Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-09-24


very well. don't need much room.
you know. I'm not Wall street
hero"
"Humph!" grunted Henley. still a
skeptic.
What" Mark asked, did you come
here for?"
Henley grunted again. Cordial,
must say! j came to restore your
sanity" He rose. hopping his red
face with a silk handkerchief. Take
me out of this sun and I'll begin.
hear you're pretty far gone"
Mark led him into cool office-like
room = pleasant enough-and made
him comfortable with a cigar and a
chair by a window from which view
of the valley was to be had.
Not sybaritic." Henley grudgingly
admitted, but good enough for a man
who has no women. Now tell. me
what you're trying to do here"
And Mark began. simply. without
enthusiasm or sentimentalizing. to set
forth his idea.
The explanation came to an end.
Mark awaited his auditors comment.
"Of course. you know" Henley said.
with an easiness that was outward
only. you won't put 1t through"
II do not know that" Mark an
swered quietly. This valley is we'll
situated with respect to the market.
Its transportation facilities are good.
Our fuel is here, and l can get ore
here cheaper than Quinby or Mac
Gregor. l can make steel cheaper
| than anybody in America, and there's
no plant of its size that can equal
mine in capacity. In ten years, with
a fair field"
with a fair field. E1acuy!"
you mean ! won't have 1T"
"You won't have It"
"Why?"
For one thing-profts."
"I1l make money here"
TT isn't a question of your profits
nor of profits alone, but the size of
profits. No." Henley shook his head
| vigorously, you can't have it I'm
here to tell you that
'Well?"
81 have no objection to your safety
appliances. They're practical. They'll
save twice their cost In damages ev-
cry year"
| That's obvious"
| III agree to the baths. II the men
want to clean up after work-why. l
regard bathing as a very proper
habit"
Mark smiled. The man will be
grateful"
I'm not Joking" Henley reminded
him sternly. I'll go as far as to
agree to their eight.hour shift-as an
experiment I'd like to see It tried
out"
"Yes!"
Your company stores, company gar
dens and company homes are well
enough. They can be made profitable
properly handled. But your profit
sharing plan is all wrong and"-Hen-
ley leaned forward and raped on the
arm of his chair to emphasize each
word-.'and you can't have it l
wouldn't care II you gave them only
a nominal share. 1t would be useful
at frst-to get good men up here Aft
erward you could cut II out. But why.
in Gods name, give them half"
Because I'll need the other half for
some things I'm planning"
I'm not Joking" Henley repeated.
why give them half?"
"Oh, that's an approximation. 1t
seems to me pretty fair division of
the spoils. l don't insist ON It's accu-
racy. However. that's not the point"
Mark Strengthened up In his seat by
the desk, facing Henley sQuarely.
Have you forgotten that my money
and mine only is invested in this
plant? can quote good authority,
yourself, that a man ought to be al
lowed to run his own business to suit
himself"
"As long as he harts no one else"
Mark smiled again at that You
you aren't. That's the joke of 1t. 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-
etly, 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"
81 see. And your"
'T? /. made you-have you forgot
ten that?-and I'm responsible for you.
I helped to put labor where 1t Is, at
some risk to myself. and don't pro-
pose to have a 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 It
smash me?"
"Truitt. every steel company in the
country will make II Its business to