第 33 节
作者:别克陆上公务舱      更新:2021-02-20 17:13      字数:9322
  cause。  They had not anticipated any such a strong opposition and
  were rather nonplussed as to the next move。  Brother Simmons was in
  a fury and was on the point of breaking forth into a passionate
  denunciation of scabs and traitors generally when; to the amazement
  of all and the intense delight of the supporters of the
  administration; McNish arose and gave unqualified support to the
  resolution。
  His speech was a masterpiece of diplomacy; and revealed his long
  practice in the art of oratory in that best of all training
  schools; the labour union of the Old Land。  He began by expressing
  entire sympathy with the spirit of the opposition。  The opposition;
  however; had completely misunderstood the intent and purport of the
  resolution。  None of them desired trouble。  There need not be;
  indeed; he hoped there would not be trouble; but there were certain
  very ugly facts that must be faced。  He then; in terse; forceful
  language; presented the facts in connection with the cost of
  living; quoting statistics from the Department of Labour to show
  the steady rise in the price of articles of food; fuel and clothing
  since the beginning of the war; a truly appalling array。  He had
  secured price lists from dealers in these commodities; both
  wholesale and retail; to show the enormous profits made during the
  war。  There were returned soldiers present。  They had not hesitated
  at the call of duty to give all they had for their country。  They
  had been promised great things when they had left their homes;
  their families; their business and their jobs。  How had they found
  things upon their return?  He illustrated his argument from the
  cases of men present。  It was a sore spot with many of them and he
  pressed hard upon it。  They were suffering to…day; worse; their
  wives and children were suffering。  Had anyone heard of their
  employers suffering?  Here again he offered illustrations of men
  who had made a good thing out of the war。  True; there were many
  examples of the other kind of employer; but they must deal with
  classes and not individuals in a case like this。  This was part of
  a much bigger thing than any mere local issue。  He drew upon his
  experience in the homeland with overwhelming effect。  His voice
  rose and rolled in his richest Doric as he passionately denounced
  the tyranny of the masters in the coal and iron industries in the
  homeland。  He was not an extremist; he had never been one。  Indeed;
  all who knew him would bear him out when he said that he had been
  an opponent of Brother Simmons and those who thought with him on
  economic questions。  This sudden change in attitude would doubtless
  surprise his brothers。  He had been forced to change by the stern
  logic of facts。  There was nothing in this resolution which any
  reasonable worker might object to。  There was nothing in the
  resolution that every worker with any sympathy with his fellow
  workers should not support。  Moreover; he warned them that if they
  presented a united front; there would be little fear of trouble。
  If they were divided in their ranks; or if they were halfhearted in
  their demands; they would invite opposition and; therefore;
  trouble。  He asked them all to stand together in supporting a
  reasonable demand; which he felt sure reasonable men would consider
  favorably。
  The effect of his speech was overwhelming。  The administration
  supporters were exuberant in their enthusiastic applause and in
  their vociferous demands for a vote。  The opposition were paralysed
  by the desertion of one whom they had regarded and trusted as a
  leader against the radical element and were left without answer to
  the masterly array of facts and arguments which he had presented。
  At this point; the door opened and Maitland walked in。  A few
  moments of tense silence; and then something seemed to snap。  The
  opposition; led by the hockey men and their supporters; burst into
  a demonstration of welcome。  The violence of the demonstration was
  not solely upon Maitland's account。  The leaders of the opposition
  were quick to realise that his entrance had created a diversion for
  them which might save them from disastrous defeat。  They made the
  most of this opportunity; prolonging the demonstration and joining
  in a 〃chair procession〃 which carried Maitland shoulder…high about
  the room; in the teeth of the violent protest of Brother Simmons
  and his following。
  Order being restored; business was again resumed; when Brother
  Macnamara rose to his feet and; in a speech incoherent at times;
  but always forceful; proposed that the usual order be suspended
