網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

CHAPTER IX

T

I

ONY LEMHOLTZ was a power among the workmen in the Norton factory, and a shining example of what personal magnetism can accomplish without education in swaying the ideas and actions of other men. Tony was a fire-brand, and half the trouble he created in his labor-leadership came from the sheer delight of exercising his will over his fellowworkmen. Olga Mirovich was the only one he failed to influence, and perhaps that was why Tony was so furiously in love with her. Olga laughed at him, defied him, ridiculed him, yet she would miss the violence of his devotion for it gratified her vanity. Richard and Tony had been good friends until now, but the rumors of Olga's new interest in the son of her employer did not bode well for future friendship.

At the present moment, Lemholtz was in his element. The notice posted by the management that a reduced wage scale would be put into effect gave him something definite to work upon. The action of the Company in laying off men and running short hours came just at the time when plans were maturing to make further demands for increased wages, and to pull off the big

strike. This action frightened some of the timid and more conservative members of the union, and caused a delay in action. The union officials were convinced that the wage cut was simply part of a backfire started by the management to forestall the demands of the men. One by one Tony persuaded the recalcitrants to get back into line by picturing the enormous profits which their efforts had piled up for the Company, and the necessity of standing with unbroken front when Oppression sought to rob Labor of its rightful share in the profits which opportunity had recently given them. This was the moment for which Tony had been impatiently waiting, and he was eager to make the most of it.

The situation also provided an opening for him to gratify his personal spite. It could scarcely have been a coincidence that the management should have taken their action at the precise moment which would stop the union in its aggressive plans. Some one on the inside must have squealed, and it was more than plausible to suggest that Richard Norton, posing as a friend of the workmen, was in reality acting as a spy of the Company. Tony Lemholtz was a good judge of men, and in his heart he was not so firmly convinced of Richard's culpability as would appear from the flat accusation he made to the men; but it suited his purpose to believe him guilty, particularly in his conversations with Olga; and he did not permit the opportunity to pass by.

"I will not believe it," the girl asserted vehemently. "Mr. Richard Norton is not that kind."

"Mister Richard Norton!" Tony sneered. "You make me sick! If he is one of us, why do you keep stickin' on the 'mister' ?"

"Because he is a gentleman, Tony Lemholtz,” Olga retorted hotly, "and because he is my friend."

"Gentlemen don't mix with workin'-people, and when they're friends with factory-girls there's always some good reason."

"You know me, Tony Lemholtz, and so you know you lie. Mr. Richard Norton wants to help us, and he will if you don't stop him. He is my friend, and I trust him. That is more than I can say of

Tony's face darkened.

you."

"We shall see," he muttered. "The men will believe what I tell 'em. You can say what you like to the women .. they don't count. Except for Mister Richard Norton you would still be my girl, and he had better look out for himself. He is a spy, and I will get him for that. He will do you dirt, and I will get him for that. He had better keep out of my way. Damn Mister Richard Norton!"

Olga laughed tantalizingly.

"You are a big stiff, Tony Lemholtz! Mr. Richard Norton could tie you into a double knot with one hand, and have the other free to slap your face. We shall see tonight at the meeting whether the men believe he is a spy. But if you play your dirty tricks on him Olga's eyes snapped . . . "remember, Tony Lemholtz, I know you. 'I will get him for that,' mimicking Tony's voice to perfection. "All right,.. then I will get you!"

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

99

II

The meeting Olga referred to was called by the union for this Saturday night to take joint action on the question of the reduced wage scale. It was a foregone conclusion that a strike would be called, and the Company was prepared to meet the issue. Tony had done his work well, and the men stood as a solid phalanx; Olga's work with the women was equally complete. Between them, these two controlled the situation, so the meeting was scarcely more than a formality to record the voice of the working force, and to formulate plans for definite and concerted action. Tony knew that Richard Norton would be present. This could not be prevented, for Richard was a full-fledged member of the union, and in good standing. Tony had no evidence to substantiate the impression he had fostered among the men as to Richard's alleged treachery; but Tony had swayed men before by his personal magnetism, and what had been done once could be done again.

Lemholtz at once assumed control of the meeting. He rehearsed in glowing pictures the advantages which had come to the Company from the efforts of the workers in the months during and succeeding the war period. He compared the conditions of the workers preceding this time and at present. He emphasized the fact that the concessions made by the Company were not voluntary, but because necessitated by economic conditions; and now, at the first opportunity, the Company sought to restore the old serfdom. In this effort they would be successful if the workers did not stand together to

the bitter end. The plant could not be operated without them. The power lay in their hands, and if they failed to use it they would prove themselves the dumb things the management believed them to be. All that was necessary to establish their present wages as a minimum was to stick together, and he called upon them now to assert their manhood by resisting the management at every point.

A roar of approval greeted the close of Tony's harangue, and he seated himself well satisfied with the result of his efforts. As the applause died away he again sprang to his feet.

"The vote!" he cried, . . . "and make it unanimous !"

"Not so fast!"

Richard's voice sounded clear and dominating as he rose in the center of the hall.

"I have something to say first."

"Don't listen to him," Tony cried, waving his arms dramatically. "He is a spy."

"Prove it!"

Richard crowded by the men and strode down the aisle toward the stage, never taking his eyes from Tony's face.

"Prove it!" he repeated after he had mounted the few steps and stood before his accuser. "Every person in this room believes in fair play. If I am a spy, prove it and I will take the consequences. If you can't, then I claim my right to speak."

"Who told the boss two weeks ago we were planning

to strike?"

« 上一頁繼續 »