ItwasutterlyinvainthatBrotherSimmonsandhiswholefollowingpointedoutunitedlyandsuccessivelytheutterimpossibilityandabsurdityoftheproposalwhichwasunconstitutionalandwithoutprecedent。Thehockeyteamhadthecompanywiththemandwiththebitintheirteethsweptallbeforethem。
Atthispoint，McNishdisplayedthemaster-handthatcomesfromlongexperience。Hesawhisopportunityandseizedit。
“Mr。President，“hesaid，andatoncehereceivedthemostcompleteattention。“Aconfessthisisamostextraordinaryproposal，butA’mgoin’taesupportit。“Theroarthatansweredtoldhimthathehadregainedcontrolofthemeeting。“BrotherSimmonssaysitisunconstitutionalandwithoutprecedent。Heisnocorrectinthis。
Ahaveknownbaithmaistersandmanagerswhoretainedtheirunioncards。Agrantyeitisunusual，butmayIpointootthatthecircumstancesareunusual？“——Wildyellsofapproval——“AndCaptainMaitlandisanunusualman“——louderyellsofapproval——“Itmaythatthereissomethingintheconstitutiono’thisunionthatstandsintheway——“Criesof“No！No！“andconsignmentoftheconstitutiontoanamelesslocality——“Aventuretosuggestthatacommitteebeappointed，consistingofBrothersSykes，Macnamaraandthechairman，wi’poorstaeadd，taegointothismaitterwithCaptainMaitlandandreport。“
Itwasamaster-stroke。Atrueunionmanregardswithvenerationtheconstitutionandhesitatestotamperwithitexceptinaperfectlyconstitutionalmanner。Theoppositiontotheadministration’soriginalresolutionhadgainedwhattheysought，atemporarystay。Thecommitteewasappointedandthedangertoboththeresolutionandtheconstitutionforthepresentaverted。
AgainMr。McNishtookcommand。“Andnoo，Mr。President，“hesaid，“theoorislate。Wearealltiredandweallwishtogivemairthochttothemainmaitterbeforeus。Amove，therefore，thatweadjourntothecallo’theExecutive。“
OncemoreBrotherSimmonsfoundhimselfinaprotestingminority，andthemeetingbrokeup，theoppositionjubilantovertheirvictory，thesupportersoftheadministrationdeterminedtoawaitamoreconvenienttime。
AtthenextmonthlymeetingofLocal197oftheWoodworkers’Union，theexecutivehadlittledifficultyinfinallyshelvingthereportofitscommitteeappointedtodealwiththeresignationofCaptainMaitland，andaslittledifficultyinpassingbyunanimousvotetheirresolutionheldupatthelastmeeting。Thealliedunionshadmeantimebeenextendedtoincludethebuildingtrades。Theirorganizationhadbeenperfectedandtheirdisciplineimmenselystrengthened。Manycausescontributedtothisresult。Amonth’stimehadelapsedandthehighemotionaltidesduetoathleticenthusiasm，especiallythehockeyvictory，hadhadspacetosubside。Thedeadseasonforalloutdoorgameswasuponthemandthemen，losingtouchwitheachotherandwiththeircaptain，whowasengrossedinstudyinghisnewduties，begantospendtheirleisurehoursinloafingaboutthestreetsorlounginginthepoolrooms。
Alloverthecountrythegroundswellofunrestwassteadilyandrapidlyrising。Thereturnedsoldierswhohadfailedtoreadjustthemselvestothechangedconditionsoflifeandtothechangeswroughtinthemselvesbythewar，embittered，disillusionedanddisappointed，fellaneasypreytounscrupulousleadersandwerebeingexploitedintheinterestsofallsortsoffadsandfoolishmovements。Theirgovernmentbonuseswerelongsincespentandmanyofthem，throughnofaultoftheirown，foundthemselvesfacingasituationfullofdifficulty，hardship，andoftenofhumiliation。
Undertheinfluenceoffinancialinflationanddeceivedbytheabundantflowofcurrencyineverydepartmentofbusiness，industriesbythescorestartedupallovertheland。Fewcouldforeseetheapproachofdarkandsterndays。Itwasinvainthatfinancialleadersbegantosoundanoteofwarning，callingforretrenchmentandthrift。Andnowtheinevitableresultswerebeginningtoappear。Thegreatsteelandcoalindustriesbegantocurtailtheiroperations，whiledesperatelystrivingtomaintainwarpricesfortheirproducts。Otherindustriesfollowedtheirexample。
Allthetimethecostoflivingcontinuedtomount。Foodstuffsreachedunheard-ofprices，which，underthemanipulationsofunscrupulousdealers，continuedtoclimb。
