V
"There's a lot of these fellows,'' Babbitt was complaining to
his wife, "that think if workmen go on strike they're a regular
bunch of fiends. Now, of course, it's a fight between sound
business and the destructive element, and we got to lick the
stuffin's out of 'em when they challenge us, but doggoned if
I see why we can't fight like gentlemen and not go calling
'em dirty dogs and saying they ought to be shot down.''
"Why, George,'' she said placidly, "I thought you always
insisted that all strikers ought to be put in jail.''
"I never did! Well, I mean— Some of 'em, of course.
Irresponsible leaders. But I mean a fellow ought to be broad-minded
and liberal about things like—''
"But dearie, I thought you always said these so-called `liberal'
people were the worst of—''
"Rats! Woman never can understand the different definitions
of a word. Depends on how you mean it. And it don't
pay to be too cocksure about anything. Now, these strikers:
Honest, they're not such bad people. Just foolish. They don't
understand the complications of merchandizing and profit, the
way we business men do, but sometimes I think they're about
like the rest of us, and no more hogs for wages than we are
for profits.''
"George! If people were to hear you talk like that—of course
I know you; I remember what a wild crazy boy you
were;
I know you don't mean a word you say—but if people that
didn't understand you were to hear you talking, they'd think
you were a regular socialist!''
"What do I care what anybody thinks? And let me tell
you right now—I want you to distinctly understand I never
was a wild crazy kid, and when I say a thing, I mean it, and
I stand by it and— Honest, do you think people would think
I was too liberal if I just said the strikers were decent?''
"Of course they would. But don't worry, dear; I know you
don't mean a word of it. Time to trot up to bed now. Have
you enough covers for to-night?''
On the sleeping-porch he puzzled, "She doesn't understand
me. Hardly understand myself. Why can't I take things
easy, way I used to?
"Wish I could go out to Senny Doane's house and talk
things over with him. No! Suppose Verg Gunch saw me
going in there!
"Wish I knew some really smart woman, and nice, that
would see what I'm trying to get at, and let me talk to her
and— I wonder if Myra's right? Could the fellows think
I've gone nutty just because I'm broad-minded and liberal?
Way Verg looked at me—''
