Year: 1874

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when he WINS first aware that Mr. Edwin
Amory held special dislike towards him
Not out~ardly manifested was this ten
dency, but IN he wended his way home up
ON the evening when he had pursuant x
. special invitation from Mr.. Tremayne
passed pleasant evening at the villa, h
could not but think Of it.


He was plunged In deep maze Of ab-
stracted thought, and had not noticed
whittier his footsteps were leading him,
was abruptly aroused from his reverie by
the presence directly in his path Of TIVE
men, who after having addressed him with
the ordinary evening salutation, said


q Have you heard the news from the
shops 7"
As the men were workmen in the same
department Of the shops as himself, Robert
was somewhat STARTLED by the~Fsary- .->
q No, Whist Is 1t 7" asked he in tons Of
interest.


The two men exchanged looks.


"You tell him, Mark, said one Of the
men as he nudged his calapanion's arm.


"Well, you see-But there's Just one
question I'd like TO ask you first. Some
Of the boys were telling me the other night
about your having been a union man out
west. They said as how you got talking
about labor and such like, and that you
were in favor Of union societies.


SO | am.


Then we needn't have any fear Of you,
you see, Mr.. Parton; we have never had
any cause for complaint as long as old Mr.
Tremayne was in active business. Since
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Amory have under
taken the business management, however,
there's been not only poorer class Of
work sent out, but also the men have been
rendered dissatisfied by the reductions in
wages for labor, which have taken place
from time to time. Just after you left the
shops last night, Mr. AmOry came in.


"' Well, boys" says he, how do you
like your new assistant foreman, Parton ?


First-clsss, says we.


You see, Mr.. Parton when old man
Tremayne first raised you over our heads
tO the position of foreman, we felt kind
Of satisfied. But when we say that al
though the promotion had been made as a
mark of esteem, you were fully able to
sustain your position, we said no more


Well, Armory talked around for
a long time, and finally after going over a
long rigmaroe about losing heap Of money





that as the times were getting dull, and as
many other works had done, the wages
would be reduced FIVE per cent from this
morning. We said not one word, but we
have heen out here watching for you. You
see we wanted your advice in this matter
you will give it N


''Of course"


And will Join in with us.


+" II it is legitimate affair-yes.


"Then come with us. We have been
having q meeting over the village tavern,
and have not yet decided what to do. The
men have set great store by your counsel,
so advise them for the best. You cannot
but sympathize with us after the hard ex-
perience you said that you had out
west for beng union man"


we vsen, 'ii ffa5Rsss fo9Rssssssa 50 let US 5
in.


They entered as he spoke, and went up
INTO the large hall above the Inn. Here
were gathered the men from the works,
who had assembled TO discuss the situation,
only few of the best and most reliable
of the men being present. Robert Parton
was greeted with subdued applause as he
entered the hall, and the men gathered
around him at once, and began explaining
to him the condition of affairs


His intuitive good sense and keen per
ceptions soon took in the entire situation


. You stand in the same position with
thousands Of workingmen in this country
to-day" he said, and like them YOU
must either submit to reduced rates or
take stand for your rights, and demand
what must be accorded you. II you will
manfully resolve to no longer be under the
serfdom which these capitalists compel us
to endure, have but one thought to di-
vulge in connection with this affair If
you can stand out sufficiently long to com
pei an advancement III the wages, and can
do 50 soberly and quietly, do so. II you
think your places will at once be filled by
outside men, and no object gained only
bitter defeat, then stand the imposition
until the time is ripe, for the successful
Inauguration of the union-league move
ment. This is my counsel; act upon it as
your judgement directs and | will be with
you in any concerted plan of action. The
reduction is an imposition, and while the
price commanded for iron-work is so high,
and the profit to the manufacturers so i'm
mense, any reduction at this time is un-
heard Of, and must be dictated by desire
to defraud the laborer out Of even the lit
tie he is enabled to earn by hard labor


The men who had listened to these few
words attentively observing the truth of
Roberts statement aud the lateness of the
hour, went into an informal council, and
the question was thoroughly, but briefly
discussed the decision being arrived at
that in the morning all the men through
out the entire works, should be asked his
individual opinion upon the question, and
if the majority we're in favor of strike,
then a committee would wait upon the
office, and demand the same wages as had
heretofore been paid, with no reduction.
Then they separated for the night.


1t had been comparatively smafi mot
ing, and its operations had been confined
and limited, and yet from out of It's work
ings was to grow a light that was the first
CLEAN into the darkness which had 80 long
enveloped the wOrkingman. 1t was to be
the light which was TO herald the approach
ing dawn, bringing the freedom and JUS
tice to the men who had for 50 many years
toiled on in the darkness and gloom of an
irksOme servitude t. the minions of capi-
tai. The morn was soon to break, but be-
fore morn-darkness and despair and
struggle, struggle against oppression and
might, q struggle for an ascendancy over
the hydra headed demi-god of veal h in
the few, which was soon to totter and fall
involving in its ruins the very men who
had raised it to rule over the destinies Of
the laborer