Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1914-09-16
THE PASSING OF JUDAS

Srab' scab. the crowd yelled at him. There
were men with hatred In their faces. there were
women looking the loathing they feIt there were
children echoing the soorn Of their elders. and
with one accord they hurled the word a him as
though 1t were barb that would stab him To the
heart
"scab scab'
But he merely smiled he walked along. with
policeman on each side OF him. his escort 10 the
works.
workman. and one who prited himself his ability
TO stand up To the world alone. and fight his
battles.
lie would never belong to the union. Arsu-
nent wasted upon him.
There are men who do not value their In
dependence. VAS his invariaI'is answer To all APP
peais Let them JON the union, and help to keep
its Officers In luxury with their hard-eas0ed
lie gloried in what he called his liberty" con-
founding II as many man has done since life be
gan. with tTeschery to his class
The union. In his mind. stood for tyranny 1t
said You shall do this" You shall not do that"
And James Smedley one who liked 10 persuade
was told.
SO when the men In the great lronworks down.
ed tools because two unioni-s had been victimized
he ranged himself ON the side OF the boss.
lie has the risht to employ whom ne piesses."
said h.. and have the right work for whom
please. To hell with your union.
There was one important job to be finished
when the men went out and the boss made siren
uous efforts to complete II.
number Of backiess were imported from a n
other town. a strike-breaking agency supply
them and these were boarded and lodged at the
works. to be out OF reach Of persuasive pickets
Only one local hand continued working Need
less to say, II was James Smedsy.
I'm free man" he said. and to prove his
freedom refused to withdraw his neck from the
yoke.
But he would not be immured In the works
i shall exercise my rights as a citizen" he de-
olared. and claim the protection of the law II
necessary"
The law ma,eriaiized as two policemen. and
when James smediey walking to and fro from his
place Of employment. the law. with bAtons up Its
sleeves, was his guard Of dishonor.
"seab 'scab'' the crowd shouted. and he strobe
he.
proudly as though he stepped In time to triumphis
music
but a, the end OF the week something happened
which changed the whole current Of his life
The manager In person sat In tn. cashiers Of
flee and paid the bands Is they came up
He WAS stsri man and blunt spoken. with a
'eant respect for TIE tool. he used
Three pounds sign he said eurtly. pushing
the pa, book to~arc James smedley as he stood at
the office window.
II wasn't a mu. h a. smedIey expected under
the circumstances. and he paused with the pen
poised In his fingers
4 thought ther. d be something extra" he
muttered
sign the book. md take your 30 piece, Of
silver snapped the m .nager
srnedl.y signed All walked away with the
money In his hand and a sullen fury In his heart
ThlrtY pieces OF 81 yer"
IL WAS meant In c. nt.mpi. there could be no
doubt Of that Thirty pieces Of silver The price
that was paid to Judas.
ss.ry. -ss<-R .s.zs % ,ss-.ass,Es s.ss.s y q.
The insult. thea. had been premeditated- The
crowd had called him sea D. and the boss whom he
had served had clas-ed hin with the most Infamous
Of men In all the chronicles Of treaehery.
He went out into the open, his brain In q whirl.
Thirty pieces OF silver"
Was he only Judas. then after ALL Was his
boasied freedom OF action no more than the OPP
portunity to betray9
There must surely be something In IL when
both sides In the quarrel despised him
And II he was Judas. then the Christ he had
sold for 30 pieces Of silver was the cause Of the
working cisss
In a sudden rage of shame he took the paper
money bag from his pocket. and cast IL from him.
number Of people rushed TO pick up the coins
that scattered over the road as the bag burst
striker who had always been friendly dis
posed came up TO him.
4 know why you flung away the filthy iucre.
jim he said. Il told EN- you had good stuff IN
you"
'sudas flung away the money" said smedIey
bitterly But he went out and hanged himself.
too"
The way to Kill Judas IL 10 make q better man
of him." said the striker earnestly.
The words sank like balm into the wounded
sen-respect Of the engineer But emotion choked
away.
'seab. scab""
The epithlet WAS peited at him from many
quarters he proceeded along the street He
bore IL without flnching.
The brayado OF the fighter gone. but In
Ats stead there came TO sustain Aim the exaitation
OF one who gathers strength from suffering
And In his eyes there shons the light of great
resolution.
He met his strike friend again next day.
Jsdas 10 dead. he said quietly here 10 the
certificate Of death"
heid out . union ticket for hts mate TO see-H E
H. In Australian Worker
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