Part 29 (1/2)
AT midnight every mine on the range shut down.
Ten thousand men were out for the time being. Not all of these were in sympathy with the strike, of course. Many were loyal to their employers, and would have continued at their work, but the superintendents of the various shafts gave orders to shut down the mines until the following day, when other plans would be made.
At daylight on the following morning the private car of the president of the mining company entered the town. Mr. Carrhart and Mr. Penton were in consultation in the latter's office half an hour later. The president had been through strikes before. He knew what they meant, and his face wore a serious expression.
”I don't care so much on our own account, Penton. We have a million tons of ore on the dumps at the mines now, enough to keep us going until navigation on the lakes shuts down. I feel sorry for the men, and for their innocent families. Who is this man Cavard?”
”I always have considered him a bright, capable man. He is an inspector, as you know. I never saw anything wrong about him until this matter came up. But I believe he has been organizing the men for some time. Rush accused the fellow, in my presence, of carrying this thing through from dishonest motives.”
”Ah, Rus.h.!.+ What about these boys? Then they are not in sympathy with the strikers?” questioned the president.
”No. They both joined the union, not, I believe, because of any sympathy that they felt for the movement, but in the light of after events, it is plain to me that Rush saw what was coming, and thought he might be able to stem the tide. It was too big a task for him. He did not fully appreciate the magnitude of the task that he had set for himself.”
”They are splendid boys,” continued Mr. Carrhart, the lines of his face softening perceptibly. ”Splendid boys. Tell me about their part in this affair.”
Mr. Penton did so. He related to the president the incidents connected with the Iron Boys joining the union. Of their having pitted themselves against the man Cavard, of Steve Rush's speeches and of the fight in the meeting on the previous night, when the boys had been handled so roughly.
”The cowards!” exclaimed Mr. Carrhart, thumping the superintendent's desk with a powerful fist. ”They deserve no sympathy, and----”
”You mean the leaders deserve no sympathy?” corrected Mr. Penton.
”Yes. Do you know how the boys are this morning--whether they were seriously hurt or not?”
”They went home after the meeting--after they had reentered the meeting room and withdrawn from the organization. I have not heard from them this morning, of course.”
”Please send over to their boarding place and find out as soon as you think the people there are up. I should like to see the boys some time this morning if they are able to get out. If not, we will go to them,”
announced the president with emphasis. ”How many of our men will stand by us?”
”I have no idea. Not very many.”
”While there is no necessity for our turning a wheel for the rest of the season, we must do so for the moral effect it will have on the strikers.
We must not give way for a moment. We already are paying our men better wages than almost any other mine in the country. It is not the principle of this corporation to grind its men down, but to pay them all they can earn. Yet there is a limit beyond which we cannot go. Have you any suggestions to make, Penton?”
”Yes. I should notify the men that if they wish to declare the strike off and go to work within twenty-four hours, all will be taken back without prejudice and given work all winter. Otherwise the mines will be manned by others when we get ready to work them. I should get into communication with our mine captains and find out if our engineers, pump-men, electricians and other practical men are to be depended upon.”
”It shall be done at once.”
”And we must not forget about our young friends, Rush and Jarvis,”
continued Penton. ”I fear we shall have violence before this strike is ended. The union has plenty of money for a long fight, but I do not believe a large amount of it will get to the men themselves, from what I know about their leaders.”
”I should imagine not. I will go back to my car for breakfast and you can make your reports to me there. That, perhaps, will be best. Better have your notices gotten out at once.”
”I will do so.”
When the miners went out on the street that morning they found the town placarded with the notices, as directed by President Carrhart. Groups quickly gathered about these notices, those who could read translating the notices to those of the foreigners whose knowledge of English was limited.
Soon these groups were engaged in excited discussions. The word went out that a meeting of the union would be called for nine o'clock. This meeting was of the briefest nature, lasting not more than twenty minutes. A stirring address by Cavard was the final argument necessary to clinch the matter. The strike was on, and the men were going to stand fast until the bosses should yield, which the walking delegate a.s.sured the men the former would soon do. That owners could not afford to hold out for more than a month at the longest was the promise made to the striking miners.
The meeting ended amid wild enthusiasm, after which the men strolled about the streets, well satisfied with themselves and thoroughly enjoying the liberty and freedom of their new situation.