To Him That Hath

R >> Ralph Connor >> To Him That Hath


As he thought of these evenings, he was ready to believe that his
suspicion of the Scotchman's ill-will toward himself was due largely to
imagination, and yet he could not rid himself of the unpleasant memory
of McNish's convulsed face that afternoon.

"What the deuce is the matter with the beggar, anyway?" he said to
himself.

Suddenly a new suggestion came to him.

"It can't be," he added, "surely the idiot is not jealous." Then he
remembered Annette's attitude at the moment, her hands pressing his hard
to her breast, her face lifted up in something more than appeal.
"By Jove! I believe that may be it," he mused. "And Annette? Had
she observed it? What was in her heart? Was there a reason for the
Scotchman's jealousy on that side?"

This thought disturbed him greatly. He was not possessed of a larger
measure of self-conceit than falls to the lot of the average young man,
but the thought that possibly Annette had come to regard him other than
as a friend released a new tide of emotion within him. Rapidly he passed
in review many incidents in their association during the months since he
returned from the war, and gradually the conviction forced itself upon
him that possibly McNish was not without some cause for jealousy. It
was rotten luck and was bound to interfere with their present happy
relations. Yet none the less was he conscious that it was not altogether
an unpleasant thought to him that in some subtle way a new bond had been
established between this charming young girl and himself.

But he must straighten things out with McNish at the very first
opportunity. He was a decent chap and would make Annette a first-rate
husband. Indeed, it pleased Jack not a little to feel that he would be
able to further the fortunes of both. McNish had good foreman timber in
him and would make a capable assistant. As to this silly prejudice of
his, Jack resolved that he would take steps immediately to have that
removed. That he could accomplish this he had little doubt.

But the most acutely pressing of the problems that engaged his mind were
those that arose out of his new position as manager. The mere organizing
and directing of men in their work gave him little anxiety. He was sure
of himself as far as that was concerned. He was sure of his ability
to introduce among the men a system of team play that would result in
increased production and would induce altogether better results. He
thought he knew where the weak spots were. He counted greatly upon the
support of the men who had been associated with him in the Maitland
Mills Athletic Association. With their backing, he was certain that he
could eliminate most of that very considerable wastage in time that
even a cursory observation had revealed to him in the shops, due to
such causes as dilatory workers, idle machines, lack of co-ordination,
improper routing of work, and the like. He had the suspicion that a
little investigation would reveal other causes of wastage as well.

There was one feature in the situation that gave him concern and that
was the radical element in the unions. Simmons and his gang had from the
very first assumed an attitude of hostility to himself, had sought to
undermine his influence and had fought his plans for the promotion of
clean sport among the Mill men. None knew better than Simmons that an
active interest in clean and vigorous outdoor sports tended to produce
contentment of mind, and a contented body of men offered unfertile soil
for radical and socialistic doctrines. Hence, Simmons had from the first
openly and vociferously opposed with contemptuous and bitter indignation
all Jack's schemes and plans for the promotion of athletic sports. But
Jack had been able to carry the men with him and the recent splendid
victory over a famous team had done much to discredit brother Simmons
and his propaganda.

Already Jack was planning a new schedule of games for the summer.
Baseball, football, cricket, would give occupation and interest to all
classes of Mill workers. And in his new position he felt he might be
able, to an even greater degree, to carry out the plans which he had
in mind. On the other hand, he knew full well that men were apt to be
suspicious of welfare schemes "promoted from above." His own hockey men
he felt sure he could carry with him. If he could only win McNish to
be his sergeant-major, success would be assured. This must be his first
care.

He well knew that McNish had no love for Simmons, whom the Scotchman
despised first, because he was no craftsman, and chiefly because he had
no soundly-based system of economics but was governed by the sheerest
opportunism in all his activities. A combination between McNish and
Simmons might create a situation not easy to deal with. Jack resolved
that that combination should be prevented. He would see McNish at once,
after the meeting of his local, which he remembered was set for that
very night.

