to him that hath-第13部分

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sense　of　fair　play。　　His　men　were　his　comrades　in　work。　　He　knew
themat　least；　until　these　war　days　he　had　known　thempersonally；
as　friends。　　They　trusted　him　and　were　loyal　to　him；　and　he　had
taken　the　greatest　care　to　deal　justly　and　more　than　justly　by
them。　　No　labour　troubles　had　ever　disturbed　the　relations　which
existed　between　him　and　his　men。　　It　was　thus　no　small　shock　when
Wickes　announced　one　day　that　a　Grievance　Committee　wished　to
interview　him。　　That　he　should　have　to　meet　a　Grievance　Committee；
whose　boast　it　had　been　that　the　first　man　in　the　works　to　know　of
a　grievance　was　himself；　and　that　the　men　with　whom　he　had　toiled
and　shared　both　good　fortune　and　ill；　but　more　especially　the　good；
that　had　befallen　through　the　last　quarter　century　should　have　a
grievance　against　himthis　was　indeed　an　experience　that　cut　him
to　the　heart　and　roused　in　him　a　fury　of　perplexed　indignation。

〃A　what？　　A　Grievance　Committee！〃　he　exclaimed　to　Wickes；　when　the
old　bookkeeper　came　announcing　such　a　deputation。

〃That's　what　they　call　themselves；　sir；〃　said　Wickes；　his　tone　of
disgust　disclaiming　all　association　with　any　such　organization。

〃A　Grievance　Committee？〃　said　Mr。　Maitland　again。　　〃Well；　I'll　be！
What　do　they　want？　　Who　are　they？　　Bring　them　in；〃　he　roared　in　a
voice　whose　ascending　tone　indicated　his　growing　amazement　and
wrath。

〃Come　in　you；〃　growled　Wickes　in　the　voice　he　generally　used　for
his　collie　dog；　which　bore　a　thoroughly　unenviable　reputation；
〃come　on　in；　can't　ye？〃

There　was　some　shuffling　for　place　in　the　group　at　the　door；　but
finally　Mr。　Wigglesworth　found　himself　pushed　to　the　front　of　a
committee　of　five。　　With　a　swift　glance　which　touched　〃the　boss〃
in　its　passage　and　then　rested　upon　the　wall；　the　ceiling；　the
landscape　visible　through　the　window；　anywhere　indeed　rather　than
upon　the　face　of　the　man　against　whom　they　had　a　grievance；　they
filed　in　and　stood　ill　at　ease。

〃Well；　Wigglesworth；　what　is　it？〃　said　Grant　Maitland　curtly。

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；