“Have you read the morning papers, Mr. Banneker?”
“Yes. That’s my business, Mr. Vanney.”
“Then you can see, by the outbreak in Sippiac, to what disastrous results anarchism and fomented discontent lead.”
“Depends on the point of view. I believe that, after my visit to the mills for you, I told you that unless conditions were bettered you’d have another and worse strike. You’ve got it.”
“Fortunately it is under control. The trouble-makers and thugs have been taught a needed lesson.”
“Especially the six-year-old trouble-making thug who was shot through the lungs from behind.”
Mr. Vanney scowled. “Unfortunate. And the papers laid unnecessary stress upon that. Wholly unnecessary. Most unfair.”
“You would hardly accuse The Ledger, at least, of being unfair to the mill interests.”
“Yes. The Ledger’s handling, while less objectionable than some of the others, was decidedly unfortunate.”
Banneker gazed at him in stupefaction. “Mr. Vanney, The Ledger minimized every detail unfavorable to the mills and magnified every one which told against the strikers. It was only its skill that concealed the bias in every paragraph.”