Hewasnolongershyaboutit—whenhewentin,insteadofsayingallthethingshehadbeenplanningtosay,hestartedtotellElzbietaabouttherevolution!
When,however,shehadsatisfiedherselfthathewassaneuponallsubjectsexceptpolitics,shetroubledherselfnofurtheraboutit.
Hersoulhadbeenbakedhardinthefireofadversity,andtherewasnoalteringitnow;lifetoherwasthehuntfordailybread,andideasexistedforheronlyastheyboreuponthat.
Allthatinterestedherinregardtothisnewfrenzywhichhadseizedholdofherson-in-lawwaswhetherornotithadatendencytomakehimsoberandindustrious;andwhenshefoundheintendedtolookforworkandtocontributehissharetothefamilyfund,shegavehimfullreintoconvinceherofanything.
AwonderfullywiselittlewomanwasElzbieta;shecouldthinkasquicklyasahuntedrabbit,andinhalfanhourshehadchosenherlife-attitudetotheSocialistmovement.
SheagreedineverythingwithJurgis,excepttheneedofhispayinghisdues;andshewouldevengotoameetingwithhimnowandthen,andsitandplanhernextday’sdinneramidthestorm.
ForaweekafterhebecameaconvertJurgiscontinuedtowanderaboutallday,lookingforwork;untilatlasthemetwithastrangefortune.
“Anything,sir,”saidJurgis,andaddedquickly:“I’vebeenoutofworkforalongtime,sir.I’manhonestman,andI’mstrongandwilling—”
“Well,I’vebeenemployingamanasaporter,andhedrinks.I’vedischargedhimseventimesnow,andI’veaboutmadeupmymindthat’senough.Wouldyoubeaporter?”
“Allright.I’llpayyouthirtyamonthandboard,andyoucanbeginnow,ifyoufeellikeit.Youcanputontheotherfellow’srig.”
Herehereceivedagreatsurprise,forwhenhewasdescribingthelocationofthehotelOstrinskiinterruptedsuddenly,“NotHinds’s!”
Towhichtheotherreplied,“Thenyou’vegotthebestbossinChicago—he’sastateorganizerofourparty,andoneofourbest-knownspeakers!”
SothenextmorningJurgiswenttohisemployerandtoldhim;andthemanseizedhimbythehandandshookit.“ByJove!”hecried,“thatletsmeout.
So,afterthat,Jurgiswasknowntohis“boss”as“ComradeJurgis,”andinreturnhewasexpectedtocallhim“ComradeHinds.”
“Tommy”Hinds,ashewasknowntohisintimates,wasasquatlittleman,withbroadshouldersandafloridface,decoratedwithgraysidewhiskers.
Hewasthekindest-heartedmanthateverlived,andtheliveliest—inexhaustibleinhisenthusiasm,andtalkingSocialismalldayandallnight.
Hewasagreatfellowtojollyalongacrowd,andwouldkeepameetinginanuproar;whenoncehegotreallywakedup,thetorrentofhiseloquencecouldbecomparedwithnothingsaveNiagara.
TommyHindshadbegunlifeasablacksmith’shelper,andhadrunawaytojointheUnionarmy,wherehehadmadehisfirstacquaintancewith“graft,”intheshapeofrottenmusketsandshoddyblankets.
Toamusketthatbrokeinacrisishealwaysattributedthedeathofhisonlybrother,anduponworthlessblanketsheblamedalltheagoniesofhisownoldage.
Wheneveritrained,therheumatismwouldgetintohisjoints,andthenhewouldscrewuphisfaceandmutter:“Capitalism,myboy,capitalism!‘Ecrasezl’infame!
’”Hehadoneunfailingremedyforalltheevilsofthisworld,andhepreachedittoeveryone;nomatterwhethertheperson’stroublewasfailureinbusiness,ordyspepsia,oraquarrelsomemother-in-law,atwinklewouldcomeintohiseyesandhewouldsay,“Youknowwhattodoaboutit—votetheSocialistticket!”
Hehadgoneintobusiness,andfoundhimselfincompetitionwiththefortunesofthosewhohadbeenstealingwhilehehadbeenfighting.
Thecitygovernmentwasintheirhandsandtherailroadswereinleaguewiththem,andhonestbusinesswasdriventothewall;andsoHindshadputallhissavingsintoChicagorealestate,andsetoutsinglehandedtodamtheriverofgraft.
