to him that hath-第36章

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him。　　Rapidly　he　passed　in　review　many　incidents　in　their
association　during　the　months　since　he　returned　from　the　war；　and
gradually　the　conviction　forced　itself　upon　him　that　possibly
McNish　was　not　without　some　cause　for　jealousy。　　It　was　rotten　luck
and　was　bound　to　interfere　with　their　present　happy　relations。　　Yet
none　the　less　was　he　conscious　that　it　was　not　altogether　an
unpleasant　thought　to　him　that　in　some　subtle　way　a　new　bond　had
been　established　between　this　charming　young　girl　and　himself。

But　he　must　straighten　things　out　with　McNish　at　the　very　first
opportunity。　　He　was　a　decent　chap　and　would　make　Annette　a　first…
rate　husband。　　Indeed；　it　pleased　Jack　not　a　little　to　feel　that　he
would　be　able　to　further　the　fortunes　of　both。　　McNish　had　good
foreman　timber　in　him　and　would　make　a　capable　assistant。　　As　to
this　silly　prejudice　of　his；　Jack　resolved　that　he　would　take　steps
immediately　to　have　that　removed。　　That　he　could　accomplish　this　he
had　little　doubt。

But　the　most　acutely　pressing　of　the　problems　that　engaged　his　mind
were　those　that　arose　out　of　his　new　position　as　manager。　　The　mere
organizing　and　directing　of　men　in　their　work　gave　him　little
anxiety。　　He　was　sure　of　himself　as　far　as　that　was　concerned。　　He
was　sure　of　his　ability　to　introduce　among　the　men　a　system　of　team
play　that　would　result　in　increased　production　and　would　induce
altogether　better　results。　　He　thought　he　knew　where　the　weak　spots
were。　　He　counted　greatly　upon　the　support　of　the　men　who　had　been
associated　with　him　in　the　Maitland　Mills　Athletic　Association。
With　their　backing；　he　was　certain　that　he　could　eliminate　most　of
that　very　considerable　wastage　in　time　that　even　a　cursory
observation　had　revealed　to　him　in　the　shops；　due　to　such　causes　as
dilatory　workers；　idle　machines；　lack　of　co…ordination；　improper
routing　of　work；　and　the　like。　　He　had　the　suspicion　that　a　little
investigation　would　reveal　other　causes　of　wastage　as　well。

There　was　one　feature　in　the　situation　that　gave　him　concern　and
that　was　the　radical　element　in　the　unions。　　Simmons　and　his　gang
had　from　the　very　first　assumed　an　attitude　of　hostility　to
himself；　had　sought　to　undermine　his　influence　and　had　fought　his
plans　for　the　promotion　of　clean　sport　among　the　Mill　men。　　None
knew　better　than　Simmons　that　an　active　interest　in　clean　and
vigorous　outdoor　sports　tended　to　produce　contentment　of　mind；　and
a　contented　body　of　men　offered　unfertile　soil　for　radical　and
socialistic　doctrines。　　Hence；　Simmons　had　from　the　first　openly
and　vociferously　opposed　with　contemptuous　and　bitter　indignation
all　Jack's　schemes　and　plans　for　the　promotion　of　athletic　sports。
But　Jack　had　been　able　to　carry　the　men　with　him　and　the　recent
splendid　victory　over　a　famous　team　had　done　much　to　discredit
brother　Simmons　and　his　propaganda。

Already　Jack　was　planning　a　new　schedule　of　games　for　the　summer。
Baseball；　football；　cricket；　would　give　occupation　and　interest　to
all　classes　of　Mill　workers。　　And　in　his　new　position　he　felt　he
might　be　able；　to　an　even　greater　degree；　to　carry　out　the　plans
which　he　had　in　mind。　　On　the　other　hand；　he　knew　full　well　that
men　were　apt　to　be　suspicious　of　welfare　schemes　〃promoted　from
above。〃　　His　own　hockey　men　he　felt　sure　he　could　carry　with　him。
If　he　could　only　win　McNish　to　be　his　sergeant…major；　success　would
be　assured。　　This　must　be　his　first　care。

He　well　knew　that　McNish　had　no　love　for　Simmons；　whom　the
Scotchman　despised　first；　because　he　was　no　craftsman；　and　chiefly
because　he　had　no　soundly…based　system　of　economics　but　was
governed　by　the　sheerest　opportunism　in　all　his　activities。　　A
combination　between　McNish　and　Simmons　might　create　a　situation　not
easy　to　deal　with。　　Jack　resolved　that　that　combination　should　be
prevented。　　He　would　see　McNish　at　once；　after　the　meeting　of　his
local；　which　he　remembered　was　set　for　that　very　night。

