to him that hath-第29章

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face　as　he　read　it。

Jack　handed　him　the　letter　without　a　word。

〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　it？〃　said　his　father。

〃It　might　be　worse。〃

〃Worse？〃　roared　his　father。　　〃Worse？　　How　can　it　be　worse？〃

〃Well；　it　is　really　a　demand　for　an　increase　in　wages。　　The　others；
I　believe；　are　mere　frills。　　And　between　ourselves；　sir；　though　I
haven't　gone　into　it　very　carefully；　I　am　not　sure　but　that　an
increase　in　wages　is　about　due。〃

Maitland　glowered　at　his　son　in　a　hurt　and　hopeless　rage。

〃An　increase　in　wages　due？〃　he　said。　　〃After　the　increase　of　six
months　ago？　　The　thing　is　preposterous。　　The　ungrateful
scoundrels！〃

At　this　point　the　telephone　upon　his　desk　rang。　　Jack　took　up　the
receiver。

〃Good　morning；　Mr。　McGinnis。　。　。　。　　Yes；　he　is　here。　　Yes。　。　。　。
At　least；　I　suppose　so。　。　。　。　　Oh；　I　don't　know。　。　。　。　　It　is
rather　peremptory。　。　。　。　　All　right；　sir；　I　shall　tell　him。〃

〃Let　me　talk　to　him；〃　said　his　father；　impatiently。

〃Never　mind　just　now；　Dad；〃　said　Jack；　with　his　hand　over　the
receiver。　　Then　through　the　telephone　he　said：　　〃All　right；　sir；　he
will　await　you　here。　　Good　morning。〃

〃。　。　。　The　old　boy　is　wild；〃　said　Jack　with　a　slight　laugh。　　〃The
wires　are　quite　hot。〃

〃This　is　no　joke；　Jack；　I　can　tell　you。　　McGinnis　is　coming　over；
is　he？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Jack；　〃but　we　won't　get　much　help　from　him。〃

〃Why　not？〃　inquired　his　father。　　〃He　is　a　very　shrewd　and　able
business　man。〃

〃He　may　be　all　that；　sir；　but　in　a　case　like　this；　if　you　really
want　my　opinion；　and　I　have　no　wish　to　be　disrespectful；　he　is　a
hot…headed　ass。　　Just　the　kind　of　employer　to　rejoice　the　heart　of
a　clever　labour　leader　who　is　out　for　trouble。　　Dad；〃　and　Jack's
voice　became　very　earnest；　〃let's　work　this　out　by　ourselves。　　We
can　handle　our　own　men　better　without　the　help　of　McGinnis　or　any
other。〃

〃That　is　just　the　trouble。　　Look　at　this　precious　document；　'The
Allied　Unions。'　　What　have　I　got　to　do　with　them？　　And　signed　by
Simmons　and　McDonough。　　Who　is　McDonough；　pray？〃

〃McDonough？　　Oh；　I　know　McDonough。　　He　is　a　little　like　McGinnis
big…hearted；　hot…headed；　good　in　a　scrap；　useless　in　a　conference。
But　I　suggest；　sir；　that　we　ignore　the　slight　unpleasant
technicalities　in　the　manner　and　method　of　negotiation　and　try　to
deal　with　our　own　people　in　a　reasonable　way。〃

〃I　am　ready　always　to　meet　my　own　people；　but　I　refuse　utterly　to
deal　with　this　committee！〃　　It　was　not　often　that　Mr。　Maitland
became　profane；　but　in　his　description　of　this　particular　group　of
individuals　his　ordinary　English　suffered　a　complete　collapse。

〃Dad；　McGinnis　will　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。　　I　should　like　to
suggest　one　or　two　things；　if　you　will　allow　me。〃

〃Go　on；〃　said　his　father　quickly。

〃Dad；　this　is　war；　and　I　have　learned　a　little　about　that　game
'over　there。'　　And　I　have　learned　something　about　it　in　my　athletic
activities。　　The　first　essential　is　to　decline　to　play　the　enemy's
game。　　Let's　discover　his　plan　of　campaign。　　As　I　read　this
document；　the　thing　that　hits　my　eye　is　this：　do　they　really　want
the　things　they　ask　for；　or　is　the　whole　thing　a　blind？　　What　I
mean　is；　do　they　really　want　war　or　peace？　　I　say　let's　feel　them
out。　　If　they　are　after　peace；　the　thing　is　easy。　　If　they　want
war；　this　may　come　to　be　a　very　serious　thing。　　Meantime；　Dad；
let's　not　commit　ourselves　to　McGinnis。　　Let's　play　it　alone。〃

Mr。　Maitland's　lips　had　set　in　a　thin；　hard　line。　　His　face　was
like　a　mask　of　grey　steel。　　He　sat　thinking　silently。

