Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-05-20

forgot that alI-imuOrtant things are
food, fuel, clothes and comfortable
housing money. Some Of us went
money mad. With a feeling of OPP
ulence we refused to work at all, save
when we felt like it. We bought Ola,
mond rings and sat by the fire looking
ut them. The roofs began to leak and
our plumbing went wrong. People GO
ing to buy meat found the shops
closed. Roofs that might have been
saved by timely repairs will have to
be largely replaced. Plumbing sys-
TENS have been ruined by neglect.
With all its money, the town was
never so wretched."
Mr.. Sneed, who was member of the
committee, slyly turned the ring on his
finger so that the diamond was cons
cealed. He cleared his throat and re-
marked, 1--WE mechanics had more
than we could do on work already
contracted"
"Yes, you worked eight hours day
and refused to work any longer. You
were legally within your rights, but
your position was ungrateful and even
heartless and immoral. Suppose there
was q baby coming to your house and
you should call for the doctor and
he should say, I'm sorry, but / have
done my eight hours work today and
I can't help YOU Then suppose you
should offer him double fee and he
should say, No, thanks, I'm tired. I've
got forty thousand dollars In the bank
and / don't have to work when don't
want to-
"Or suppose we're trying case for
you and, when my eight hours work
had expired, should want to walk
out of the court and leave your case
to take care Of itself. What do you
suppose would become OF it? Yet that
Is exactly what you did to my pipes.
You left them to take care of them
selves. You men, who use your hands,
make a great mistake in thinking that
you are the workers of the country
and that the rest Of us are your natu-
raj enemies. In America, we are all
workersl The idle man is mere par
| asite and not at heart an American.
Generally, work fifteen hours day.
This little lad has been knitting
night and day for he soldiers without
hope Of reward and has spent his saw
| ings for yarn. There isn't doctor in
Bingville who isn't working eighteen
hours q day. I met a minister this
afternoon who hasn't had ten hours
of sleep In a week he's been SO busy
with the sick, and the dying and the
dead. He is a nurse, friend, a
comforter to any one who needs him.
No charge for overtime. My God Are
we all going money mad? Are youtany
/ better than he Is, DIR / am, or than the
doctors are who have been killing
themselves with Overwork9 Do you
dare to tell me that prosperity Is any
excuse for idlenesa in this land Of ours,
If ones help Is neededg'
Judge Crooker's voice had been
calm, his manner dignifled. But the
last sentences had been spoken with
quiet sternness and with his long,
bony forefnger pointing straight al
Mr.. Sneed. The other members of the
committee elapped their hands In
hearty approval. Mr.. Sneed smiled
and brushed his trousers.
"We're all Off Aur balance little
but what is to be done nowT'
1--WE must quit our plumbing and
carpentering and awyering and bank
ing and some of us must quit mer
chandising and sitting In the chimney
corner and grab our saws and axes
and go out into the woods and make
some fuel and get|it hauled into town,
said Judge Crooker. .sTll be one OF /
party to 60 TOMORROW with my axe
haven't forgotten how to chop"
The committee thought this a goes
suggestion. They all rose and startet
on a search for volunteers, except MI
Sneed. He tarried, saying to the judg'
that he wished to consult him on pr
waite matter It was, indeed, Just theH
matter which could not have bee
more public although, SO far, the new
of 1t had travelled In whispers. Tn
judge had learned the facts since hi
return.
Il hope your plumbing hasn't gon
!. wrong" he remarked with a smile.
) "No, It's worse than that" said Nj
/ Sneed ruefulIy.
' They babe the little Shepherd goo
!. night and went downstairs where til
) widow was still at work with he
washing, although It was nine o'ciocl
d Faithful womanI" the judge e.
|, claimed as they went out on the stree
t what would the world do withog
people like that2 No extra charge Il
{ overtime, ether
4 Then, as they walked along, ne cuI
ningly paved the way for what i
1 knew was coming.
d did you notice the face Of tn
8 boy?" he asked.
' s.Yes, it's q Gods blessing |
d see face like that" the Judge WEI
/. on. "Only the pure In heart can has
it. The old spirit OF youth looks Of
. OF his eyes-the spirit Of my ow
) youth. When / was fourteen. I fhiT