"If I could have my way the government would settle the difficulty in a hurry," he said, grimly.
"You mean the soldiers?"
"Yes, the government should put enough troops from the regular army in here to drive these men back to their jobs."
"But aren't these working people just as much a part of our government as you employers? Forgive me, Jim, but your plan sounds to me too much like the very imperialism that our soldiers fought against in France."
"Imperialism or not!" he retorted, "the business men of this country will never submit to the dictatorship of Jake Vodell and his kind. It would be chaos and utter ruin. Look what they are doing in other countries."
"Of course it would," she agreed, "but the Interpreter says that if the
business men and employers and the better class of employees like Peter
Martin would get together as—as John and Charlie Martin are—that Jake
Vodell and his kind would be powerless."
He did not answer, and she continued, "As I understand brother and the
Interpreter, this man Vodell does not represent the unions at all—he
merely uses some of the unions, wherever he can, through such men as
Sam Whaley. Isn't that so, Jim?"
"Whether it is so or not, the result is the same," he answered. "If the unions of the laboring classes permit themselves to be used as tools by men like Jake Vodell they must take the consequences."
He rose to his feet as one who would end an unprofitable discussion. "Come, Helen, it is useless for you to make yourself ill over these questions. You are worn out now. Come, you really must let me take you home."
"I suppose I must," she answered, wearily.