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arbitration cases submitted to his judgment。 Moreover； he had an
eye to a second term in the mayor's chair； which gubernatorial and
majestical office gave full scope to the ruling ambition of his
life； which was； in his own words； 〃to guard the interests and
promote the well…being of my people。〃
The industrial strike appeared to furnish him with an opportunity
to gratify this ambition。 He resolved to put an end to this
unnecessary and wasteful struggle； and to that end he summoned to a
public meeting his fellow citizens of all classes； at which he
invited each party in the industrial strife to make a statement of
their case； in the hope that a fair and reasonable settlement might
be effected。
The employers were more than dubious of the issue； having but a
small idea of the mayor's power of control and less of his common…
sense。 Brother Simmons； however； foreseeing a magnificent field
for the display of his forensic ability； a thing greatly desired by
labour leaders of his kidney； joyfully welcomed the proposal。
McNish gave hesitating assent； but； relying upon his experience in
the management of public assemblies and confident of his ability to
shape events to his own advantage； he finally agreed to accept the
invitation。
The public meeting packed the City Hall； with representatives of
both parties in the controversy in about equal numbers and with a
great body of citizens more or less keenly interested in the issue
of the meeting and expectant of a certain amount of 〃fun。〃 The
Mayor's opening speech was thoroughly characteristic。 He was
impressed with the responsibility that was his for the well…being
of his people。 Like all right…thinking citizens of this fair town
of Blackwater； he deeply regretted this industrial strife。 It
interfered with business。 It meant loss of money to the strikers。
It was an occasion of much inconvenience to the citizens and it
engendered bitterness of feeling that might take months； even
years； to remove。 He stood there as the friend of the working man。
He was a working man himself and was proud of it。 He believed that
on the whole they were good fellows。 He was a friend also of the
employers of labour。 What could we do without them？ How could our
great industries prosper without their money and their brains？ The
one thing necessary for success was co…operation。 That was the
great word in modern democracy。 In glowing periods he illustrated
this point from their experiences in the war。 All they wanted to
do was to sit down together； and； man to man； talk their difficulties
over。 He would be glad to assist them； and he had no doubt as to
the result。 He warned the working man that hard times were coming。
The spectre of unemployment was already parading their streets。
Unemployment meant disorder； rioting。 This； he assured them； would
not be permitted。 At all costs order would be maintained。 He had
no wish to threaten； but he promised them that the peace would be
preserved at all costs。 He suggested that the strikers should get
back at once to work and the negotiations should proceed in the
meantime。
At this point Brother Simmons rose。
〃The mayor （h）urges the workers to get back to work；〃 he said。
〃Does 'e mean at （h）increased pay； or not？ 'E says as 'ow this
strike interferes with business。 'E doesn't tell us what business。
But I can tell 'im it （h）interferes with the business of robbery of
the workin' man。 'E deplores the loss of money to the strikers。
Let me tell 'im that the workin' men are prepared to suffer that
loss。 True； they 'ave no big bank accounts to carry 'em on； but
there are things that they love more than moneyliberty and
justice and the rights of the people。 What are we strikin' for？
Nothin' but what is our own。 The workin' man makes （h）everything
that is made。 What percentage of the returns does 'e get in wages？
They won't tell us that。 Last year these factories were busy in
the makin' o' munitions。 Mr。 McGinnis 'ere was makin' shells。 I'd
like to （h）ask； Mr。 Mayor； what profit Mr。 McGinnis made out of
these shells。〃
Mr。 McGinnis sprang to his feet； 〃I want to tell you；〃 he said in a
voice choking with rage； 〃that it is none of your high…explosive
business。〃
〃'E says as it is none o' my business；〃 cried Brother Simmons；
joyously taking Mr。 McGinnis on。 〃Let me （h）ask 'im who paid for
these shells？ I did； you did； all of us did。 Not my business？
Then 'ose business is it？ （H）If 'e was paid a fair price for 'is
shells； （h）all right； I say nothin' against it。 If 'e was paid
