BERT. That's what I'm getting at, Mr. Pindar. You say you'd shut down for a principle, whether the government gets the machines or not. And the men say they'd join the union for a principle, whether the government gets the machines or not. It looks to me as if both was hindering the war for a principle, and the question is, which principle is it that agrees best with what we're fighting for?
ASHER. No man joins a union for a principle, but for extortion. I can't discuss it,—I won't!
BERT. I'm sorry, sir.
(He turns to go out, lower right.)
GEORGE (overtaking him and grasping his hand). So long, Bert. I'll look you up, over there!
BERT (gazing at him). All right, Mr. George.
GEORGE. Goodbye, Timothy. Don't worry about the boy.
TIMOTHY. It's proud I am to have him go. Mr. George,—but I can't think why he'd be joining the union, and never telling me.
(He stands for a moment troubled, glancing at ASHER, torn between
loyalty to his employer and affection for his son. Then he goes out
slowly, upper right. All the while DR. JONATHAN has stood in the
rear of the room, occasionally glancing at GEORGE. He now comes
forward, unobtrusively, yet withal impressively.)
ASHER. I never expected to hear such talk from a son of Timothy Farrell,—a boy I thought was level-headed. (To DR. JONATHAN) What do you think of that? You heard it.