This matter being settled, he determined to proceed immediately to the
office for an interview with Wickes. He must get to know as speedily
as possible something of the shop organization and of its effect upon
production. He found Mr. Wickes awaiting him with tremulous and exultant
delight, eager to put himself, his experience, his knowledge and
all that he possessed at the disposal of the new manager. The whole
afternoon was given to this work, and before the day was done, Jack had
in his mind a complete picture of the planing mill, with every machine
in place and an estimate, more or less exact, of the capacity of every
machine. In the course of this investigation, he was surprised to
discover that there was no detailed record of the actual production
of each machine, nor, indeed, anything in the way of an accurate cost
system in any department of the whole business.

"How do you keep track of your men and their work, Wickes?" he inquired.

"Oh!" said the old man, "the foremen know all about that, Mr. Jack."

"But how can they know? What check have they?"

"Well, they are always about, Mr. Jack, and keep their eyes on things
generally."

"I see," said Jack. "And do you find that works quite satisfactorily?"

"Well, sir, we have never gone into details, you know, Mr. Jack, but if
you wish--"

"Oh, no, Wickes, I am just trying to get the hang of things, you know."
Jack was unwilling to even suggest a criticism of method at so early
a stage in his managerial career. "I want to know how you run things,
Wickes, and at any time I shall be glad of assistance from you."

The old bookkeeper hastened to give him almost tearful assurance of his
desire to assist to the utmost of his power.

The meeting of Local 197 of the Woodworkers' Union was largely attended,
a special whip having been sent out asking for a full meeting on the
ground that a matter of vital importance to unionised labour was to be
considered.

The matter of importance turned out to be nothing less than a
proposition that the Woodworkers' Union should join with all other
unions in the town to make a united demand upon their respective
employers for an increase in wages and better conditions all around, in
connection with their various industries. The question was brought up in
the form of a resolution from their executive, which strongly urged
that this demand should be approved and that a joint committee should be
appointed to take steps for the enforcement of the demand. The executive
had matters thoroughly in hand. Brother Simmons and the more radical
element were kept to the background, the speakers chosen to present the
case being all moderates. There was no suggestion of extreme measures.
Their demands were reasonable, and it was believed that the employers
were prepared to give fair consideration--indeed, members had had
assurance from an authoritative quarter on the other side that such was
the case.

Notwithstanding the moderate tone adopted in presenting it, the
resolution met with strenuous opposition. The great majority of those
present were quiet, steady-going men who wanted chiefly to be let alone
at their work and who were hostile to the suggested action, which might
finally land them in "trouble." The old-time workers in the Maitland
Mills had no grievances against their employer. They, of course, would
gladly accept an increase in wages, for the cost of living was steadily
climbing, but they disliked intensely the proposed method of making a
general demand for an increase in wages and for better conditions.

The sporting element in the meeting were frankly and fiercely
antagonistic to anything that would disturb the present friendly
relation with their employers in the Maitland Mills. "The old man" had
always done the square thing. He had shown himself a "regular fellow" in
backing them up in all their games during the past year. He had always
given them a fair hearing and a square deal. They would not stand for
any hold-up game of this sort. It was a low-down game, anyway.

The promoters of the resolution began to be anxious for their cause.
They had not anticipated any such a strong opposition and were rather
nonplussed as to the next move. Brother Simmons was in a fury and was on
the point of breaking forth into a passionate denunciation of scabs and
traitors generally when, to the amazement of all and the intense
delight of the supporters of the administration, McNish arose and gave
unqualified support to the resolution.