more than a fair price； then 'e is a robber； worse； 'e is a blood
robber； because the price was paid in blood。〃
At once a dozen men were on their feet。 Cries of 〃Order！ Order！〃
and 〃Put him out！〃 arose on every hand。 The mayor rose from his
chair and； in an impressive voice； said： 〃We must have order。 Sit
down； Mr。 Simmons。〃 Simmons sat down promptly。 Union men are
thoroughly disciplined in points of order。 〃We must have order；〃
continued the mayor。 〃I will not permit any citizen to be
insulted。 We all did our bit in this town of Blackwater。 Some of
us went to fight； and some that could not go to fight 'kept the
home fires burning'。〃 A shout of derisive laughter from the
working men greeted this phrase。 The mayor was deeply hurt。 〃I
want to say that those who could not go to the war did their bit at
home。 Let the meeting proceed； but let us observe the courtesies
that are proper in debate。〃
Again Simmons took the floor。 〃As I was sayin'； Mr。 Mayor〃
Cries of 〃Order！ Order！ Sit down！〃
〃Mr。 Mayor； I believe I 'ave the floor？〃
〃Yes； you have。 Go on。 But you must not insult。〃
〃（H）Insult？ Did I （h）insult anybody？ I don't know what Mr。 McGinnis
made from 'is shells。 I only said that ifyou （h）understandif 'e
made more than e ought to； 'e is a robber。 And since the price of
our freedom was paid in blood； if 'e made more than was fair； 'e's a
blood robber。〃
Again the cries arose。 〃Throw him out！〃 Once more the mayor rose。
〃You must not make insinuations； sir；〃 he cried angrily。 〃You must
not make insinuations against respectable citizens。〃
〃（H）Insinooations；〃 cried Simmons。 〃No； sir； I never make no
（h）insinooations。 If I knew that （h）any man 'ere 'ad made
（h）unfair profits I wouldn't make no （h）insinooations。 I would
charge 'im right 'ere with blood robbery。 And let me say；〃 shouted
Simmons； taking a step into the aisle； 〃that the time may come when
the working men of this country will make these charges； and will
（h）ask the people who kept the ''ome fires burning'〃
Yells of derisive laughter。
〃what profits came to them from these same 'ome fires。 The
people will （h）ask for an （h）explanation of these bank accounts； of
these new factories； of these big stores； of these （h）autermobiles。
The people that went to the war and were （h）unfortoonate enough to
return came back to poverty； while many of these 'ere 'ome fire
burners came （h）out with fortunes。〃 At this point brother Simmons
cast a fierce and baleful eye upon a group of the employers who sat
silent and wrathful before him。 〃And now； what I say；〃 continued
Brother Simmons
At this point a quiet voice was heard。
〃Mr。 Mayor； I rise to a point of order。〃
Immediately Simmons took his seat。
〃Mr。 Farrington；〃 said the mayor； recognising one of the largest
building contractors in the town。
〃Mr。 Mayor； I should like to ask what are we discussing this
afternoon？ Are we discussing the war records of the citizens of
Blackwater？ If so； that is not what I came for。 It may be
interesting to find out what each man did in the war。 I find that
those who did most say least。 I don't know what Mr。 Simmons did in
the war。 I suppose he was there。〃
With one spring Simmons was on his feet and in the aisle。 He
ripped off coat and vest； pulled his shirt over his head and
revealed a back covered with the network of ghastly scars。 〃The
gentleman （h）asks；〃 he panted； 〃what I done in the war。 I don't
know。 I cannot say what I done in the war； but that is what the
war done to me。〃 The effect was positively overwhelming。
A deadly silence gripped the audience for a single moment。 Then
upon every hand rose fierce yells； oaths and strange cries。 Above
the uproar came Farrington's booming voice。 Leaving his seat；
which was near the back of the hall； he came forward； crying out：
〃Mr。 Mayor！ Mr。 Mayor！ I demand attention！〃 As he reached
Simmons's side； he paused and； facing about； he looked upon the
array of faces pale and tense with passion。 〃I want to apologise
to this gentleman；〃 he said in a voice breaking with emotion。 〃I
should not have said what I did。 The man who bears these scars is
a man I am proud to know。〃 He turned swiftly toward Simmons with
outstretched hand。 〃I am proud to know you； sir。 I could not go
to the war。 I was past age。 I sent my two boys。 They are over
there still。〃 As the two men shook hands； for once in his life
Simmons was speechless。 His face was suffused with uncontrollable
feeling。 On every side were seen men； strong men； with tears
streaming down their faces。 A nobler spirit seemed to fall upon
th