The Dermott news., 1916-04-06
ELEVENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER XVIII.

That so many OF the strikers had
had the narrowest kind OF an escape
from being blown to pieces BY dyna-
mite did not make their feelings for
Kehr and his men any friendIier. but
one thing was certain. II harm came TO
the girl who had risked her life to warn
them OF their danger It would have
to come to her over their dead bodies.
Wherever she went among the
strikers she WAS welcomed with
kind OF gallant alteration. Something
about her seemed. when she entered
room, to pull the rudest and the
most ignorant men to their feet.
Everywhere she went she preached
her gospel. softened hearts and made
men and women hopeful OF better
things. And presently onIy those who
were naturally hloodthirsty and who
loved violence for its own sake talked
openly OF attacking tho stockade II
seemed to Celestia that tho strikers
demands were not unjust. and she de-
termincd TO end the strike by porsuad.
ting kehr and the men he represented
TO meet their demands.
Elections We're coming on and the
best way to secure thu labor vote was
to SEQ that labors envelope was bet
ter filed than ever before. With a
new form Of government In control
of the nations most disuterested and
able men there would he such a say
ing OF national waste that doubling
Nhe pay OF every lahorer In the coun-
try would be but n drop in the bucket.
Tommy could not see any possible
good In Celestia's form Of millennium.
He felt that, inneeently. OF course.
and with the best intentions. she was
trying 10 betray labor into the hands
of capital and he fought her doctrine
tooth and nail. But what she seemed
to offer WAS so glittering and alluring
to the poor and needy that Tommy 8
opposing arguments found few listen
crs In Bitumen.
Celestia preached that government
OF the people by tho people and for
the people had been proved a gigan-
tic failure. for two excellent reasons
(1), II isn't by the people. and GU II
isn't for the people. The fathers who
set down some very noble aspira-
tons In black and white were In
stantiy succeeded by politicians, who
twisted their aspirations to their own
ends We are today a government OF
the people by the politicians and for
tho politicians. Patriotism, II It isn't
dead has gone 10 sleep. There are
patriotic Virginians. patriotic Yer
monters, too. but there are very few
patriotic Americans.
No business run as this United
States is run could possibly be a
success No employee OF such bust
ness could be blamed Tor failing in
respect for his employers or in 10y
atty to them. So. do We want our
country to be respectable and sue
cess or don't We Let Il be run with
the same American efficiency with
which the Standard oil company has
been run. and nobody Will be poor and
no part OF any city Will be dirty and
full OF disease.
II there were no waste there would
be plenty OF money for every body, or
at least of the things money can buy
Celestial was insistent on this, and
personally | am hanged II | don't
think she was right. We waste every
thing-raw material finished product
health and brains.
In the face or Kehrs stubbornness
Il was not easy to make progress
toward a settlement OF the strike, and
At last Celestia telegraphed TO Cor
don Barclay and asked fer definite
power 10 speak for the coal companies
and treat with the labor leaders,
His answer was flying trip TO
Bitumen.
lie was very sharp with Kehr, hum
bled him and browheat him, caused
Gunsdorf and the other leaders to be
released and then. after long, secret
conference with Professor Sttlltter. he
gave Celestia the power she asked
for.
Before returning to New York he
sent for Gunsderf It a.. made a per
sonal peace with them. and obtained
their political allegiance
"Celestia, no told them. is right
The troubles between labor and capital
are only the symptom OF the great La
uonsl wastage that hes gone fnce
the beginning OF things at
xtys up sleeting men