Smallwonderthatworkingmenwithhighwagesandplentyofmoneyintheirhandscherishedexaggeratedideasoftheirwealthanddevelopedextravaganttastesindress，amusementsandinstandardofliving。Withtherestoftheworld，theyfailedtorecognisethefactthatmoneywasamerecounterinwealthandnotwealthitself。Toalargeextent，thriftwasabandonedandwhiledepositsinthesavingsbanksgrewinvolume，thedepositorsfailedtorecognisethefactthatthevalueofthedollarhaddecreasedfiftypercent。Alreadythereactionfromallthishadbeguntosetin。
Nervousnessparalysedthegreatfinancialinstitutions。Thefiatwentforth“Nomoremoneyforindustrialenterprises。Nomoreadvancesonwholesalestocks。“Theorderwasissued“Retrench。
Takeyourlosses，unloadyourstocks。“Thismenwereslowtodo，andwhileallagreeduponthesoundnessofthepolicy，eachwaitedfortheothertobegin。
ThroughthemonthofAprilanxiety，fearanddiscontentbegantohauntthemindsofbusinessmen。InthelabourworldtheHighCommandwasquicktosensetheapproachofacrisisandbegantomakepreparationsforthecomingstorm。Thewholeindustrialandcommercialworldgraduallycrystallisedintoitstwoopposingclasses。Asubsidisedpressbeganearnestlytodemandlowercostinproductionsretrenchmentinexpenditure，acutinlabourcosts，ageneralandunitedefforttomeettheinevitableburdenofdeflation。
Ontheotherhand，aninspiredpressbegantoraiseanoutcryagainsttheincreasingcostofliving，topointouttheeffectofthehousefamineupontheincomeoftheworkingman，andtosoundawarningastothedangerandfollyofanysuddenreductioninthewagescale。
Increasedactivityintheranksoforganisedlabourbegantobeapparent。Everywherethewildandradicalelementwasgainingininfluenceandinnumbers，andthespiritoffactionandinternecinestrifebecamerampant。
ItwasduetothedominatingforcefulnessofMcNish，theleaderofthemoderates，thatthetwofactionsinthealliedunionshadbeenconsolidated，andasinglepolicyagreedupon。Hiswholepasthadbeenapreparationforjustacrisisasthepresent。Hiswidereading，hisshrewdpracticaljudgment，hislargeexperienceinlabourmovementsintheOldLand，gavehimapositionofcommandinginfluencewhichenabledhimtodominatetheexecutivesanddirecttheiractivities。HissuddenandunexplainedacceptanceofthemoreradicalprogramwonforhimanenthusiasticfollowingoftheelementwhichhadhithertorecognisedtheleadershipofBrotherSimmons。Dayandnight，withazealthatnevertired，helabouredattheworkoforganisinganddiscipliningthevariousfactionsandpartiesintheranksoflabourintoasinglecompactbodyoffightingmenunderasinglecommand。McNishwasinthegripofoneofthemightiestofhumanpassions。SincethatdayinthePerrottehome，whenhehadseenthegirlthathelovedpracticallyofferherself，ashethought，toanotherman，hehadresolutelykepthimselfawayfromher。Hehaddonewithherforeverandhehadtornoutofhisheartthegenuinefriendshipwhichhehadbeguntoholdtowardthemanwhohaddeprivedhimofherlove。Butdeepinhishearthenourishedapassionforvengeancethatbecameanobsession，amadnesswithhim。Hemerelywaitedtheopportunitytogratifyhispassion。
HelearnedthattheMaitlandMillswereindeepwater，financially。
Hiskeeneconomicinstinctandhisdeepstudyofeconomicmovementstoldhimthataseriousfinancialcrisis，continent-wide，wasinevitableandimminent。Itonlyneededasuccessfullabourwartogivethefinaltouchthatwouldbringthewholeindustrialfabrictumblingintoruin。Thedesireforimmediaterevengeuponthemantowardwhomhehadcometocherishanimplacablehatredwouldnotsufferhimtoawaittheonsetofanation-wideindustrialcrisis。
HefanciedthathesawtheopportunityforstrikinganimmediateblowhereinBlackwater。
HesteadilythwartedMaitland’sattemptstogetintotouchwithhim，whetherattheworksorinhisownhome，whereMaitlandhadbecomeafrequentvisitor。Hewasableonlypartiallytoallayhismother’sanxietyandhersuspicionthatallwasnotwellwithhim。