His speech was a masterpiece of diplomacy, and revealed his long
practice in the art of oratory in that best of all training schools,
the labour union of the Old Land. He began by expressing entire
sympathy with the spirit of the opposition. The opposition, however, had
completely misunderstood the intent and purport of the resolution. None
of them desired trouble. There need not be, indeed, he hoped there would
not be trouble, but there were certain very ugly facts that must be
faced. He then, in terse, forceful language, presented the facts
in connection with the cost of living, quoting statistics from the
Department of Labour to show the steady rise in the price of articles
of food, fuel and clothing since the beginning of the war, a truly
appalling array. He had secured price lists from dealers in these
commodities, both wholesale and retail, to show the enormous profits
made during the war. There were returned soldiers present. They had not
hesitated at the call of duty to give all they had for their country.
They had been promised great things when they had left their homes,
their families, their business and their jobs. How had they found things
upon their return? He illustrated his argument from the cases of men
present. It was a sore spot with many of them and he pressed hard upon
it. They were suffering to-day; worse, their wives and children were
suffering. Had anyone heard of their employers suffering? Here again he
offered illustrations of men who had made a good thing out of the war.
True, there were many examples of the other kind of employer, but they
must deal with classes and not individuals in a case like this. This was
part of a much bigger thing than any mere local issue. He drew upon his
experience in the homeland with overwhelming effect. His voice rose and
rolled in his richest Doric as he passionately denounced the tyranny of
the masters in the coal and iron industries in the homeland. He was not
an extremist; he had never been one. Indeed, all who knew him would bear
him out when he said that he had been an opponent of Brother Simmons and
those who thought with him on economic questions. This sudden change in
attitude would doubtless surprise his brothers. He had been forced to
change by the stern logic of facts. There was nothing in this resolution
which any reasonable worker might object to. There was nothing in the
resolution that every worker with any sympathy with his fellow workers
should not support. Moreover, he warned them that if they presented
a united front, there would be little fear of trouble. If they were
divided in their ranks, or if they were halfhearted in their demands,
they would invite opposition and, therefore, trouble. He asked them all
to stand together in supporting a reasonable demand, which he felt sure
reasonable men would consider favorably.

The effect of his speech was overwhelming. The administration supporters
were exuberant in their enthusiastic applause and in their vociferous
demands for a vote. The opposition were paralysed by the desertion of
one whom they had regarded and trusted as a leader against the radical
element and were left without answer to the masterly array of facts and
arguments which he had presented.

At this point, the door opened and Maitland walked in. A few moments of
tense silence, and then something seemed to snap. The opposition, led
by the hockey men and their supporters, burst into a demonstration
of welcome. The violence of the demonstration was not solely upon
Maitland's account. The leaders of the opposition were quick to realise
that his entrance had created a diversion for them which might save
them from disastrous defeat. They made the most of this opportunity,
prolonging the demonstration and joining in a "chair procession" which
carried Maitland shoulder-high about the room, in the teeth of the
violent protest of Brother Simmons and his following.

Order being restored, business was again resumed, when Brother Macnamara
rose to his feet and, in a speech incoherent at times, but always
forceful, proposed that the usual order be suspended and that here and
now a motion be carried expressing their gratification at the recent
great hockey victory and referring in highly laudatory terms to the
splendid work of Brother Captain Maitland, to whose splendid efforts
victory was largely due.

It was in vain that Brother Simmons and those of his way of thinking
sought to stem the tide of disorder. The motion was carried with
acclaim.

No sooner had this matter been disposed of than Maitland rose to his
feet and said:

"Mr. President, I wish to thank you all for this very kind reference to
my team and myself. I take very little credit for the victory which we
won. We had a good team, indeed, quite a remarkable team. I have played
in a good many athletic teams of various kinds, but in two particulars
the Maitland Mills Hockey Team is the most remarkable of any I have
known--first, in their splendid loyalty in taking their training and
sticking together; that was beyond all praise; and, secondly, in the
splendid grit which they showed in playing a losing game. Now, Mr.
President, I am going to do something which gives me more regret than
any of you can understand. I have to offer my resignation as a member of
this union. I have accepted the position of manager of the planing mill
and I understand that this makes it necessary that I resign as a member
of this union. I don't really see why this should be necessary. I don't
believe myself that it should, and, brothers, I expect to live long
enough to belong to a union that will allow a fellow like me to be a
member with chaps like you. But meantime, for the present I must resign.
You have treated me like a brother and a chum. I have learned a lot
from you all, but one thing especially, which I shall never forget:
that there is no real difference in men that is due to their position in
life; that a man's job doesn't change his heart."

He paused for a few moments as if to gather command of his voice, which
had become suddenly husky.

"I am sorry to leave you, boys, and I want to say to you from my heart
that though I cannot remain a member of this union, I can be and I will
be a brother to you all the same. And I promise you that, as far as I
can, I will work for the good of the union in the future as I have done
in the past."

