to him that hath-第11章

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Mr。　Wigglesworth　cleared　his　throat。　　He　was　new　at　the　business
and　was　obviously　torn　between　conflicting　emotions　of　pride　in　his
present　important　position　and　a　wholesome　fear　of　his　〃boss。〃
However；　having　cleared　his　throat；　Mr。　Wigglesworth　pulled　himself
together　and　with　a　wave　of　the　hand　began。

〃These　'ereergentlemen　an'　myself　'ave　been　（h）appinted　a
Committee　to　lay　before　you　certain　grievances　w'ich　we　feel　to　be
very　（h）oppressive；　sir；　so　to　speak；　w'ich；　an'　meanin'　no
offence；　sir；　as　men；　fellow…men；　as　we　might　say〃

〃What　do　you　want；　Wigglesworth？　　What's　your　trouble？　　You　have
some　trouble；　what　is　it？　　Spit　it　out；　man；〃　said　the　boss
sharply。

〃Well；　sir；　as　I　was　a…sayin'；　this　'ere's　a　Committee　（h）appinted
to　wait　on　you；　sir；　to　lay　before　you　certain　facts　w'ich　we　wish
you　to　consider　an'　w'ich；　as　British　subjecks；　we　feel〃

〃Come；　come；　Wigglesworth；　cut　out　the　speech；　and　get　at　the
things。　　What　do　you　want？　　Do　you　know？　　If　so；　tell　me　plainly
and　get　done　with　it。〃

〃We　want　our　rights　as　men；〃　said　Mr。　Wigglesworth　in　a　loud　voice；
〃our　rights　as　free　men；　and　we　demand　to　be　treated　as　British〃

〃Is　there　anyone　of　this　Committee　that　can　tell　me　what　you　want
of　me？〃　said　Maitland。　　〃You；　Gilby；　you　have　some　sensewhat　is
the　trouble？　　You　want　more　wages；　I　suppose？〃

〃I　guess　so；〃　said　Gilby；　a　long；　lean　man；　Canadian　born；　of　about
thirty；　〃but　it　ain't　the　wages　that's　eatin'　me　so　much。〃

〃What　then？〃

〃It's　that　blank　foreman。〃

〃Foreman？〃

〃That's　right；　sir。〃　　〃Too　blanked　smart！〃　　〃Buttin'　in　like　a
blank　billy　goat！〃　　The　growls　came　in　various　undertones　from　the
Committee。

〃What　foreman？　　Hoddle？〃　　The　boss　was　ready　to　fight　for　his
subalterns。

〃No！　　Old　Hoddle's　all　right；〃　said　Gilby。　　〃It's　that　young　smart
aleck；　Tony　Perrotte。〃

〃Tony　Perrotte！〃　　Mr。　Maitland's　voice　was　troubled　and　uncertain。
〃Tony　Perrotte！　　Why；　you　don't　mean　to　tell　me　that　Perrotte　is
not　a　good　man。　　He　knows　his　job　from　the　ground　up。〃

〃Knows　too　much；〃　said　Gilby。　　〃Wants　to　run　everything　and
everybody。　　You　can't　tell　him　anything。　　And　you'd　think　he　was
a　Brigadier…General　to　hear　him　giving　us　orders。〃

〃You　were　at　the　front；　Gilby？〃

〃I　was；　for　three　years。〃

〃You　know　what　discipline　is？〃

〃I　do　that；　and　I　know　too　the　difference　between　a　Corporal　and　a
Company　Commander。　　I　know　an　officer　when　I　see　him。　　But　a　brass
hat　don't　make　a　General。〃

〃I　won't　stand　for　insubordination　in　my　mills；　Gilby。　　You　must
take　orders　from　my　foreman。　　You　know　me；　Gilby。　　You've　been　long
enough　with　me　for　that。〃

〃You　treat　a　man　fair；　Mr。　Maitland；　and　I　never　kicked　at　your
orders。　　Ain't　that　so？〃