Hehadbeenareformmemberofthecitycouncil,hehadbeenaGreenbacker,aLaborUnionist,aPopulist,aBryanite—andafterthirtyyearsoffighting,theyear1896hadservedtoconvincehimthatthepowerofconcentratedwealthcouldneverbecontrolled,butcouldonlybedestroyed.
Hehadpublishedapamphletaboutit,andsetouttoorganizeapartyofhisown,whenastraySocialistleaflethadrevealedtohimthatothershadbeenaheadofhim.
Nowforeightyearshehadbeenfightingfortheparty,anywhere,everywhere—whetheritwasaG.A.R.reunion,orahotel-keepers’convention,oranAfro-Americanbusinessmen’sbanquet,oraBiblesocietypicnic,TommyHindswouldmanagetogethimselfinvitedtoexplaintherelationsofSocialismtothesubjectinhand.
Afterthathewouldstartoffuponatourofhisown,endingatsomeplacebetweenNewYorkandOregon;andwhenhecamebackfromthere,hewouldgoouttoorganizenewlocalsforthestatecommittee;andfinallyhewouldcomehometorest—andtalkSocialisminChicago.
Hinds’shotelwasaveryhot-bedofthepropaganda;alltheemployeeswerepartymen,andiftheywerenotwhentheycame,theywerequitecertaintobebeforetheywentaway.
Theproprietorwouldgetintoadiscussionwithsomeoneinthelobby,andastheconversationgrewanimated,otherswouldgatherabouttolisten,untilfinallyeveryoneintheplacewouldbecrowdedintoagroup,andaregulardebatewouldbeunderway.
Thiswentoneverynight—whenTommyHindswasnottheretodoit,hisclerkdidit;andwhenhisclerkwasawaycampaigning,theassistantattendedtoit,whileMrs.Hindssatbehindthedeskanddidthework.
Theclerkwasanoldcronyoftheproprietor’s,anawkward,rawbonedgiantofaman,withalean,sallowface,abroadmouth,andwhiskersunderhischin,theverytypeandbodyofaprairiefarmer.
Hehadbeenthatallhislife—hehadfoughttherailroadsinKansasforfiftyyears,aGranger,aFarmers’Allianceman,a“middle-of-the-road”Populist.
Finally,TommyHindshadrevealedtohimthewonderfulideaofusingthetrustsinsteadofdestroyingthem,andhehadsoldhisfarmandcometoChicago.
ThatwasAmosStruver;andthentherewasHarryAdams,theassistantclerk,apale,scholarly-lookingman,whocamefromMassachusetts,ofPilgrimstock.
AdamshadbeenacottonoperativeinFallRiver,andthecontinueddepressionintheindustryhadwornhimandhisfamilyout,andhehademigratedtoSouthCarolina.
InMassachusettsthepercentageofwhiteilliteracyiseight-tenthsofonepercent,whileinSouthCarolinaitisthirteenandsix-tenthspercent;alsoinSouthCarolinathereisapropertyqualificationforvoters—andfortheseandotherreasonschildlaboristherule,andsothecottonmillsweredrivingthoseofMassachusettsoutofthebusiness.
Adamsdidnotknowthis,heonlyknewthattheSouthernmillswererunning;butwhenhegottherehefoundthatifhewastolive,allhisfamilywouldhavetowork,andfromsixo’clockatnighttosixo’clockinthemorning.
Sohehadsettoworktoorganizethemillhands,afterthefashioninMassachusetts,andhadbeendischarged;buthehadgottenotherwork,andstuckatit,andatlasttherehadbeenastrikeforshorterhours,andHarryAdamshadattemptedtoaddressastreetmeeting,whichwastheendofhim.
InthestatesofthefarSouththelaborofconvictsisleasedtocontractors,andwhentherearenotconvictsenoughtheyhavetobesupplied.
HarryAdamswassentupbyajudgewhowasacousinofthemillownerwithwhosebusinesshehadinterfered;andthoughthelifehadnearlykilledhim,hehadbeenwiseenoughnottomurmur,andattheendofhistermheandhisfamilyhadleftthestateofSouthCarolina—hell’sbackyard,ashecalledit.
Hehadnomoneyforcarfare,butitwasharvesttime,andtheywalkedonedayandworkedthenext;andsoAdamsgotatlasttoChicago,andjoinedtheSocialistparty.
Hewasastudiousman,reserved,andnothingofanorator;buthealwayshadapileofbooksunderhisdeskinthehotel,andarticlesfromhispenwerebeginningtoattractattentioninthepartypress.
