“What I cannot understand is,” said Hugh, “why the unions do not invoke the Lemieux Act?”
“Aha!” said Vic. “Why? The same question rose to my lips.”
“The Lemieux Act?” inquired Mrs. Templeton.
“Yes. You know, Mrs. Templeton, either party in dispute can ask for a Board of Conciliation, not Arbitration, you understand. This Board has power to investigate—bring out all the facts—and failing to effect conciliation, makes public its decision in the case, leaving both parties at the bar of public opinion.”
“But I cannot understand why the unions do not ask for this Conciliation Board.”
“I fear, Hugh,” said Victor in an awed and solemn voice, “that there is an Ethiopian in the coal bin.”
“What DOES he mean, Patricia?”
“He means that there is something very dark and mysterious, Mamma.”
“So there is,” said Hugh. “The unions will take an Arbitration Committee, which the employers decline to give, but they will not ask for a Conciliation Board.”
“My governor says it's a bluff,” said Vic. “The unions know quite well that McGinnis et hoc genus omne will have nothing to do with an Arbitration Committee. Hence they are all for an Arbitration Committee. On the other hand, neither the unions nor McGinnis are greatly in love with the prying methods of the Conciliation Board, and hence reject the aid of the Lemieux Act.”