  and that here and now a motion be carried expressing their
  gratification at the recent great hockey victory and referring in
  highly laudatory terms to the splendid work of Brother Captain
  Maitland; to whose splendid efforts victory was largely due。
  It was in vain that Brother Simmons and those of his way of
  thinking sought to stem the tide of disorder。  The motion was
  carried with acclaim。
  No sooner had this matter been disposed of than Maitland rose to
  his feet and said:
  〃Mr。 President; I wish to thank you all for this very kind
  reference to my team and myself。  I take very little credit for
  the victory which we won。  We had a good team; indeed; quite a
  remarkable team。  I have played in a good many athletic teams of
  various kinds; but in two particulars the Maitland Mills Hockey
  Team is the most remarkable of any I have knownfirst; in their
  splendid loyalty in taking their training and sticking together;
  that was beyond all praise; and; secondly; in the splendid grit
  which they showed in playing a losing game。  Now; Mr。 President; I
  am going to do something which gives me more regret than any of you
  can understand。  I have to offer my resignation as a member of this
  union。  I have accepted the position of manager of the planing mill
  and I understand that this makes it necessary that I resign as a
  member of this union。  I don't really see why this should be
  necessary。  I don't believe myself that it should; and; brothers; I
  expect to live long enough to belong to a union that will allow a
  fellow like me to be a member with chaps like you。  But meantime;
  for the present I must resign。  You have treated me like a brother
  and a chum。  I have learned a lot from you all; but one thing
  especially; which I shall never forget: that there is no real
  difference in men that is due to their position in life; that a
  man's job doesn't change his heart。〃
  He paused for a few moments as if to gather command of his voice;
  which had become suddenly husky。
  〃I am sorry to leave you; boys; and I want to say to you from my
  heart that though I cannot remain a member of this union; I can be
  and I will be a brother to you all the same。  And I promise you
  that; as far as I can; I will work for the good of the union in the
  future as I have done in the past。〃
  McNish alone was prepared for this dramatic announcement; although
  they all knew that Maitland sooner or later would assume a position
  which would link him up with the management of the business。  But
  the suddenness of the change and the dramatic setting of the
  announcement created an impression so profound as to neutralise
  completely the effect of McNish's masterly speech。
  Disappointed and enraged at the sudden turn of events; he was too
  good a general to allow himself to be routed in disorder。  He set
  about to gather his disordered forces for a fresh attack; when once
  more the hockey men took command of the field。  This time it was
  Snoopy Sykes; the most voiceless member of the union。
  After a few moments of dazed silence that followed Maitland's
  announcement of his resignation; Snoopy rose and; encouraged by the
  cheers of his astonished comrades; began the maiden speech of his
  life。
  〃Mr。 President;〃 he shouted。
  〃Go to it; Snoopy; old boy。〃
  〃I never made a speech in my life; never〃
  〃Good; old scout; never begin younger!  Cheerio; old son!〃
  〃And I want to say that he don't need to。  I once heard of a feller
  who didn't。  He kept on and he didn't do no harm to nobody。  And
  the Captain here wouldn't neither。  So what I say is he don't need
  to;〃 and Snoopy sat down with the whole brotherhood gazing at him
  in silence and amazed perplexity; not one of them being able to
  attach the faintest meaning to Snoopy's amazing oration。
  At length Fatty Findlay; another of the voiceless ones; but the
  very special pal of Snoopy Sykes; broke forth in a puzzled voice:
  〃Say it again; Snoopy。〃
  There was a roar of laughter; which only grew in volume as Snoopy
  turned toward his brothers a wrathful and bewildered countenance。
  〃No;〃 said another voice。  〃Say something else; Snoopy。  Shoot a
  goal this time。〃
  Again Snoopy rose。  〃What I said was this;〃 he began indignantly。
  Again there was a roar of laughter。
  〃Say; you fellers; shut up and give a feller a chance。  The Captain
  wants to resign。  I say 'No。'  He is a darned good scout。  We want
  him and we won't let him go。  Let him keep his card。〃
  〃By the powers;〃 roared Macnamara; 〃it is a goal; Snoopy。  It's a
  humdinger。  I second the motion。〃
  It was utterly in vain that Brother Simmons and his whole following
  pointed out unitedly and successiv