Contrarytowhatonewouldhaveexpected,allthisradicalismdidnothurtthehotelbusiness;theradicalsflockedtoit,andthecommercialtravelersallfounditdiverting.
NowthattheBeefTrusthadadoptedthetrickofraisingpricestoinduceenormousshipmentsofcattle,andthendroppingthemagainandscoopinginalltheyneeded,astockraiserwasveryapttofindhimselfinChicagowithoutmoneyenoughtopayhisfreightbill;andsohehadtogotoacheaphotel,anditwasnodrawbacktohimiftherewasanagitatortalkinginthelobby.
TheseWesternfellowswerejust“meat”forTommyHinds—hewouldgetadozenofthemaroundhimandpaintlittlepicturesof“theSystem.”
Ofcourse,itwasnotaweekbeforehehadheardJurgis’sstory,andafterthathewouldnothavelethisnewportergofortheworld.
“Seehere,”hewouldsay,inthemiddleofanargument,“I’vegotafellowrighthereinmyplacewho’sworkedthereandseeneverybitofit!”
AndthenJurgiswoulddrophiswork,whateveritwas,andcome,andtheotherwouldsay,“ComradeJurgis,justtellthesegentlemenwhatyousawonthekilling-beds.”
AtfirstthisrequestcausedpoorJurgisthemostacuteagony,anditwaslikepullingteethtogethimtotalk;butgraduallyhefoundoutwhatwaswanted,andintheendhelearnedtostandupandspeakhispiecewithenthusiasm.
Hisemployerwouldsitbyandencouragehimwithexclamationsandshakesofthehead;whenJurgiswouldgivetheformulafor“pottedham,”ortellaboutthecondemnedhogsthatweredroppedintothe“destructors”atthetopandimmediatelytakenoutagainatthebottom,tobeshippedintoanotherstateandmadeintolard,TommyHindswouldbanghiskneeandcry,“Doyouthinkamancouldmakeupathinglikethatoutofhishead?”
Andthenthehotel-keeperwouldgoontoshowhowtheSocialistshadtheonlyrealremedyforsuchevils,howtheyalone“meantbusiness”withtheBeefTrust.
Andwhen,inanswertothis,thevictimwouldsaythatthewholecountrywasgettingstirredup,thatthenewspaperswerefullofdenunciationsofit,andthegovernmenttakingactionagainstit,TommyHindshadaknock-outblowallready.
ThereareothertrustsinthecountryjustasillegalandextortionateastheBeefTrust:thereistheCoalTrust,thatfreezesthepoorinwinter—thereistheSteelTrust,thatdoublesthepriceofeverynailinyourshoes—thereistheOilTrust,thatkeepsyoufromreadingatnight—andwhydoyousupposeitisthatallthefuryofthepressandthegovernmentisdirectedagainsttheBeefTrust?”
AndwhentothisthevictimwouldreplythattherewasclamorenoughovertheOilTrust,theotherwouldcontinue:“TenyearsagoHenryD.LloydtoldallthetruthabouttheStandardOilCompanyinhisWealthversusCommonwealth;andthebookwasallowedtodie,andyouhardlyeverhearofit.
Heretheotherwouldgenerallyadmitthathewas“stuck”;andTommyHindswouldexplaintohim,anditwasfuntoseehiseyesopen.
“IfyouwereaSocialist,”thehotelkeeperwouldsay,“youwouldunderstandthatthepowerwhichreallygovernstheUnitedStatestodayistheRailroadTrust.
TheBeefTrusthasdefiedtherailroads—itisplunderingthemdaybydaythroughthePrivateCar;andsothepublicisrousedtofury,andthepapersclamorforaction,andthegovernmentgoesonthewar-path!
Andyoupoorcommonpeoplewatchandapplaudthejob,andthinkit’salldoneforyou,andneverdreamthatitisreallythegrandclimaxofthecentury-longbattleofcommercialcompetition—thefinaldeathgrapplebetweenthechiefsoftheBeefTrustand‘StandardOil,’fortheprizeofthemasteryandownershipoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica!”
ThathehadascoreofSocialistargumentschasingthroughhisbraininthemeantimedidnotinterferewiththis;onthecontrary,Jurgisscrubbedthespittoonsandpolishedthebanistersallthemorevehementlybecauseatthesametimehewaswrestlinginwardlywithanimaginaryrecalcitrant.
Itwouldbepleasanttorecordthathesworeoffdrinkingimmediately,andalltherestofhisbadhabitswithit;butthatwouldhardlybeexact.
