The Connecticut labor news., 1922-09-15

bors had always been kind to her she was sensitive to a manifest coldness they exhibited in her presence. It was not like that in other days when l was one of the boys, and it hurt her, She finally gave up everything on the outside and seldom mixed with other people. We had few cal Eers and no real friends. She was mot used to that and 1t affected her.
 "I noticed her cheeks fading and deep lines appearing on her face. We resolved to go away, to go some where where we were not known, and possibly we would be able in anew community to work our way into new friends
 T resigned and went west, got a job in coast town and sent for my i family. It looked promising for us there. We attended church regular i ly. My wife made friends quickly and we were soon enjoying the social companionship of a mighty fine lot of people. The color came back to her cheeks and life again grew to be worth while.
 Then one day an old shopmate from back east appeared on the job The moment 1 set my eyes on him the ii gwas up No sign of recog- milton passed between us That aft ernoon many of the new friends I 1 had made in the shop seemed less cordial than they had been. Later in the day distempered helper whom l 1 had asked to assist me on a piece of work I was doing turned me down and said he wouldn't help *scab.'"
 'The curtain again came down on my life. I didn't tell my wife any | ak h,1+ he # following Sunday coming home from church. I tried to get back in the union and hoped by doing so I could make amends for the one mistake I had made. I was informed by the secretary that I would have to straighten up with my old local union as there was a fine entered against me there, and it was more than I could pay.
 Followed Him From Home.
 We soon departed for another city further south on the coast. I sought new employment, but luck played against me and wherever I went I was reminded that I had been tscab.'
 "One day I learned that the presi- dent of the international union was in town. I thought if 1 could meet hi mand relate my experience to him, tell him of my mistake back home, of the tempting offer that induced me to weaken and desert my fellows of my first thought for the immediate well fare of my family which proved to be our undoing, and how 1 since tried to make good! if could tell him all of that, he might advise me of a way out.
 q waited about his hotel for sev- era1 hours and finally he came, with loca lcommittee accompanying him. T told my story in simple langu- age, leaving out no detail My family was not hungry for 1 had managed, with the aid of my older children, to provide for them, but food was not everything. We were heart hungry We longed for the, association of our neighbors. We needed friends among our own kind of folks We didn't have them. We were good living people, but we were social outcasts, and it was all due to weak moment in my life. 4a
 Pleads His Own Case.
 ''No lawyer ever plead a case for his client as l did for myself and family that day. When I had finish
  president was the first to speak He asked me a number of questions about myself which 1 truthfully an- swered. He then requested me to step out Of the room for a moment while he counseled with the local commit tee about my case.
 "A few minutes later I was recall ed and was advised to make applica- tion for membership in the local union and he would take up the mat ter of the fine that was imposed ! against me by the union back home upon his return to the international office. l learned later that he stop ped off in that city and went per sonally to tbe unoin meeting to pre- was remitted and I was soon in good stand ling with my fellow workers again.
 Occasionally thereafter, a boomer floating into town, tried to tell the local boys of my record back east but they always headed him off with something about charity and with Let he who is without sin cast the first stone You see, they knew my case, had compassion and forgave.
 The Mark of Cain"
 But 1 never again want to go through the years of grief and shame I put in with the labor mark of Cain upon my back. It does not pay The ostracism isn't all. Even the boss has no time for a 'scab' except | when he wants to use one to tide him l over strike. When all Is serene 1 the employer seems to be as suspici- | ous of the 'scab' as the union men are bitter against him. The hOmesDun philosophy of Will Carlton that a ] man who can be false to one will be the same with two,' is the philosophy | of the average empolyer and because of it he forgets the scab' when he i shall have served his purpose to him.. J i
 The "old timer" paused for mo- 1 ment Then he straightened up and {