“I think we can do it, Mr. Ames,” returned the lawyer confidently.
“You’ve got to! Now, another matter: I’m out to get the President’s scalp! He’s got to go down! Begin with those New York papers which we can influence. I’ll get Fallom and 188 Adams over here for a conference. Meanwhile, think over what we’d better say to them. Our attacks upon the President must begin at once! I’ve already bought up a Washington daily for that purpose. They have a few facts now that will discredit his administration!”
“Very well, Mr. Ames. Ah––a––there is a matter that I must mention as soon as you are ready to hear it, Mr. Ames––regarding Avon. It seems that the reports which that girl has made have been translated into several languages, and are being used by labor agitators down there to stir up trouble. The mill hands, you know, never really understood what your profits were, and––well, they have always been quite ignorant, you know, regarding any details of the business. But now they think they have been enlightened––they think they see how the tariff has benefited you at their expense––and they are extremely bitter against you. That priest, Father Danny, has been doing a lot of talking since the girl was down there.”
“By God!” cried Ames, rising from his chair, then sinking back again.
“You see, Mr. Ames,” the lawyer continued, “the situation is fast becoming acute. The mill hands don’t believe now that you were ever justified in shutting down, or putting them on half time. And, whether you reduce wages or not, they are going to make very radical demands upon you in the near future, unless I am misinformed. These demands include better working conditions, better tenements, shorter hours, and very much higher wages. Also the enforcement of the child labor law, I am sorry to say.”
“They don’t dare!” shouted Ames.
“But, after all, Mr. Ames, you know you have said that it would strengthen your case with Congress if there should be a strike at Avon.”
“But not now! Not now!” cried Ames. “It would ruin everything! I am distinctly out of favor with the President––owing to that little negro wench! And Congress is going against me if I lose Gossitch, Logue, and Mall! That girl has put me in bad down there! Wales is beginning to threaten! By G––”
“But, Mr. Ames, she can be removed, can she not?”
“Violence would still further injure us. But––if we can drive the Express upon the shoals, and then utterly discredit that girl, either in the libel suit or the Ketchim trial, why, then, with a little show of bettering things at Avon, we’ll get what we want. But we’ve got work before us. Say, is––is Sidney with the Express?” he added hesitatingly.