Maitland　nodded。

〃But　this　young　dude〃

〃'Dude'？　　What　do　you　mean；　'dude'？　　He's　no　dude！〃

〃Oh；　he's　so　stuck　on　himself　that　he　gives　me　the　wearisome
willies。　　Look　here；　other　folks　has　been　to　the　war。　　He　needn't
carry　his　chest　like　a　blanked　bay　window。〃

〃Look　here；　Gilby；　just　quit　swearing　in　this　room。〃　　The　cold　blue
eyes　bored　into　Gilby's　hot　face。

〃I　beg　pardon；　sir。　　It's　a　bad　habit　I've　got；　but　thatthat　Tony
Perrotte　has　got　my　goat　and　I'm　through　with　him。〃

〃All　right；　Gilby。　　If　you　don't　like　your　job　you　know　what　you
can　do；〃　said　Maitland　coldly。

〃You　mean　I　can　quit？〃　enquired　Gilby　hotly。

〃I　mean　there's　only　one　boss　in　these　works；　and　that's　me。　　And
my　foreman　takes　my　orders　and　passes　them　along。　　Those　that　don't
like　them　needn't　take　them。〃

〃We　demand　our　rights　as〃　began　Mr。　Wigglesworth　heatedly。

〃Excuse　me；　sir。　　'A　should　like　to　enquir…r…e　if　it　is　your…r
or…rder…rs　that　your…r　for…r…man　should　use　blasphemious　language
to　your…r　men？〃

The　cool；　firm；　rasping　voice　cut　through　Mr。　Wigglesworth's
sputtering　noise　like　a　circular　saw　through　a　pine　log。

Mr。　Maitland　turned　sharply　upon　the　speaker。

〃What　is　your　name；　my　man？〃　he　enquired。

〃Ma　name　is　Malcolm　McNish。　　'A　doot　ye　have　na　har…r…d　it。　　But
the　name　maitters　little。　　It's　the　question　'A'm　speerin'asking
at　ye。〃

Here　was　no　amateur　in　the　business　of　Grievance　Committees。　　His
manner　was　that　of　a　self…respecting　man　dealing　with　a　fellow…man
on　terms　of　perfect　equality。　　There　was　a　complete　absence　of
Wigglesworth's　noisy　bluster；　as　also　of　Gilby's　violent　profanity。
He　obviously　knew　his　ground　and　was　ready　to　hold　it。　　He　had　a
case　and　was　prepared　to　discuss　it。　　There　was　no　occasion　for
heat　or　bluster　or　profanity。　　He　was　prepared　to　discuss　the
matter；　man　to　man。

Mr。　Maitland　regarded　him　for　a　moment　or　two　with　keen　steady
gaze。

〃Where　do　you　work；　McNish？〃　he　enquired　of　the　Scot。

〃A'm　workin'　the　noo　in　the　sawmill。　　A'm　a　joiner　to　trade。〃

〃Then　Perrotte　is　not　your　foreman？〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　McNish　quietly。

〃Then　personally　you　have　no　grievance　against　him？〃　　Mr。　Maitland
had　the　air　of　a　man　who　has　scored　a　bull　at　the　first　shot。

〃Ay；　A　have　an'　the　men　taethe　men　I　represent　have〃

〃And　you　assume　to　speak　for　them？〃

〃They　appoint　me　to　speak　for　them。〃

〃And　their　complaint　is？〃

〃Their　complaint　is　that　he　is　no　fit　to　be　a　foreman。〃

〃Ah；　indeed！　　And　you　are　here　solely　on　their　word〃

〃No；　not　solely；　but　pairtly。　　A　know　by　experience　and　A　hae
har…r…d　the　man；　and　he's　no　fit　for　his　job；　A'm　tellin'　you。〃