Thatshrewdoldladyknewhersonwellenoughtosuspectthatsomeuntowardcircumstancehadbefallenhim，butsheknewalsothatshecoulddonomorethanbidehertime。
WiththeworkersoftheMaitlandMillscircumstancesfavouredtheplansofMcNishandtheExecutiveofthealliedunions。Thenewmanagerwasbeginningtomakehishandfeltuponthewheel。Checksuponwastageinlabourtimeandinmachinetimewerebeinginstituted；everywheretherewasatighteningupofloosescrewsandaknittingupoflooseends，withtheinevitableconsequentirritation。ThiswasespeciallytrueinthecaseofTonyPerrotte，towhomdisciplinewaseveranexternalforceandneveraninwardcompulsion。Inexactineverythinghedid，irregularinhishabits，irresponsibleinhisundertakings，hemetateveryturnthepressureofthefirm，resolutehandofthenewmanager。DeepdowninhishearttherewasanabidingadmirationandaffectionforJackMaitland，butheloatheddisciplineandkickedagainstit。
ThefirstofMayiseveradayofuncertaintyandunrestintheworldoflabour。Itisatimeforreadjustment，forthefixingofwagescales，fortheassertionoflabourrightsandtheventilatingoflabourwrongs。Itisatimefavourabletoupheaval，andisthereforeawaitedbyallemployersoflabourwithconsiderableanxiety。
OnthesurfacetherewasnotarippletoindicatethatasfarastheMaitlandMillswereconcernedtherewasbeneathasurgingtideofunrest。Soundisturbedindeedwasthesurfacethattheinexperiencedyoungmanagerwasinclinedtomakelightoftheanxietiesofhisfather，andwasconfidentinhisassurancethatthedangerofalabourcrisishad，forthepresentatleast，beenaverted。
Outoftheblueheavenfellthebolt。ThemailsonMayDaymorningbroughttothedeskofeverymanagerofeveryindustryinBlackwater，andtoeverybuildingcontractor，aformaldocumentsettingforthintermscourteousbutfirmthedemandsoftheexecutivesofthealliedunionsofBlackwater。
“Well，ithascome，boy，“wasMaitland’sgreetingtohisson，whocameintotheofficefortheusualmorningconsultation。
“What？“saidJack。
“War，“repliedhisfather，tossinghimtheletterandwatchinghisfaceashereadit。
Jackhandedhimtheletterwithoutaword。
“Well，whatdoyouthinkofit？“saidhisfather。
“Itmightbeworse。“
“Worse？“roaredhisfather。“Worse？Howcanitbeworse？“
“Well，itisreallyademandforanincreaseinwages。Theothers，Ibelieve，aremerefrills。Andbetweenourselves，sir，thoughI
haven’tgoneintoitverycarefully，Iamnotsurebutthatanincreaseinwagesisaboutdue。“
Maitlandgloweredathissoninahurtandhopelessrage。
“Anincreaseinwagesdue？“hesaid。“Aftertheincreaseofsixmonthsago？Thethingispreposterous。Theungratefulscoundrels！“
Atthispointthetelephoneuponhisdeskrang。Jacktookupthereceiver。
“Goodmorning，Mr。McGinnis……Yes，heishere。Yes……
Atleast，Isupposeso……Oh，Idon’tknow……Itisratherperemptory……Allright，sir，Ishalltellhim。“
“Letmetalktohim，“saidhisfather，impatiently。
“Nevermindjustnow，Dad，“saidJack，withhishandoverthereceiver。Thenthroughthetelephonehesaid:“Allright，sir；hewillawaityouhere。Goodmorning。“
“……Theoldboyiswild，“saidJackwithaslightlaugh。“Thewiresarequitehot。“
“Thisisnojoke，Jack，Icantellyou。McGinnisiscomingover，ishe？“
“Yes，“repliedJack，“butwewon’tgetmuchhelpfromhim。“
“Whynot？“inquiredhisfather。“Heisaveryshrewdandablebusinessman。“
“Hemaybeallthat，sir，butinacaselikethis，ifyoureallywantmyopinion，andIhavenowishtobedisrespectful，heisahot-headedass。Justthekindofemployertorejoicetheheartofacleverlabourleaderwhoisoutfortrouble。Dad，“andJack’svoicebecameveryearnest，“let’sworkthisoutbyourselves。WecanhandleourownmenbetterwithoutthehelpofMcGinnisoranyother。“
“Thatisjustthetrouble。Lookatthispreciousdocument，’TheAlliedUnions。’WhathaveIgottodowiththem？AndsignedbySimmonsandMcDonough。WhoisMcDonough，pray？“
“McDonough？Oh，IknowMcDonough。HeisalittlelikeMcGinnis——
big-hearted，hot-headed，goodinascrap，uselessinaconference。
ButIsuggest，sir，thatweignoretheslightunpleasanttechnicalitiesinthemannerandmethodofnegotiationandtrytodealwithourownpeopleinareasonableway。“