〃Here　he　comes；〃　said　Jack；　looking　out　of　the　window。　　〃Dad；　you
asked　me　to　come　into　this　with　you。　　Let's　play　the　game　together。
I　found　it　wise　to　place　the　weight　on　the　defence　line。　　Will　you
play　defence　in　this？〃

The　lines　in　his　father's　face　began　to　relax。

〃All　right；　boy；　we'll　play　it　together；　and　meantime　I　shall　play
defence。〃

〃By　Jove；　Dad；〃　cried　Jack；　in　a　tone　of　exultant　confidence；
〃we'll　beat　'em。　　And　now　here　comes　that　old　Irish　fire…eater。
I'll　go。　　No　alliance；　Dad；　remember。〃　　His　father　nodded　as　Jack
left　the　room；　to　return　almost　immediately　with　Mr。　McGinnis；
evidently　quite　incoherent　with　rage。

In　the　outer　office　Jack　paused　beside　the　desk　of　the　old
bookkeeper。　　From　behind　the　closed　door　came　the　sound　of　high
explosives。

〃Rough　stuff　in　there；　eh；　Wickes；〃　said　Jack；　with　a　humorous
smile。　　For　some　moments　he　stood　listening。　　〃War　is　a　terrible
thing；〃　he　added　with　a　grin。

〃What　seems　to　be　the　matter；　Mr。　Jack？〃

Jack　laid　before　him　the　document　sent　out　by　the　Allied　Unions。

〃Oh；　this　is　terrible；　Mr。　Jack！　　And　just　at　this　time。　　I　am　very
much　afraid　it　will　ruin　us。〃

〃Ruin　us？　　Rot。　　Don't　ever　say　that　word　again。　　We　will　possibly
have　a　jolly　good　row。　　Someone　will　be　hurt　and　perhaps　all　of　us；
more　or　less；　but　I　don't　mean　to　be　beaten；　if　I　know　myself；〃　he
added；　with　the　smile　on　his　face　that　his　hockey　team　loved　to　see
before　a　match。　　〃Now；　Wickes；〃　continued　Jack；　〃get　that　idea　of
failure　out　of　your　mind。　　We　are　going　to　win。　　And　meantime；　let
us　prepare　for　our　campaign。　　Here's　a　bit　of　work　I　want　you　to　do
for　me。　　Get　four　things　for　me：　the　wages　for　the　last　three
yearsyou　have　the　sheets？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃The　cost　of　living　from　the　Labour　Gazette　for　the　last　three
yearsyou　have　them　hereand　the　rates　of　increase　in　wages。
Plot　a　diagram　showing　all　these　things。　　You　know　what　I　mean？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　understand。〃

〃And　find　out　the　wages　paid　at　our　competing　points。〃

〃All　right；　Mr。　Jack。　　I　know　what　you　want。　　I　can　give　you　the
necessary　information　in　regard　to　the　first　three　points　almost　at
once。　　It　will　take　some　days；　however；　to　get　the　wages　of　our
competing　points。〃

〃All　right；　old　boy。　　Carry　on！〃　said　Jack；　and　with　the　same　smile
on　his　face　he　passed　out　of　the　office　into　the　shops。

It　amused　him　slightly　to　observe　the　change　in　the　attitude　and
bearing　of　his　men。　　They　would　not　look　at　him　fairly　in　the　face。
Even　Snoopy　Sykes　and　Macnamara　avoided　his　glance。　　But　he　had　for
everyone　his　usual　cheery　word。　　Why　should　he　not？　　These　chaps
had　no　hatred　for　him；　nor　he　for　them。　　He　had　come　to　understand
union　methods　of　discipline　and　recognised　fully　the　demands　for
loyalty　and　obedience　imposed　upon　its　members　by　the　organisation。
These　men　of　his　were　bound　to　the　union　by　solemn　obligations。　　He
bore　them　no　ill…will　on　that　score。　　Rather　he　respected　them　the
more　for　it。　　If　a　fight　was　inevitable；　he　would　do　his　best　to
beat　them　but　he　would　allow　no　spirit　of　hatred　to　change　his　mind
toward　them　nor　cloud　his　judgment。

The　day　was　full　of　excursions　and　alarms。　　A　hurry　call　was　sent
out　by　McGinnis　to　all　employers　who　had　received　copies　of　the
document　from　the　Allied　Unions。　　In　the　afternoon　a　meeting　was
held　in　the　Board　of　Trade　Building；　but　it　was　given　over　chiefly
to　vituperation　and　threatening　directed　toward　their　variously
described　employees。　　With　one　heart　and　voice　all　affirmed　with
solemn；　and　in　many　cases　with　profane　oaths　that　they　would　not
yield　a　jot　to　the　insolent　demands　of　this　newly　organised　body。