Theserevolutionistswerenotangels;theyweremen,andmenwhohadcomeupfromthesocialpit,andwiththemireofitsmearedoverthem.
Someofthemdrank,andsomeofthemswore,andsomeofthematepiewiththeirknives;therewasonlyonedifferencebetweenthemandalltherestofthepopulace—thattheyweremenwithahope,withacausetofightforandsufferfor.
TherecametimestoJurgiswhenthevisionseemedfar-offandpale,andaglassofbeerloomedlargeincomparison;butiftheglassledtoanotherglass,andtotoomanyglasses,hehadsomethingtospurhimtoremorseandresolutiononthemorrow.
Itwassoevidentlyawickedthingtospendone’spenniesfordrink,whentheworkingclasswaswanderingindarkness,andwaitingtobedelivered;thepriceofaglassofbeerwouldbuyfiftycopiesofaleaflet,andonecouldhandtheseouttotheunregenerate,andthengetdrunkuponthethoughtofthegoodthatwasbeingaccomplished.
Thatwasthewaythemovementhadbeenmade,anditwastheonlywayitwouldprogress;itavailednothingtoknowofit,withoutfightingforit—itwasathingforall,notforafew!
Acorollaryofthispropositionofcoursewas,thatanyonewhorefusedtoreceivethenewgospelwaspersonallyresponsibleforkeepingJurgisfromhisheart’sdesire;andthis,alas,madehimuncomfortableasanacquaintance.
HemetsomeneighborswithwhomElzbietahadmadefriendsinherneighborhood,andhesetouttomakeSocialistsofthembywholesale,andseveraltimesheallbutgotintoafight.
Herewerealltheopportunitiesofthecountry,theland,andthebuildingsupontheland,therailroads,themines,thefactories,andthestores,allinthehandsofafewprivateindividuals,calledcapitalists,forwhomthepeoplewereobligedtoworkforwages.
Thewholebalanceofwhatthepeopleproducedwenttoheapupthefortunesofthesecapitalists,toheap,andheapagain,andyetagain—andthatinspiteofthefactthatthey,andeveryoneaboutthem,livedinunthinkableluxury!
Andwasitnotplainthatifthepeoplecutofftheshareofthosewhomerely“owned,”theshareofthosewhoworkedwouldbemuchgreater?
Thatwasasplainastwoandtwomakesfour;anditwasthewholeofit,absolutelythewholeofit;andyettherewerepeoplewhocouldnotseeit,whowouldargueabouteverythingelseintheworld.
Theywouldtellyouthatgovernmentscouldnotmanagethingsaseconomicallyasprivateindividuals;theywouldrepeatandrepeatthat,andthinktheyweresayingsomething!
Theycouldnotseethat“economical”managementbymastersmeantsimplythatthey,thepeople,wereworkedharderandgroundcloserandpaidless!
Theywerewage-earnersandservants,atthemercyofexploiterswhoseonethoughtwastogetasmuchoutofthemaspossible;andtheyweretakinganinterestintheprocess,wereanxiouslestitshouldnotbedonethoroughlyenough!
Andyettherewerethingsevenworse.Youwouldbegintalkingtosomepoordevilwhohadworkedinoneshopforthelastthirtyyears,andhadneverbeenabletosaveapenny;wholefthomeeverymorningatsixo’clock,togoandtendamachine,andcomebackatnighttootiredtotakehisclothesoff;whohadneverhadaweek’svacationinhislife,hadnevertraveled,neverhadanadventure,neverlearnedanything,neverhopedanything—andwhenyoustartedtotellhimaboutSocialismhewouldsniffandsay,“I’mnotinterestedinthat—I’manindividualist!”
AndthenhewouldgoontotellyouthatSocialismwas“paternalism,”andthatifiteverhaditswaytheworldwouldstopprogressing.
Itwasenoughtomakeamulelaugh,tohearargumentslikethat;andyetitwasnolaughingmatter,asyoufoundout—forhowmanymillionsofsuchpoordeludedwretchestherewere,whoseliveshadbeensostuntedbycapitalismthattheynolongerknewwhatfreedomwas!
Andtheyreallythoughtthatitwas“individualism”fortensofthousandsofthemtoherdtogetherandobeytheordersofasteelmagnate,andproducehundredsofmillionsofdollarsofwealthforhim,andthenlethimgivethemlibraries;whileforthemtotaketheindustry,andrunittosuitthemselves,andbuildtheirownlibraries—thatwouldhavebeen“Paternalism”!
