The Iron Boys as Foremen; or, Heading the Diamond Drill Shift

by Mrs. Molesworth

  CHAPTER XII

  MINERS MEET IN SECRET

  "WELL, Steve, I hear you joined the new union last night," said Mr.Penton, halting in the drift where Rush was directing some changes inthe work of his shift.

  The Iron Boy flushed.

  "Yes, sir. I hope you have no objection to my having done so."

  "Not in the least. We have nothing to fear from such upright men as youin the union. I wish they were all of the same calibre. I want to thankyou for the speech you made last night. Such words do much towardsteering the men in the right direction. I may say that I am very gladyou decided to join."

  "I had decided not to do so, until I met and talked with you beforegoing to the meeting last evening."

  "How so?"

  "You gave me a new point of view. I decided that it was my duty to joinand I did so. Do you think Mr. Carrhart will mind when he hears of it?"

  "He knows all about it now. He knew that the meeting was going to takeplace, perhaps even before you learned of it," answered thesuperintendent, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Of course that isconfidential, you understand."

  "Certainly, sir."

  "You may be sure that when he understands the circumstances he willoffer no objections. I know all about what took place last night, and Iheartily approve of your part in it. We have means of knowing what isgoing on in our mines. We have to do these things for our ownprotection."

  "Yes, sir."

  Steve felt much more light of heart after this conversation. That hissuperiors approved of his action in joining the union relieved him of agreat weight.

  By this time the mine had been whipped into working condition once more,and the work was going on with renewed vigor. The men, too, with thepromises of the labor leaders still fresh in their minds, went abouttheir duties much more cheerfully than before.

  However, there were, if anything, more meetings than before. There wereconferences outside of the mine that the Iron Boys knew nothing about.Neither did Mr. Penton have knowledge of these secret meetings, in spiteof the detective organization that existed in the mines unknown to theminers themselves. Cavard himself did not appear to be active, but therewere others who were active for him.

  Ten days had passed, then another meeting of the union was held. Therewere not more than twenty of the members present. The young secretarywas among the absentees.

  Cavard called the meeting to order, commenting upon the smallattendance. Then he made a speech in which he indulged in some plaintalk regarding the purpose of the union. After he had done so he said:

  "There is another matter that I wish to bring before the members. Thatis the question of our secretary. He is a most estimable young man, butyou--those of you who listened to his remarks the other night--willagree with me that he is too young, too inexperienced to be entrustedwith so important an office. It should be quite plain to you that he isnot in thorough sympathy with our great work. In other words, I believethat he is the tool of the bosses. I have good reason for saying this,though for obvious reasons I hope my words will not be repeated. One ofour members saw the boy, Rush, in earnest conversation with thesuperintendent down in the Red Rock Mine to-day, and overheard somethingthat aroused his suspicion. Rush was reporting some of our privatebusiness. What do you think of that?"

  A murmur arose from the audience. Cavard waited that the full force ofhis words might take effect.

  "He's a traitor!" shouted a voice.

  "I should not want to say that, men. I should call him an irresponsibleboy, who is serving the purposes of the bosses without being fully awarethat he is doing so. Of course the matter is in your hands to dispose ofas you may see fit."

  "Put him out!" shouted one of the members.

  "Down with all traitors!" cried another.

  "Mr. President, this is a serious charge that you have made against oursecretary," said an elderly miner. "You are quite sure that he is atraitor to the union?"

  "Quite sure."

  "Then what would you suggest?"

  "As I have already said, I do not believe the boy is so much to blame,but the effect is the same as if he were a traitor in reality."

  "What shall we do?"

  "You might, if you saw fit, choose another secretary," purred theRussian.

  "Yes; that is what should be done under the circumstances. But is suchan act in order?"

  "Oh, yes. Charges can be preferred against him. We have as yet noby-laws. Some one might make a motion to depose him, if you think best,embodying the charges in that motion; then we can proceed to chooseanother secretary," urged the chairman. "The matter is in your hands,gentlemen," he added, rubbing his palms together. "It is not for me tosuggest."

  "Who would you put in his place?"

  "It is not for me to say, but some such man as Mike Caldert might makean excellent secretary."

  The motion, as suggested by Cavard, who would not suggest, was made andquickly carried. Then Mike Caldert was duly elected as the permanentsecretary of the organization.

  A gleam of satisfaction shone in the eyes of the Russian. He hadtriumphed over the Iron Boy, thus effectually disposing of him, as hebelieved. Cavard was a shrewd and unscrupulous man, and one who wouldstop at nothing to accomplish his ends, as Steve was presently to learn.

  This matter having been disposed of, the president and walking delegatecleared his throat and began on a new subject that claimed the attentionof the men at once.

  "There is another matter, and one of great importance to every man inevery mine on the range," he began. "That is the question of pay and ofhours. We are working ten hours a day and we are getting less money thanis paid by the other mines in the country."

  This statement was not true, but the members present were not aware ofthe fact. They took all that Cavard said as the truth.

  "It is time," he continued, "for us to take action in the matter. Youshould formulate your demands and present them to the owners for theirconsideration. The bosses are making money. There never has been a timein the history of the mines when they were making so much money. Yourtonnage is increasing day by day, and day by day you are doing morework. But let me ask you, do your wages increase proportionately? Do youwork fewer hours than before?"

  "No!" shouted a voice.

  "Do you share in the profits that you are piling up for the moneykings?"

  "No! You're right, we don't."

  "Then if that is so, why is it so? It is because those who employ youare squeezing the lemon until it is dry, in order that their bankaccounts may grow fat. Take the matter into your own hands----"

  "We will, we will! How shall we do it?"

  The men had become worked up to a high pitch of excitement over theirleader's words, which had been skilfully chosen. He had touched the menin a spot where he knew they were the weakest. He had sown the seed thatwas destined to produce a bountiful crop of bitter weeds, and Cavard,president and walking delegate, smiled complacently behind the hand thathe drew across his mouth after having delivered himself of the words.

  "How shall we go about it?" repeated one of the men.

  "I have here a few notes that I drew up hastily. They form a demand uponour employers for an eight-hour day and a fifty-cent rise for fullminers, and twenty-five cents for miners' helpers and all grades belowthat. It is a most moderate demand. The owners will grant it, you willfind, knowing as they do that the power of the union is behind you. Iwill appoint a committee to formulate the demands set down here. Then wewill name a further committee to call upon the superintendent andpresent these demands."

  Cavard named a committee of three, to whom he passed over, not merelynotes, as he had said, but a formal paper drawn up in detail, embodyingthe facts as stated by him.

  The committee went through the form of touching up the document, makinga mark here and there with a pen and discussing the paper. Finally theyannounced their task finished.

  "When shall we present our demands to the superintendent?" as
ked thepresident.

  "Right away," answered the members.

  "Then I will appoint five of our number to call upon the superintendentto-morrow. Your chairman, of course, will head the committee as itsleader. We will make an appointment to see Mr. Penton at his officeto-morrow evening at eight o'clock, if he will see us, and I think hewill," added Cavard. "I want all of those present to bear witness thatthis has been a regular meeting. You all received your notices to bepresent this evening, did you not?"

  "We did."

  "And you are prepared to give evidence, if necessary, that everythinghas been done in due form?"

  "We are."

  "Then, if there is nothing more to come before the members, a motion toadjourn will be in order."

  A motion to adjourn was made and carried, and the members left themeeting place, Cavard retaining the papers embodying the demands to bemade on the company.

  Steve Rush, all unconscious of what had been done, was sound asleep inhis bed. But a surprise was awaiting him on the following day that wouldset him thinking harder than ever.