〃I　have　already　sent　my　answer；〃　shouted　Mr。　McGinnis。

〃What　did　you　say；　Mac？〃

〃Told　'em　to　go　to　hell；　and　told　'em　that　if　any　of　these　highly
coloured　committee　men　came　on　my　premises；　I　would　kick　'em　into
the　middle　of　next　week。〃

Jack；　who　was　present　at　the　meeting；　sat　listening　with　silent　and
amused　pity。　　They　seemed　to　him　so　like　a　group　of　angry　children
whose　game　had　suddenly　been　interfered　with　and　whose　rage
rendered　them　incapable　of　coherent　thought。

Grant　Maitland；　who；　throughout　the　meeting　had　sat　silent；　finally
rose　and　said：　　〃Gentlemen；　the　mere　expression　of　feeling　may
afford　a　sort　of　satisfaction　but　the　question　is；　What　is　to　be
done？　　That　the　situation　is　grave　for　all　of　us　we　know　too　well。
Not　many　of　us　are　in　a　position　to　be　indifferent　to　a　strike。
Let　us　get　down　to　business。　　What　shall　we　do？〃

〃Fight　them　to　a　finish！　　Smash　the　unions！〃　were　the　suggestions
in　various　forms　and　with　various　descriptive　adjectives。

〃It　may　come　to　a　fight；　gentlemen；　but　however　gratifying　a　fight
may　be　to　our　feelings；　a　fight　may　be　disastrous　to　our　business。
A　strike　may　last　for　weeks；　perhaps　months。　　Are　we　in　a　position
to　stand　that？　　And　as　for　smashing　the　unions；　let　us　once　and　for
all　put　such　a　thought　out　of　our　minds。　　These　unions　have　all
international　affiliations。　　It　is　absurd　to　imagine　that　we　here
in　Blackwater　could　smash　a　single　union。〃

Fiercely　McGinnis　made　reply。　　〃I　want　to　tell　you　right　here　and
now　that　I　am　prepared　to　close　down　and　go　out　of　business　but　I
will　have　no　outside　committee　tell　me　how　to　run　my　job。〃

But　no　one　took　this　threat　seriously；　and　no　one　but　knew　that　a
shut…down　for　any　of　them　might　mean　disaster。　　They　all　recalled
those　unfilled　orders　which　they　were　straining　every　nerve　to
complete　before　the　market　should　break；　or　cancellation　should
come。　　It　added　not　a　little　to　their　rage　that　they　knew
themselves　to　be　held　in　the　grip　of　circumstances　over　which　they
had　little　control。

After　much　angry　deliberation　it　was　finally　agreed　that　they
should　appoint　a　committee　to　consider　the　whole　situation　and　to
prepare　a　plan　of　action。　　Meantime　the　committee　were　instructed
to　temporise　with　the　enemy。

The　evening　papers　announced　the　imminence　of　a　strike　the　extent
and　magnitude　of　which　had　never　been　experienced　in　the　history　of
Blackwater。　　Everywhere　the　citizens　of　the　industrial　town　were
discussing　the　disturbing　news　anxiously；　angrily；　indifferently；
according　as　they　were　variously　affected。　　But　there　was　a　general
agreement　among　all　classes　of　citizens　that　a　strike　in　the
present　industrial　and　financial　situation　which　was　already
serious　enough；　would　be　nothing　short　of　a　calamity；　because　no
matter　what　the　issue　would　be；　no　matter　which　of　the　parties　won
in　the　conflict；　a　fight　meant　serious　loss　not　only　to　the　two
parties　immediately　concerned；　but　to　the　whole　community　as　well。
With　the　rank　and　file　of　the　working　people　there　was　little　heart
for　a　fight。　　More　especially；　men　upon　whom　lay　the　responsibility
for　the　support　of　homes　shrank　from　the　pain　and　the　suffering；　as
well　as　from　the　loss　which　experience　taught　them　a　strike　must
entail。　　It　is　safe　to　say　that　in　every　working　man's　home　in
Blackwater　that　night　there　was　to　be　found　a　woman　who；　as　she　put
her　children　to　bed；　prayed　that　trouble　might　be　averted；　for　she
knew　that　in　every　war　it　is　upon　the　women　and　children　that　in
the　last　analysis　the　sorest　burden　must　fall。　　To　them　even
victory　would　mean　for　many　months　a　loss　of　luxuries　for　the
family；　it　might　be　of　comforts；　and　defeat；　which　would　come　not
until　after　long　conflict；　would　mean　not　only　straitened　means　but
actual　poverty；　with　all　the　attendant　humiliation　and　bitterness
which　would　kill　for　them　the　joy　of　life　and　sensibly　add　to　its
already　heavy　burden。

That　night　Jack　Maitland　felt　that　a　chat　with　the　Reverend　Murdo
Matheson　might　help　to　clear　his　own　mind