SometimestheagonyofsuchthingsasthiswasalmostmorethanJurgiscouldbear;yettherewasnowayofescapefromit,therewasnothingtodobuttodigawayatthebaseofthismountainofignoranceandprejudice.
Youmustkeepatthepoorfellow;youmustholdyourtemper,andarguewithhim,andwatchforyourchancetostickanideaortwointohishead.
Andtherestofthetimeyoumustsharpenupyourweapons—youmustthinkoutnewrepliestohisobjections,andprovideyourselfwithnewfactstoprovetohimthefollyofhisways.
SoJurgisacquiredthereadinghabit.Hewouldcarryinhispocketatractorapamphletwhichsomeonehadloanedhim,andwheneverhehadanidlemomentduringthedayhewouldplodthroughaparagraph,andthenthinkaboutitwhileheworked.
OneoftheotherportersatHinds’swasasharplittleIrishman,whokneweverythingthatJurgiswantedtoknow;andwhiletheywerebusyhewouldexplaintohimthegeographyofAmerica,anditshistory,itsconstitutionanditslaws;alsohegavehimanideaofthebusinesssystemofthecountry,thegreatrailroadsandcorporations,andwhoownedthem,andthelaborunions,andthebigstrikes,andthemenwhohadledthem.
Duringthecampaignonewasnotdependentuponthestreetcorneraffairs,wheretheweatherandthequalityoftheoratorwereequallyuncertain;therewerehallmeetingseverynight,andonecouldhearspeakersofnationalprominence.
Thesediscussedthepoliticalsituationfromeverypointofview,andallthattroubledJurgiswastheimpossibilityofcarryingoffbutasmallpartofthetreasurestheyofferedhim.
TheLordhadusedupsomuchmaterialinthemakingofhisheadthattherehadnotbeenenoughtocompletehislegs;buthegotaboutontheplatform,andwhenheshookhisravenwhiskersthepillarsofcapitalismrocked.
Hehadwrittenaveritableencyclopediauponthesubject,abookthatwasnearlyasbigashimself—Andthentherewasayoungauthor,whocamefromCalifornia,andhadbeenasalmonfisher,anoyster-pirate,alongshoreman,asailor;whohadtrampedthecountryandbeensenttojail,hadlivedintheWhitechapelslums,andbeentotheKlondikeinsearchofgold.
Hehadmadeafortuneinbusiness,andspentnearlyallofitinbuildingupamagazine,whichthepostofficedepartmenthadtriedtosuppress,andhaddriventoCanada.
Thosewholostinthestruggleweregenerallyexterminated;butnowandthentheyhadbeenknowntosavethemselvesbycombination—whichwasanewandhigherkindofstrength.
Itwassothatthegregariousanimalshadovercomethepredaceous;itwasso,inhumanhistory,thatthepeoplehadmasteredthekings.
Theworkersweresimplythecitizensofindustry,andtheSocialistmovementwastheexpressionoftheirwilltosurvive.
Theinevitabilityoftherevolutiondependeduponthisfact,thattheyhadnochoicebuttouniteorbeexterminated;thisfact,grimandinexorable,dependeduponnohumanwill,itwasthelawoftheeconomicprocess,ofwhichtheeditorshowedthedetailswiththemostmarvelousprecision.
Andlateroncametheeveningofthegreatmeetingofthecampaign,whenJurgisheardthetwostandard-bearersofhisparty.
TenyearsbeforetherehadbeeninChicagoastrikeofahundredandfiftythousandrailroademployees,andthugshadbeenhiredbytherailroadstocommitviolence,andthePresidentoftheUnitedStateshadsentintroopstobreakthestrike,byflingingtheofficersoftheunionintojailwithouttrial.
Thepresidentoftheunioncameoutofhiscellaruinedman;butalsohecameoutaSocialist;andnowforjusttenyearshehadbeentravelingupanddownthecountry,standingfacetofacewiththepeople,andpleadingwiththemforjustice.
Andthen,asJurgiscameoutfromthismeeting,someonehandedhimapaperwhichhecarriedhomewithhimandread;andsohebecameacquaintedwiththe“AppealtoReason.”
AbouttwelveyearspreviouslyaColoradoreal-estatespeculatorhadmadeuphismindthatitwaswrongtogambleinthenecessitiesoflifeofhumanbeings:andsohehadretiredandbegunthepublicationofaSocialistweekly.
