The Rising of the Tide

Sabinsport did, a very genuine concern about your ability to get through the winter without hunger and cold. The jar of Germany's first blow at Western Euro

The purchasing power of the majority fell off. Men began to figure the chances of the length of the war in order to decide what they as individuals could do until they would be able again to get orders and so have work to offer; when they would be able to get a job and so pay the grocer; when they must stop credit to the retail buyer because the wholesaler had cut off their credit-these were the thoug

y're only concerned about themselve

sport whether the mills are open or shut this wint

n they think of; it's th

as lucky as you and I are. We have our income; no thanks, however, to anything either of us ever did. Our fathers were men of thrift and foresight, and the war will hardly disturb us. But there are few in Sa

h. "There's lot of money here-they c

and only then. Don't be unreasonabl

$500,000 a year income if they have

sewer pipe, and stops when they are no longer made. Let the shut-down continue, and who is going to use the street railways and the electric lights that Mulligan and Cowder and half High Town draw dividends from? Who is going to support the shops, buy the farmers' produce? Sabinsport is ric

me if the fires were out. Did they concern themselves about the worker when things were going well? Not for a moment. Did they study a proper division of the returns of labor? Not on your life, they studied how to get the lion's share. Ralph's ordinary dissatisfaction with affairs in Sabinsport was intensified by his disgust at the incredible turn things had taken in his world and by his hel

y got most of it. Moderate-sized, independent plants, like the Sabinsport wire mill, had to compete with companies which as yet were only names-but they were names backed by the great bankers that controlled the orders. Companies long ago launched by financiers for making rubber shoes or tin cans or vacuum cleaners-anything and everything e

said, "Sure," cut it with a whistle and threw in a few ounces. Over on the South Side where there had been grumblings and quarreling for nights, there was singing and laughing. The women cleaned houses that, in their despair, they'd let grow sloven, and the men brought in the water and played games with the child

oleum factory "around the point." It was to be a big concern, give work to a thousand girls besides the men. The wages were to be "grand,

began. Sabinsport would not go hungry in the winter of 1914

easy in our pockets again, we are

ar as I can see, we are puppets of the

d hold ourselves above its blood money. Reuben Cowd

the mills and to be in the new mill don't c

ad nothing in her code of industrial ethics which put a limitation on any kind of manufacturing except beer and whiskey. Sabinsport had never had a brewery or a distillery. It would have hurt her conscience to have had one. Indeed the only time she had ever out and out fought and beaten the combination of Mu

ed to break the first time worn, with buyers. "The more sold the larger the commission," laughed Sabinsport. It didn't hurt her conscience that there was truth in the remark. It didn't disturb her conscience now as a town that the mills were turning ou

rom the leading Socialist of the labor group, an excellent fellow who talked well but difficult to argue with, both Ralph and Dick had found. There was nothing to argue about the ruining of the world, in John Starrett's judgment. His system would remove all evils. His task was the simple one of affirmation. All evi

ns and shells and powder, that it was the duty of a great neutral country like the United States to head the movement, and why should not Sabinsport start it? She would go down in history as the leader in the most beneficent reform of modern times. The Rev. Mr. Pepper worked himself into a noble enthusiasm over this idea, and spent time and money his family really needed

he Rev. Mr. Pepper had always been "visionary," so the men said. Then, too, they had the relief work of the town to consider. Stop munition making, close the wire mill, and what were the workmen to do? It wasn't right. Somebody would make munitions, why not Sabinsport? Of course, if the Leag

after supper in the men's lounging room of the Paradise Hotel. Both Ralph and Dick considered it far and away the most entertaining center of public opinion in the town, for it offered a mixture of sh

Dick, who, since he first arrived in the town, had taken his dinners at the Paradise, found that the war was having the same drawing power as the choice of a mayor, a

appeared on the roster of Civil War veterans; "Cap" or "Captain Billy" as he was known at

ved not from a pension which he had always spurned-he had given his services-but from a wholesale grocery business established in Sabinsport after a long and plucky struggle and on which he

the character and ability of generals or what they ought to do. He never for an instant hesitated over Belgium's case, or doubted the guilt of Germany. Much as he hated England-Civil War experience on top of a revolutionary inheritance-he defended loudly her going in, thought it the decentest thing in her history. It took Captain Billy at least three months to grasp the idea that we should have taken a ha

