“In what way?”
“I mean—in making them open the mine.”
Keating considered for a moment. “I'm afraid it won't do much.”
Hal looked at him blankly. He had taken it for granted the publication of the facts would force the company to move. But Keating explained that the Gazette read mainly by working-people, and so had comparatively little influence. “We're an afternoon paper,” he said; “and when people have been reading lies all morning, it's not easy to make them believe the truth in the afternoon.”
“But won't the story go to other papers—over the country, I mean?”
“Yes, we have a press service; but the papers are all like the Gazette—poor man's papers. If there's something very raw, and we keep pounding away for a long time, we can make an impression; at least we limit the amount of news the Western press association can suppress. But when it comes to a small matter like sealing up workingmen in a mine, all we can do is to worry the 'G. F. C.' a little.”
So Hal was just where he had begun! “I must find some other plan,” he exclaimed.
“I don't see what you can do,” replied the other.
There was a pause, while the young miner pondered. “I had thought of going up to Western City and appealing to the editors,” he said, a little uncertainly.
“Well, I can tell you about that—you might as well save your car-fare. They wouldn't touch your story.”