"Who would you put in his place?"
"It is not for me to say, but some such man as Mike Caldert might make an excellent secretary."
The motion, as suggested by Cavard, who would not suggest, was made and quickly carried. Then Mike Caldert was duly elected as the permanent secretary of the organization.
A gleam of satisfaction shone in the eyes of the Russian. He had triumphed over the Iron Boy, thus effectually disposing of him, as he believed. Cavard was a shrewd and unscrupulous man, and one who would stop at nothing to accomplish his ends, as Steve was presently to learn.
This matter having been disposed of, the president and walking delegate cleared his throat and began on a new subject that claimed the attention of the men at once.
"There is another matter, and one of great importance to every man in every mine on the range," he began. "That is the question of pay and of hours. We are working ten hours a day and we are getting less money than is paid by the other mines in the country."
This statement was not true, but the members present were not aware of the fact. They took all that Cavard said as the truth.
"It is time," he continued, "for us to take action in the matter. You should formulate your demands and present them to the owners for their consideration. The bosses are making money. There never has been a time in the history of the mines when they were making so much money. Your tonnage is increasing day by day, and day by day you are doing more work. But let me ask you, do your wages increase proportionately? Do you work fewer hours than before?"
"No!" shouted a voice.
"Do you share in the profits that you are piling up for the money kings?"