Part 21 (1/2)
”I asked for one editor. One hundred and seventy-five men and sixty-three women have chosen that field. Seventy-five men and thirty-two women wish to be musicians.”
”We have looked in vain among the ballots for a single hod-carrier, or ploughman, ditcher, cook, seamstress, washerman or washerwoman, stableman, scrubber, or cleaner. The Brotherhood cannot live a day without them. Remember, comrades, we are to make the great experiment on which the future happiness of the race may depend. Let us forget our selfish preferences and think only of our fellow men. I call for heroes of the hod, heroines of the washtub and the scrubbing-brush and milk-pail, knights of the pitchfork, spade, and shovel. Let hunters, fishermen, preachers, and chorus-girls forget they live for the present.
”This is not a joke, comrades, though I have laughed. It's one of the gravest problems we must face. It has been suggested that we hire outside labour to do this disagreeable work for a generation or two.
The moment we dare make such a compromise we are lost forever. We must solve this problem or quit. A second ballot is ordered at once.”
Again the orchestra played, the ushers pa.s.sed the boxes, the vote was taken, and all for naught. Not a single hero of the hod appeared. Not a single heroine of the washtub, the scrubbing-brush, or the milk-pail.
The young chairman's face was very grave when Barbara handed him the results.
She bent and whispered:
”Away with frowns and doubts and fears! There's a better way. A leader must lead. Their business is to follow.”
Norman's face brightened. He turned to the crowd, and in tones of clear, ringing command announced:
”Comrades, I had hoped you could choose your work of your own accord.
The attempt has failed. Six divisions of labour, each of them absolutely essential to the existence of society in any form above the primitive savage, have not a single man or woman in them.”
”We must elect an executive council of four who shall sit as a court of last resort in settling the question of the ability of each comrade and the work to which he shall be a.s.signed. Under our temporary charter the general manager will preside over this court and cast the deciding vote. Nominations are in order for the other four. We want two men and two women in this council. In all our deliberations woman shall have equal voice with man.”
The Bard made a speech of protest against the action about to be taken, in the sacred name of liberty.
”This act is the first step on the road to a tyranny more monstrous than any ever devised by capitalism!” he shouted, with hands uplifted, his long hair flying in wild disorder.
Tom Mooney, an old miner, who had met Norman and become his friend during a visit to one of his father's mines, sprang to his feet and made a rush for the excited poet. Confronting him a moment, Tom inquired:
”Kin I ax ye a few questions?”
”Certainly. As many as you like.”
”Kin ye cook?”
”I cannot.”
”Kin ye wash?”
”No!”
”Kin ye scrub?”
”No, sir.”
”Ever swing a hod?”
”I have not.”
”Ever milk a cow?”