〃I　suppose　you　know　the　qualifications　of　a　foreman；　McNish？〃
enquired　Mr。　Maitland　with　the　suspicion　of　sarcasm　in　his　voice。

〃Ay；　A　do　that。〃

〃And　how；　may　I　ask；　have　you　come　to　the　knowledge？〃

〃A　dinna　seeI　do　not　see　the　bearing　of　the　question。〃

〃Only　this；　that　you　and　those　you　represent　place　your　judgment
as　superior　to　mine　in　the　choice　of　a　foreman。　　It　would　be
interesting　to　know　upon　what　grounds。〃

〃I　have　been　a　foreman　myself。　　But　there　are　two　points　of　view　in
this　questionthe　point　of　view　of　the　management　and　that　of　the
worker。　　We　have　the　one　point　of　view；　you　have　the　other。　　And
each　has　its　value。　　Ours　is　the　more　important。〃

〃Indeed！　　And　why；　pray？〃

〃Yours　has　chiefly　to　do　with　profits；　ours　with　human　life。〃

〃Very　interesting　indeed；〃　said　Mr。　Maitland；　〃but　it　happens　that
profits　and　human　life　are　somewhat　closely　allied〃

〃Aye；　but　wi'　you　profits　are　the　primary　consideration　and
humanity　the　secondary。　　Wi'　us　humanity　is　the　primary。〃

〃Very　interesting；　indeed。　　But　I　must　decline　your　premise。　　You
are　a　new　man　here　and　so　I　will　excuse　you　the　impudence　of
charging　me　with　indifference　to　the　well…being　of　my　men。〃

〃You　put　wur…r…ds　in　my　mouth；　Mr。　Maitland。　　A　said　nae　sic
thing；〃　said　McNish。　　〃But　your　foreman　disna'　know　his　place；　and
he　must　be　changed。〃

〃'Must；'　eh？〃　　The　word　had　never　been　used　to　Mr。　Maitland　since
his　own　father　fifty　years　before　had　used　it。　　It　was　an
unfortunate　word　for　the　success　of　the　interview。　　〃'Must；'　eh？〃
repeated　Mr。　Maitland　with　rising　wrath。　　〃I'd　have　you　know；
McNish；　that　the　man　doesn't　live　that　says　'must'　to　me　in　regard
to　the　men　I　choose　to　manage　my　business。〃

〃Then　you　refuse　to　remove　yere　foreman？〃

〃Most　emphatically；　I　do；〃　said　Mr。　Maitland　with　glints　of　fire　in
his　blue　eyes。

〃Verra　weel；　so　as　we　know　yere　answer。　　There　is　anither　matter。〃

〃Yes？　　Well；　be　quick　about　it。〃

〃A　wull　that。　　Ye　dinna　pay　yere　men　enough　wages。〃

〃How　do　you　know　I　don't？〃　said　Mr。　Maitland　rising　from　his　chair。

〃A　have　examined　certain　feegures　which　I　shall　be　glad　to　submit
tae　ye；　in　regard　tae　the　cost　o'　leevin'　since　last　ye　fixed　the
wage。　　If　yere　wage　was　right　then；　it's　wrang　the　noo。〃　　Under　the
strain　Mr。　Maitland's　boring　eyes　and　increasing　impatience　the
Doric　flavour　of　McNish's　speech　grew　richer　and　more　guttural；
varying　with　the　intensity　of　his　emotion。

〃And　what　may　these　figures　be？〃　enquired　Mr。　Maitland　with　a　voice
of　contempt。

〃These　are　the　figures　prepared　by　the　Labour　Department　of　your
Federal　Government。　　I　suppose　they　may　be　relied　upon。　　They　show
the　increased　cost　of　living　during　the　last　five　years。　　You　know
yeresel'　the　increase　in　wages。　　Mr。　Maitland；　I　am　told　ye　are　a
just　man；　an'　we　ask　ye　tae　dae　the　r…r…right。　　That's　all；　sir。〃

