to him that hath-第37章
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cause。 They had not anticipated any such a strong opposition and
were rather nonplussed as to the next move。 Brother Simmons was in
a fury and was on the point of breaking forth into a passionate
denunciation of scabs and traitors generally when； to the amazement
of all and the intense delight of the supporters of the
administration； McNish arose and gave unqualified support to the
resolution。
His speech was a masterpiece of diplomacy； and revealed his long
practice in the art of oratory in that best of all training
schools； the labour union of the Old Land。 He began by expressing
entire sympathy with the spirit of the opposition。 The opposition；
however； had completely misunderstood the intent and purport of the
resolution。 None of them desired trouble。 There need not be；
indeed； he hoped there would not be trouble； but there were certain
very ugly facts that must be faced。 He then； in terse； forceful
language； presented the facts in connection with the cost of
living； quoting statistics from the Department of Labour to show
the steady rise in the price of articles of food； fuel and clothing
since the beginning of the war； a truly appalling array。 He had
secured price lists from dealers in these commodities； both
wholesale and retail； to show the enormous profits made during the
war。 There were returned soldiers present。 They had not hesitated
at the call of duty to give all they had for their country。 They
had been promised great things when they had left their homes；
their families； their business and their jobs。 How had they found
things upon their return？ He illustrated his argument from the
cases of men present。 It was a sore spot with many of them and he
pressed hard upon it。 They were suffering to…day； worse； their
wives and children were suffering。 Had anyone heard of their
employers suffering？ Here again he offered illustrations of men
who had made a good thing out of the war。 True； there were many
examples of the other kind of employer； but they must deal with
classes and not individuals in a case like this。 This was part of
a much bigger thing than any mere local issue。 He drew upon his
experience in the homeland with overwhelming effect。 His voice
rose and rolled in his richest Doric as he passionately denounced
the tyranny of the masters in the coal and iron industries in the
homeland。 He was not an extremist； he had never been one。 Indeed；
all who knew him would bear him out when he said that he had been
an opponent of Brother Simmons and those who thought with him on
economic questions。 This sudden change in attitude would doubtless
surprise his brothers。 He had been forced to change by the stern
logic of facts。 There was nothing in this resolution which any
reasonable worker might object to。 There was nothing in the
resolution that every worker with any sympathy with his fellow
workers should not support。 Moreover； he warned them that if they
presented a united front； there would be little fear of trouble。
If they were divided in their ranks； or if they were halfhearted in
their demands； they would invite opposition and； therefore；
trouble。 He asked them all to stand together in supporting a
reasonable demand； which he felt sure reasonable men would consider
favorably。
The effect of his speech was overwhelming。 The administration
supporters were exuberant in their enthusiastic applause and in
their vociferous demands for a vote。 The opposition were paralysed
by the desertion of one whom they had regarded and trusted as a
leader against the radical element and were left without answer to
the masterly array of facts and arguments which he had presented。
At this point； the door opened and Maitland walked in。 A few
moments of tense silence； and then something seemed to snap。 The
opposition； led by the hockey men and their supporters； burst into
a demonstration of welcome。 The violence of the demonstration was
not solely upon Maitland's account。 The leaders of the opposition
were quick to realise that his entrance had created a diversion for
them which might save them from disastrous defeat。 They made the
most of this opportunity； prolonging the demonstration and joining
in a 〃chair procession〃 which carried Maitland shoulder…high about
the room； in the teeth of the violent protest of Brother Simmons
and his following。
Order being restored； business was again resumed； when Brother
Macnamara rose to his feet and； in a speech incoherent at times；
but always forceful； proposed that the usual order be suspended
and that here and now a motion be carried expressing their
gratification at the recent great hockey victory and referring in
highly laudatory terms to the splendid work of Brother Captain
Maitland； to whose splendid efforts victory was largely due。
It was in vain that Brother Simmons and those of his way of
thinking sought to stem the tide of disorder。 The motion was
carried with acclaim。
No sooner had this matter been disposed of than Maitland rose to
his feet and said：
〃Mr。 President； I wish to thank you all for this very kind
reference to my team and myself。 I take very little credit for
the victory which we won。 We had a good team； indeed； quite a
remarkable team。 I have played in a good many athletic teams of
various kinds； but in two particulars the Maitland Mills Hockey
Team is the most remarkable of any I have knownfirst； in their
splendid loyalty in taking their training and sticking together；
that was beyond all praise； and； secondly； in the splendid grit
which they showed in playing a losing game。 Now； Mr。 President； I
am going to do something which gives me more regret than any of you
can understand。 I have to offer my resignation as a member of this
union。 I have accepted the position of manager of the planing mill
and I understand that this makes it necessary that I resign as a
member of this union。 I don't really see why this should be
necessary。 I don't believe myself that it should； and； brothers； I
expect to live long enough to belong to a union that will allow a
fellow like me to be a member with chaps like you。 But meantime；
for the present I must resign。 You have treated me like a brother
and a chum。 I have learned a lot from you all； but one thing
especially； which I shall never forget： that there is no real
difference in men that is due to their position in life； that a
man's job doesn't change his heart。〃
He paused for a few moments as if to gather command of his voice；
which had become suddenly husky。
〃I am sorry to leave you； boys； and I want to say to you from my
heart that though I cannot remain a member of this union； I can be
and I will be a brother to you all the same。 And I promise you
that； as far as I can； I will work for the good of the union in the
future as I have done in the past。〃
McNish alone was prepared for this dramatic announcement； although
they all knew that Maitland sooner or later would assume a position
which would link him up with the management of the business。 But
the suddenness of the change and the dramatic setting of the
announcement created an impression so profound as to neutralise
completely the effect of McNish's masterly speech。
Disappointed and enraged at the sudden turn of events； he was too
good a general to allow himself to be routed in disorder。 He set
about to gather his disordered forces for a fresh attack； when once
more the hockey men took command of the field。 This time it was
Snoopy Sykes； the most voiceless member of the union。
After a few moments of dazed silence that followed Maitland's
announcement of his resignation； Snoopy rose and； encouraged by the
cheers of his astonished comrades； began the maiden speech of his
life。
〃Mr。 President；〃 he shouted。
〃Go to it； Snoopy； old boy。〃
〃I never made a speech in my life； never〃
〃Good； old scout； never begin younger！ Cheerio； old son！〃
〃And I want to say that he don't need to。 I once heard of a feller
who didn't。 He kept on and he didn't do no harm to nobody。 And
the Captain here wouldn't neither。 So what I say is he don't need
to；〃 and Snoopy sat down with the whole brotherhood gazing
