before them. tall and
dignifed. just as he had score of
times before. but with a difference
The marks of pain and WEAKNESS were
gone. Even that holy shade of sadness
which had first appeared when his baby
succumbed to the effects of coarse and
improper food In the fourth month OF
the strike was temporarily at least
eclipsed by glow reflected from the
wonderfully brilliant light that was
burning In his dark eyes.
THE Executive Committee" ne be
gan. has got report to make, but
was to say something first"
His voice was deep and steady. with
a growing vibrancy that kindled expec
tation.
He's leading up to something u
Hes got something up his sleeve -
was a comment that began instantly
to be murmured in different parts of
the hall. But his next words were
spoken with profound seriousness.
terday. as usual. You thought that
money came from the Internationals
1t didn't. | borrowed that money at
the bank on your credit, | expect you
10 pay it back, seven dollars from,
every man, out Of his first weeks
wages"
"Out Of his first weeks wages" II
sounded. then, as though the men We're
TIM kaIr to ri 10, .1,,i
said so yet. He was waiting for tn
first idea TO soak in. They sensed il
with deepening solemnity. The Inter
nationals had cut them off. All thai
stood between their long months o.
suffering and the complete collapse Of
the strike was this tall man with thC
deeply lined, glowing face and tht
burning eyes. who was just now begin
ming to speak again.
The men, leaning forward, hung or
his words breathlessly. Their eyei
were fastened on him. the glaze
whites cleaning like thousand tiny
moons about central sun. The EX
ecutive Committee was bound by th'
same thrall.
And now" Martin was saying. ant
doing his best to control the exultan
ITculOT III HIS voice, l cOHEril u Ia II
you upon victory"
The great gathering heard the words
in silence. stupefied, sick with the sud
den kinding Of vast hope. yet hardly
able to believe its ears. From In,
throat Of man on the platform burs
half-articulate aspirate-a long
ghostly, vocalized question that foatec
like stage whisper out over III,
heads of the men. That the one
who paid this Involuntary tribute Il
the wonderful, magnetic personality o.
the speaker who In this instant as 4
were, had taken up the souls OF all int
his hands and was COMPRISING then
until they ached was William Bolan
his deadly enemy. only revealed how
tense was his grip.
"What?" Bolan had gasped, helpless
ly. open-mouthed. What"
you have won the strike" MaY+ir
was saying. "The bosses have granted
notwithstanding" The even
ness was all gone from his voice IT.
vibrant tones We're leaping outward
and upward in magnificent crescendos
"Everything." he shouted. Every
thing-Reco0nition of the uniOn,-
WGges!-HOurS!- Conditions
Snatching paper from his pocka
he waved it before them. Here's u
SCALE" he shouted, They SiDe1 \