〃Thank　you　for　your　good　opinion；　my　man。　　Whether　I　am　a　just　man
or　not　is　for　my　own　conscience　alone。　　As　to　the　wage　question；
Mr。　Wickes　will　tell　you；　the　matter　had　already　been　taken　up。
The　result　will　be　announced　in　a　week　or　so。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir。　　Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　〃We　felt
sure　it　would　only　be　necessary　to　point　（h）out　the　right　course　to
you。　　I　may　say　I　took　the　same　（h）identical　（h）attitude　with　my
fellow　workmen。　　I　sez　to　them；　sez　I；　'Mr。　Maitland'

〃That　will　do；　Wigglesworth；〃　said　Mr。　Maitland；　cutting　him　short。
〃Have　you　anything　more　to　say？〃　he　continued；　turning　to　McNish。

〃Nothing；　sir；　except　to　express　the　hope　that　you　will　reconsider
yere　attitude　as　regards　the　foreman。〃

〃You　may　take　my　word　for　it；　I　will　not；〃　said　Mr。　Maitland；
snapping　his　words　off　with　his　teeth。

〃At　least；　as　a　fair…minded　man；　you　will　look　into　the　matter；〃
said　McNish　temperately。

〃I　shall　do　as　I　think　best；〃　said　Mr。　Maitland。

〃It　would　be　wiser。〃

〃Do　you　threaten　me；　sir？〃　　Mr。　Maitland　leaned　over　his　desk
toward　the　calm　and　rugged　Scot；　his　eyes　flashing　indignation。

〃Threaten　ye？　　Na；　na；　threats　are　for　bairns。　　Yere　no　a　bairn；
but　a　man　an'　a　wise　man　an'　a　just；　A　doot。　　A'm　gie'in'　ye
advice。　　That's　all。　　Guid　day。〃

He　turned　away　from　the　indignant　Mr。　Maitland；　put　his　hat　on　his
head　and　walked　from　the　room；　followed　by　the　other　members　of　the
Committee；　with　the　exception　of　Mr。　Wigglesworth　who　lingered　with
evidently　pacific　intentions。

〃This；　sir；　is　a　most　（h）auspicious　（h）era；　sir。　　The　（h）age　of
reason　and　justice　'as　dawned；　an'〃

〃Oh；　get　out；　Wigglesworth。　　Haven't　you　made　all　your　speeches
yet？　　The　time　for　the　speeches　is　past。　　Good　day。〃

He　turned　to　his　bookkeeper。

〃Wickes；　bring　me　the　reports　turned　in　by　Perrotte；　at　once。〃

Mr。　Maitland's　manner　was　frankly；　almost　brutally；　imperious。　　It
was　not　his　usual　manner　with　his　subordinates；　from　which　it　may
be　gathered　that　Mr。　Maitland　was　seriously　disturbed。　　And　with
good　reason。　　In　the　first　place；　never　in　his　career　had　one　of
his　men　addressed　him　in　the　cool　terms　of　equality　which　McNish
had　used　with　him　in　the　recent　interview。　　Then；　never　had　he　been
approached　by　a　Grievance　Committee。　　The　whole　situation　was　new；
irritating；　humiliating。

As　to　the　wages　question；　he　would　settle　that　without　difficulty。
He　had　never　skimped　the　pay　envelope。　　It　annoyed　him；　however；
that　he　had　been　forstalled　in　the　matter　by　this　Committee。　　But
very　especially　he　was　annoyed　by　the　recollection　of　the
deliberative；　rasping　tones　of　that　cool…headed　Scot；　who　had　so
calmly　set　before　him　his　duty。　　But　the　sting　of　the　interview　lay
in　the　consciousness　that　the　criticism　of　his　foreman　was　probably
just。　　And　then；　he　was　tied　to　Tony　Perrotte　by　bonds　that　reached
his　heart。　　Had　it　not　been　so；　he　would　have　made　short　work　of