McNish alone was prepared for this dramatic announcement, although they
all knew that Maitland sooner or later would assume a position
which would link him up with the management of the business. But the
suddenness of the change and the dramatic setting of the announcement
created an impression so profound as to neutralise completely the effect
of McNish's masterly speech.

Disappointed and enraged at the sudden turn of events, he was too good
a general to allow himself to be routed in disorder. He set about to
gather his disordered forces for a fresh attack, when once more the
hockey men took command of the field. This time it was Snoopy Sykes, the
most voiceless member of the union.

After a few moments of dazed silence that followed Maitland's
announcement of his resignation, Snoopy rose and, encouraged by the
cheers of his astonished comrades, began the maiden speech of his life.

"Mr. President," he shouted.

"Go to it, Snoopy, old boy."

"I never made a speech in my life, never--"

"Good, old scout, never begin younger! Cheerio, old son!"

"And I want to say that he don't need to. I once heard of a feller who
didn't. He kept on and he didn't do no harm to nobody. And the Captain
here wouldn't neither. So what I say is he don't need to," and Snoopy
sat down with the whole brotherhood gazing at him in silence and amazed
perplexity, not one of them being able to attach the faintest meaning to
Snoopy's amazing oration.

At length Fatty Findlay, another of the voiceless ones, but the very
special pal of Snoopy Sykes, broke forth in a puzzled voice:

"Say it again, Snoopy."

There was a roar of laughter, which only grew in volume as Snoopy turned
toward his brothers a wrathful and bewildered countenance.

"No," said another voice. "Say something else, Snoopy. Shoot a goal this
time."

Again Snoopy rose. "What I said was this," he began indignantly. Again
there was a roar of laughter.

"Say, you fellers, shut up and give a feller a chance. The Captain wants
to resign. I say 'No.' He is a darned good scout. We want him and we
won't let him go. Let him keep his card."

"By the powers," roared Macnamara, "it is a goal, Snoopy. It's a
humdinger. I second the motion."

It was utterly in vain that Brother Simmons and his whole following
pointed out unitedly and successively the utter impossibility and
absurdity of the proposal which was unconstitutional and without
precedent. The hockey team had the company with them and with the bit in
their teeth swept all before them.

At this point, McNish displayed the master-hand that comes from long
experience. He saw his opportunity and seized it.

"Mr. President," he said, and at once he received the most complete
attention. "A confess this is a most extraordinary proposal, but A'm
goin' tae support it." The roar that answered told him that he
had regained control of the meeting. "Brother Simmons says it is
unconstitutional and without precedent. He is no correct in this. A
have known baith maisters and managers who retained their union cards.
A grant ye it is unusual, but may I point oot that the circumstances are
unusual?"--Wild yells of approval--"And Captain Maitland is an unusual
man"--louder yells of approval--"It may that there is something in the
constitution o' this union that stands in the way--Cries of "No! No!"
and consignment of the constitution to a nameless locality.--"A venture
to suggest that a committee be appointed, consisting of Brothers Sykes,
Macnamara and the chairman, wi' poors tae add, tae go into this maitter
with Captain Maitland and report."

It was a master-stroke. A true union man regards with veneration the
constitution and hesitates to tamper with it except in a perfectly
constitutional manner. The opposition to the administration's original
resolution had gained what they sought, a temporary stay. The committee
was appointed and the danger to both the resolution and the constitution
for the present averted.

Again Mr. McNish took command. "And noo, Mr. President," he said, "the
oor is late. We are all tired and we all wish to give mair thocht to the
main maitter before us. A move, therefore, that we adjourn to the call
o' the Executive."

Once more Brother Simmons found himself in a protesting minority, and
the meeting broke up, the opposition jubilant over their victory, the
supporters of the administration determined to await a more convenient
time.