According to Mr. Jo Commons there was no such thing as sound or noble sentiment. All human thought and feeling he held to be worm-eaten by self-interest, and he spent his leisure, of which he had much, for he was a bachelor with a law practice which he had studiously kept on a leis

by name, kept it in suspicion and gossip. Brutus was a stout, jolly, clean-shaven, immaculate seller of "notions and machinery," and under this elastic hea

ome at the Paradise, but never more so than since the war began, for he brought back weekly from Pullman smoking rooms, hotel lobbies an

ooked on the invasion of Belgium as rotten business. King Albert became its first hero. His picture-a clear and beautiful print from an illustrated Sunday supplement-was pinned up the third week of August. It came down only once-to be framed, and it was to be noted that on all holidays "

t Littman had been only ten years old when he and his father, a revolutionist of 1848, obliged to fly for his life, had settled in Sabinsport. The history of father and son was as familiar from that day to this as that of the Sabins, and Cowders and Mulligans and McCullons. Otto, however, was not so well known. He had been much away-four years in college, six in Germany studying banking and business methods, only

e war. "I like your consistency," he told Ralph. "It is the only attitude for Americans, but so few are intelligent enough to understand this case. Pure sentiment, this guff about Belgium. It is sad that people should get hurt in war. Read what the emperor says of his own grief at the disaster Belgium has brought on herself. Why should she resist? No reason save

omes that England wants to drive her from the sea as she has tried to drive Germany-bottle us up. I tell you, Gardner, if we don't join Germany in her fight for liberty, England will ruin us. England is the enemy of this country as she is the enemy of

our trade-destroying our goods. She has the power, and that's enough for her. There is no way to meet this but an embargo on munitions. If England won't let us sel

sitions. They had spiked small guns of Ralph's several times in the course of their fight in handling the mines and factories of Sabinsport by withdrawals from the points which he was besieging. There was accident compensation. After the accident at t

both had stirred themselves to make it a success. Mulligan particularly had spent much time among the miners, the men who had grown up with him, and who at t

little cheap-looked like sour grapes. It held up his campaign, which, for rapid promotion, had to have a villain, a steady, reliable villain that couldn't be educa

clubhouse out there a year or so ago, and one night a week he goes out, and everybody that works in the mine can come in and they discuss things. There ain't anything about the mine that Jack don't let them talk about. I thought he was crazy when he started it, but ever since the accident I've kept my hands off, as you know. The funny part is that it seems to help things, and Jack claims he gets all sorts of goo

hink about it, Jake, and we'll

s effective repartee. I am quite sure, however, that if he had not been convinced that the men would vote to go on with the work, he would not have risked it. What he did want to do was to prove to Ralph and the shop agitators, who

tice calling for a floor meeting at one o'clock the next day (you will note that Cowder and Mulligan were not taking the time for the gathering

st, who did not appear on the floor of the main building of the plant. They were a sight for sculptors and painters, gathered there around the great machines in the dusky light which filled the immense building

and never will, ask a man to do a thing that is against his conscience; and Mr. Cowder and I have concluded that we would like to know whether this is just talk or whether there is

what we will do is to give you boys a chance to get another job somewhere else and we will get a new set of men. Or, if the most of you want to go on with the jobs that you are in, and a few of you really feel hurt about this thing,

e time clock, you are to put a ballot in a box at the gate. Nobody will know how you vote. The only thin

pped the cage containing Mulligan and Cowder to the floor, and the two walked out, saying, "Hel

vote. Business cynicism was strong in those circles. They felt sure that the wire-workers were like themselves, not going to give up a good thing for what they called an impractical ideal. What they did object to was the precede

em. Among the men the same kind of mistrust of the procedure that prevailed in financial and managing circles cropped out. The procedure was too new for them; and the suspicion that there was a trick somewhere which they did not see, ran up and down t

d who are told that the only labor to be had in this town where they live and have their families is making munitions of war, to give it up? What can they do?" And Ralph went far at that opportune moment to argue with his Socialist friend, John S

t began by a rumor that Reuben Cowder had thrown a man out of his office! There was a suspicion that Otto Littman was the man, but that few believed-"It couldn't be!" Something had happened, however, and Cowder went

startled by a call from Cowder, the first he had eve

g on in Sabinsport I don't like. I can't get my fingers on it. Maybe I'm suspicious-maybe I ain't fair. Rupert Littman says I'm not, and he's an honest man and as good an American as I am. I'm no

