The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-11-20


you aren't That's the joke of it. How.
ever, the point is, you forbid me to
conduct my own business in my own
way. And your authority"
"The power" answered Henley qui.
city, Ito smash you-and the will.
We've got labor where we want It in
this business and we propose to keep
1t there. What you propose would be
a dangerous precedent. II we let you
succeed. we'd have the men all over
the country yammering for the same
freak conditions. Therefore, we won't
let you succeed"
Il see. And your"
81? / made you-have you forgot.
ten that?-and I'm responsible for you.
l helped to put labor where it is, at
some risk to myself, and l don't pro.
pose to have man of my own max.
ing undo the biggest thing I've ever
done. Therefore, won't let you sue.
ceed."
You are quite sure you can do tt
smash me?"
"Truitt, every steel company in the
country will make 1t Its business to
put you out"
And you won't stand aside and let
me fight 1t out with the rest of them ?"
mo" Henley seemed astonished at
the question. Certainly not. What
did you expects"
81 had hoped" Mark answered
slowly, that you'd stay out Of it.
realize had no reason to hope that.
Henley stirred restlessly, turned to
look out upon the valley, upon the city
qualm moved his heart, continued with
sharpness that was almost akin to
pain. He found himself resisting an
absurd. an incredible impulse ten.
derness such as he had used to know,
stealthily and unadmittedly, for a
young half invalid with the habit OF
triumphing where robust men fell,
multiplied now for this man.
"Truitt, I" Henley stopped, an
embarrassment as unwonted as the
impulse upon him, and turned again
to the window.
"Truitt." he began again, very
grufly, eyes still fixed on the city the
magic of the hills revealed to him, Ct
well, like you. I've always counted
you my friend. l don't want to have
to fight you. l don't think you want
to fight me. There is-there may be
another alternative" He turned to
face Mark. Take me in with you"
Mark looked his establishment.
II say." Henley went on, 81 might
do It. I've seen something this morn
ing-something you've been seeing.
The city out there. It's big-big!
And If the figures you've given me
are correct, It's possible. This place
was intended for city. And with us
working together, 1t could be ten times
r-epic-stupendous
He got to his feet, and shooting I'D
the shade, stood looking thoughtfully
out Of the window.
Wed make it." Henley seemed al.
most to be thinking aloud, "a city
from the beginning. We'd get the gov
eminent to make the river navigable
to the mouth and ship our coal by boat
to the gulf. can think of a dozen
concerns I could get to move their
plants here and contractors who'd un-
dertake to house the people. In five
years we'd have fifty thousand here,
and coming as fast as we could put
roofs over them. But we'd build on
steel. We'd quadruple your plant at
once-for a start We'd make this the
steel center and this overgrown trust
with its graft and favoritism and slip
shod methods would have us to reckon
with. We'd leave Quinby and that
Scotch bagpipe, grown fat on other
mems brains, In the shade BY God!"
Henley's voice was ringing, as he
wheeled on Mark again. 1T would
be the big thing of the century-mak-
ing city to order. And l guess for
that you'd be willing to give up your
little two-by-four paternalism."
THAT would be stipulated?"
Certainly! Well" Henley
seemed unconscious of the change of
mood and tense. We'll leave fads to
the cranks. Wen build this city on
a rock-on a sound financial founda.
tion-and use the profits for exten.
sions."
Il think you don't understand what
l."