CHAPTER XII

LIGHT THAT IS DARKNESS


At the next monthly meeting of Local 197 of the Woodworkers' Union, the
executive had little difficulty in finally shelving the report of its
committee appointed to deal with the resignation of Captain Maitland,
and as little difficulty in passing by unanimous vote their resolution
held up at the last meeting. The allied unions had meantime been
extended to include the building trades. Their organization had been
perfected and their discipline immensely strengthened. Many causes
contributed to this result. A month's time had elapsed and the high
emotional tides due to athletic enthusiasm, especially the hockey
victory, had had space to subside. The dead season for all outdoor games
was upon them and the men, losing touch with each other and with their
captain, who was engrossed in studying his new duties, began to spend
their leisure hours in loafing about the streets or lounging in the pool
rooms.

All over the country the groundswell of unrest was steadily and rapidly
rising. The returned soldiers who had failed to readjust themselves to
the changed conditions of life and to the changes wrought in themselves
by the war, embittered, disillusioned and disappointed, fell an easy
prey to unscrupulous leaders and were being exploited in the interests
of all sorts of fads and foolish movements. Their government bonuses
were long since spent and many of them, through no fault of their own,
found themselves facing a situation full of difficulty, hardship, and
often of humiliation.

Under the influence of financial inflation and deceived by the abundant
flow of currency in every department of business, industries by the
score started up all over the land. Few could foresee the approach of
dark and stern days. It was in vain that financial leaders began to
sound a note of warning, calling for retrenchment and thrift. And now
the inevitable results were beginning to appear. The great steel and
coal industries began to curtail their operations, while desperately
striving to maintain war prices for their products. Other industries
followed their example. All the time the cost of living continued
to mount. Foodstuffs reached unheard-of prices, which, under the
manipulations of unscrupulous dealers, continued to climb.

Small wonder that working men with high wages and plenty of money in
their hands cherished exaggerated ideas of their wealth and developed
extravagant tastes in dress, amusements and in standard of living. With
the rest of the world, they failed to recognise the fact that money
was a mere counter in wealth and not wealth itself. To a large extent,
thrift was abandoned and while deposits in the savings banks grew in
volume, the depositors failed to recognise the fact that the value of
the dollar had decreased fifty per cent. Already the reaction from all
this had begun to set in. Nervousness paralysed the great financial
institutions. The fiat went forth "No more money for industrial
enterprises. No more advances on wholesale stocks." The order was issued
"Retrench. Take your losses, unload your stocks." This men were slow to
do, and while all agreed upon the soundness of the policy, each waited
for the other to begin.

Through the month of April anxiety, fear and discontent began to haunt
the minds of business men. In the labour world the High Command was
quick to sense the approach of a crisis and began to make preparations
for the coming storm. The whole industrial and commercial world
gradually crystallised into its two opposing classes. A subsidised press
began earnestly to demand lower cost in productions retrenchment in
expenditure, a cut in labour costs, a general and united effort to meet
the inevitable burden of deflation.

On the other hand, an inspired press began to raise an outcry against
the increasing cost of living, to point out the effect of the house
famine upon the income of the working man, and to sound a warning as to
the danger and folly of any sudden reduction in the wage scale.

Increased activity in the ranks of organised labour began to be
apparent. Everywhere the wild and radical element was gaining in
influence and in numbers, and the spirit of faction and internecine
strife became rampant.

It was due to the dominating forcefulness of McNish, the leader of
the moderates, that the two factions in the allied unions had been
consolidated, and a single policy agreed upon. His whole past had been
a preparation for just a crisis as the present. His wide reading, his
shrewd practical judgment, his large experience in labour movements in
the Old Land, gave him a position of commanding influence which enabled
him to dominate the executives and direct their activities. His sudden
and unexplained acceptance of the more radical program won for him an
enthusiastic following of the element which had hitherto recognised the
leadership of Brother Simmons. Day and night, with a zeal that never
tired, he laboured at the work of organising and disciplining the
various factions and parties in the ranks of labour into a single
compact body of fighting men under a single command. McNish was in the
grip of one of the mightiest of human passions. Since that day in the
Perrotte home, when he had seen the girl that he loved practically offer
herself, as he thought, to another man, he had resolutely kept himself
away from her. He had done with her forever and he had torn out of his
heart the genuine friendship which he had begun to hold toward the man
who had deprived him of her love. But deep in his heart he nourished a
passion for vengeance that became an obsession, a madness with him. He
merely waited the opportunity to gratify his passion.