This　matter　being　settled；　he　determined　to　proceed　immediately　to
the　office　for　an　interview　with　Wickes。　　He　must　get　to　know　as
speedily　as　possible　something　of　the　shop　organization　and　of　its
effect　upon　production。　　He　found　Mr。　Wickes　awaiting　him　with
tremulous　and　exultant　delight；　eager　to　put　himself；　his
experience；　his　knowledge　and　all　that　he　possessed　at　the　disposal
of　the　new　manager。　　The　whole　afternoon　was　given　to　this　work；
and　before　the　day　was　done；　Jack　had　in　his　mind　a　complete
picture　of　the　planing　mill；　with　every　machine　in　place　and　an
estimate；　more　or　less　exact；　of　the　capacity　of　every　machine。　　In
the　course　of　this　investigation；　he　was　surprised　to　discover　that
there　was　no　detailed　record　of　the　actual　production　of　each
machine；　nor；　indeed；　anything　in　the　way　of　an　accurate　cost
system　in　any　department　of　the　whole　business。

〃How　do　you　keep　track　of　your　men　and　their　work；　Wickes？〃　he
inquired。

〃Oh！〃　said　the　old　man；　〃the　foremen　know　all　about　that；　Mr。
Jack。〃

〃But　how　can　they　know？　　What　check　have　they？〃

〃Well；　they　are　always　about；　Mr。　Jack；　and　keep　their　eyes　on
things　generally。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Jack。　　〃And　do　you　find　that　works　quite
satisfactorily？〃

〃Well；　sir；　we　have　never　gone　into　details；　you　know；　Mr。　Jack；
but　if　you　wish〃

〃Oh；　no；　Wickes；　I　am　just　trying　to　get　the　hang　of　things；　you
know。〃　　Jack　was　unwilling　to　even　suggest　a　criticism　of　method　at
so　early　a　stage　in　his　managerial　career。　　〃I　want　to　know　how　you
run　things；　Wickes；　and　at　any　time　I　shall　be　glad　of　assistance
from　you。〃

The　old　bookkeeper　hastened　to　give　him　almost　tearful　assurance　of
his　desire　to　assist　to　the　utmost　of　his　power。

The　meeting　of　Local　197　of　the　Woodworkers'　Union　was　largely
attended；　a　special　whip　having　been　sent　out　asking　for　a　full
meeting　on　the　ground　that　a　matter　of　vital　importance　to
unionised　labour　was　to　be　considered。

The　matter　of　importance　turned　out　to　be　nothing　less　than　a
proposition　that　the　Woodworkers'　Union　should　join　with　all　other
unions　in　the　town　to　make　a　united　demand　upon　their　respective
employers　for　an　increase　in　wages　and　better　conditions　all
around；　in　connection　with　their　various　industries。　　The　question
was　brought　up　in　the　form　of　a　resolution　from　their　executive；
which　strongly　urged　that　this　demand　should　be　approved　and　that　a
joint　committee　should　be　appointed　to　take　steps　for　the
enforcement　of　the　demand。　　The　executive　had　matters　thoroughly　in
hand。　　Brother　Simmons　and　the　more　radical　element　were　kept　to
the　background；　the　speakers　chosen　to　present　the　case　being　all
moderates。　　There　was　no　suggestion　of　extreme　measures。　　Their
demands　were　reasonable；　and　it　was　believed　that　the　employers
were　prepared　to　give　fair　considerationindeed；　members　had　had
assurance　from　an　authoritative　quarter　on　the　other　side　that　such
was　the　case。

Notwithstanding　the　moderate　tone　adopted　in　presenting　it；　the
resolution　met　with　strenuous　opposition。　　The　great　majority　of
those　present　were　quiet；　steady…going　men　who　wanted　chiefly　to
be　let　alone　at　their　work　and　who　were　hostile　to　the　suggested
action；　which　might　finally　land　them　in　〃trouble。〃　　The　old…time
workers　in　the　Maitland　Mills　had　no　grievances　against　their
employer。　　They；　of　course；　would　gladly　accept　an　increase　in
wages；　for　the　cost　of　living　was　steadily　climbing；　but　they
disliked　intensely　the　proposed　method　of　making　a　general　demand
for　an　increase　in　wages　and　for　better　conditions。

The　sporting　element　in　the　meeting　were　frankly　and　fiercely
antagonistic　to　anything　that　would　disturb　the　present　friendly
relation　with　their　employers　in　the　Maitland　Mills。　　〃The　old　man〃
had　always　done　the　square　thing。　　He　had　shown　himself　a　〃regular
fellow〃　in　backing　them　up　in　all　their　games　during　the　past　year。
He　had　always　given　them　a　fair　hearing　and　a　square　deal。　　They
would　not　stand　for　any　hold…up　game　of　this　sort。　　It　was　a　low…
down　game；　anyway。

The　promoters　of　the　resolution　began　to　be　anxious　for　their
cause。　　They　had　not　anticipated　any　such　a　strong　opposition　and
were　rather　nonplussed　as　to　the　next　mov