Therehadcomeatimewhenhehadtosethisowntype,buthehadheldonandwonout,andnowhispublicationwasaninstitution.
Itusedacarloadofpapereveryweek,andthemailtrainswouldbehoursloadingupatthedepotofthelittleKansastown.
Itwasafour-pageweekly,whichsoldforlessthanhalfacentacopy;itsregularsubscriptionlistwasaquarterofamillion,anditwenttoeverycrossroadspostofficeinAmerica.
The“Appeal”wasa“propaganda”paper.Ithadamannerallitsown—itwasfullofgingerandspice,ofWesternslangandhustle:Itcollectednewsofthedoingsofthe“plutes,”andserveditupforthebenefitofthe“Americanworking-mule.”
Itwouldhavecolumnsofthedeadlyparallel—themilliondollars’worthofdiamonds,orthefancypet-poodleestablishmentofasocietydame,besidethefateofMrs.MurphyofSanFrancisco,whohadstarvedtodeathonthestreets,orofJohnRobinson,justoutofthehospital,whohadhangedhimselfinNewYorkbecausehecouldnotfindwork.
The“Appeal”hadwhatitcalledits“Army,”aboutthirtythousandofthefaithful,whodidthingsforit;anditwasalwaysexhortingthe“Army”tokeepitsdanderup,andoccasionallyencouragingitwithaprizecompetition,foranythingfromagoldwatchtoaprivateyachtoraneighty-acrefarm.
Itsofficehelperswereallknowntothe“Army”byquainttitles—”InkyIke,”“theBald-headedMan,”“theRedheadedGirl,”“theBulldog,”“theOfficeGoat,”and“theOneHoss.”
ItsentacorrespondenttoColorado,andprintedpagesdescribingtheoverthrowofAmericaninstitutionsinthatstate.
Inacertaincityofthecountryithadoverfortyofits“Army”intheheadquartersoftheTelegraphTrust,andnomessageofimportancetoSocialistseverwentthroughthatacopyofitdidnotgotothe“Appeal.”
Itwouldprintgreatbroadsidesduringthecampaign;onecopythatcametoJurgiswasamanifestoaddressedtostrikingworkingmen,ofwhichnearlyamillioncopieshadbeendistributedintheindustrialcenters,wherevertheemployers’associationshadbeencarryingouttheir“openshop”program.“Youhavelostthestrike!”itwasheaded.
Whenthiseditionappeared,twentythousandcopiesweresenttothestockyardsdistrict;andtheyweretakenoutandstowedawayintherearofalittlecigarstore,andeveryevening,andonSundays,themembersofthePackingtownlocalswouldgetarmfulsanddistributethemonthestreetsandinthehouses.
ThepeopleofPackingtownhadlosttheirstrike,ifeverapeoplehad,andsotheyreadthesepapersgladly,andtwentythousandwerehardlyenoughtogoround.
Jurgishadresolvednottogonearhisoldhomeagain,butwhenheheardofthisitwastoomuchforhim,andeverynightforaweekhewouldgetonthecarandrideouttothestockyards,andhelptoundohisworkofthepreviousyear,whenhehadsentMikeScully’sten-pinsettertothecityBoardofAldermen.
ItwasquitemarveloustoseewhatadifferencetwelvemonthshadmadeinPackingtown—theeyesofthepeopleweregettingopened!
TheSocialistswereliterallysweepingeverythingbeforethemthatelection,andScullyandtheCookCountymachinewereattheirwits’endforan“issue.”
AttheverycloseofthecampaigntheybethoughtthemselvesofthefactthatthestrikehadbeenbrokenbyNegroes,andsotheysentforaSouthCarolinafire-eater,the“pitchforksenator,”ashewascalled,amanwhotookoffhiscoatwhenhetalkedtoworkingmen,anddamnedandsworelikeaHessian.
Thismeetingtheyadvertisedextensively,andtheSocialistsadvertisedittoo—withtheresultthataboutathousandofthemwereonhandthatevening.
The“pitchforksenator”stoodtheirfusilladeofquestionsforaboutanhour,andthenwenthomeindisgust,andthebalanceofthemeetingwasastrictlypartyaffair.
Jurgis,whohadinsisteduponcoming,hadthetimeofhislifethatnight;hedancedaboutandwavedhisarmsinhisexcitement—andattheveryclimaxhebrokeloosefromhisfriends,andgotoutintotheaisle,andproceededtomakeaspeechhimself!
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