The Coal War by Upton Sinclair Page A

shifted from one railroad to another, from one siding to another, and no one seemed to know just where they were. Of course, said Harmon, with his quiet humor, everybody knew that freight sometimes got delayed, and that shippers sometimes lost their tempers; it would not do to make charges that one could not prove—but it was well known that Peter Harrigan was a director in several railroads, and so were other coal-company owners and officials. Hal found himself suddenly recalling Otway, of “Central Fuel”, and his experience with interlocking directorates!

[4]
    Hal went for a call on Adelaide Wyatt, and told her about his parting with Jessie and Mrs. Arthur. Adelaide told him about the latest rumblings of Mount Vesuvius, which had been audible to many people in Western City. And then the revolutionary parlor-maid came in—and what a time they had, exchanging news! Mary had just had a letter from Mrs. Jack David, describing the reign of terror in North Valley. Jeff Cotton, the camp-marshal, had been drunk all summer, it seemed, and his treatment of the men was atrocious. The company was getting in Japs and Koreans, and the decent men were going out in a stream. “Joe,” said Mary, suddenly, “how do Koreans talk?”
    â€œI suppose there’s a Korean language,” said he. “I learned a few words from Cho, the ‘rope-rider’.” And then he laughed. “Are you wanting to study it?”
    â€œI was just wonderin’ what we’d do, if they filled up the mines with people like that.”
    â€œWe’d find a way to reach them, never fear, Mary. There’s no kind of people in the world that don’t want freedom, and that don’t find out sooner or later about standing together.”
    Mary had been reading a history of the trade-union movement, and also a pamphlet about industrial unionism, the wonderful new idea of “one big union” of all the workers in an industry. So she and Hal had many things to talk about; Mrs. Wyatt said she wished that every well-to-do person in Western City might be provided with a revolutionary parlor-maid, and have such interesting discussions in her home! Mary laughed—she could realize the strangeness of this situation as keenly as any well-to-do person. But then her brow clouded; it was so hard for her to stay here and be comfortable, when she read what was going on in the coal-country! She wanted to know what Hal thought about her going back.
    â€œThere’s nothing you can do just now,” he answered. “The money you send home is more important.”
    â€œI might help to wake up the people, Joe!”
    â€œThey don’t need that—there’s enough bitterness and blind discontent. What they’ll need are ideas; and if you stay here a while, and study and think, you’ll be of more use later on.”
    â€œI know,” said the girl. “Mrs. Wyatt tells me that. But ’tis so hard, when ye hear about all the sufferin’! It seems like ye could hardly bear to sit down to a table with plenty to eat on it!” She sat with her hands clenched, and there was a quiver in her voice, that went to the souls of both her auditors. Hal knew these qualms—they had brought him home from Europe and his sweetheart. As for Adelaide-she lived the life of her class, she did not want people to say that her interest in new ideas had made her into a “crank”; but when she got this thrill of Mary’s, she must have had moments of doubt about her costly clothes and her gracious home!
    Hal asked about the Minettis, and learned that they had returned to Pedro, where Jerry was now working. Rosa had written a post-card; she had a new baby, which kept her busy. Another person who had written was John Edstrom. “The old gentleman’s been sick again,” said Mary. “If it hadn’t been for what ye sent him, Joe, he’d ’a starved!”
    â€œI suppose