g to settle down here now-had found out where his country was at last. Otto always seemed to take a lot of interest in the plant, got me two or three of the best workmen I ever saw and a wonder for the la

ke a contract big enough to tie up that plant for three years-and who do you suppose they said it was for? Sweden! 'But,

g-your friend is lying. You c

eing neutral?' his friend sa

al. I want to see the French in the streets of Berlin and every damned Hohe

e as if he was going to hit me-and, well, I took him by

like that boy in spite of his fire-eating. He'll learn and he can write-but he's all muddled on the war, and I believe it's Otto that's keeping him so stirred up against Englan

sometimes. And I have quarreled with him. I have warned his own father against him. It is an awful thing to do, but, so help me, God, I can't do anything else. My girl's over there, Ingraham; I don't know as I'll ever see her again. Maybe you don't know about her. Maybe you've heard people here sne

ourse, I let her have all she wanted, and before I knew what I was getting into she was breeding 'em-had a stable, kennels, began to go East to horse shows, dog shows; go anywhere she heard of a good animal. Regular passion-didn't think of anything else. Funny to see her-so slight and fine and free-moving, talking to jockeys and breeders and bookmen-never seeing them-only the horses. 'Twan't long before horsemen

hing. Never could stand it to see anything

d coached herself. And you remember four years ago when I turned front on compensation-time of the big accident in the 'Emma'? Well, that was Nancy-got my orders from her. Queer thing how she keeps track of things here-reads the Argus every day, no matter where she is

rgotten Serbia. She went in October. I've had only a few letters-all cheerful-wouldn't do anything else-she's putting in all her income and it's a pretty good one. Nancy's rich as a girl o

body but America. But I don't know, Ingraham-I don't know. I ought not to have thrown him out, maybe, but I didn't

ory and even in the wire plant. Don't seem to go deep enough to make 'em give up their jobs-just talk, and there must be somebody behind it. I'm making allowance for those that's honestly against it, those that think not believing in war will make a difference. Couldn't stop an earthquake that way,

er destiny is to rule the earth by virtue of her superior ability, knowledge, strength. It's not easy for young men of Otto's type to resist. Whether he is being used as a tool consciously or unconsciously, I cannot say. It would be quite in keeping with Germany's practice to stir up trouble here with England if she could. She naturally wants to take our minds off Belgium-to build back fires. I am not sure but the feeling growing in the country against Mexico-the fear of Japan-is largely German propaganda. And Otto may be helping it on, not out of disloyalty to the United Sta

worried anybody,"

nervous over a Mexican-Japanese attack," laughed Dick.

else as far

lty of treason in making a contract with you for munitions for Germany. You have the same right to sell to her as

ormer," he said, "but I never yet helped a

be helping Germany now, but I shall be very much surprised if the time comes

eve we wi

y-some

elieve the t

I can't

t. Why, Sabinsport is living on the war and don't know it. Don't see that you can't live in this country to-day except on the war. But she does take an interest. Ever notice that South S

out the English nurses there. He'd look it up. What part of Serbia? He hadn't asked. He would-maybe he had been there. Not much chance if she was in the way of the Bulgars. Still, women like Nancy Cowder somehow imposed themselves. She'd not be afraid of all the armies and all the kings. "So slight and fine and free-moving," that was her fathe

. To think that a girl could give her life and he must sit he

nt over the talk he had had with Cowder, giving in detail the report of the quarrel w

r men to live in destroyed. Everything we've been trying to do the last twenty years gone to pot. There won't be a law protecting labor left in the country if this goes on. Who's going to think about hours and wages and safety and social insurance with that thing going on over there? Who cares any more in Sabinsport whether it's right or wrong to let two men gobble up the franchises? Who asks, now that we are beginning to make money and have good prospects of continuing as long as there's a war, whether it's right to turn a town into a mill for destruction? I'm sick of it, Dick. It's ruining things for us all. I'm so sore I can't bear to go anywhere any more, and if

tence, and all the time I can't see how you feel like you do. I can't get it as a thing for me, Dick. It isn't that I am all obstinate-won't see it-as you think. I can't see why it's up to us to go crazy because a good

sy," smi

, "if Patsy has heard from that Henr

nce, but not at all from H

, sagely, "Such an experience as they went through to