classes and not individuals in a case like this。 This was part of
a much bigger thing than any mere local issue。 He drew upon his
experience in the homeland with overwhelming effect。 His voice
rose and rolled in his richest Doric as he passionately denounced
the tyranny of the masters in the coal and iron industries in the
homeland。 He was not an extremist； he had never been one。 Indeed；
all who knew him would bear him out when he said that he had been
an opponent of Brother Simmons and those who thought with him on
economic questions。 This sudden change in attitude would doubtless
surprise his brothers。 He had been forced to change by the stern
logic of facts。 There was nothing in this resolution which any
reasonable worker might object to。 There was nothing in the
resolution that every worker with any sympathy with his fellow
workers should not support。 Moreover； he warned them that if they
presented a united front； there would be little fear of trouble。
If they were divided in their ranks； or if they were halfhearted in
their demands； they would invite opposition and； therefore；
trouble。 He asked them all to stand together in supporting a
reasonable demand； which he felt sure reasonable men would consider
favorably。
The effect of his speech was overwhelming。 The administration
supporters were exuberant in their enthusiastic applause and in
their vociferous demands for a vote。 The opposition were paralysed
by the desertion of one whom they had regarded and trusted as a
leader against the radical element and were left without answer to
the masterly array of facts and arguments which he had presented。
At this point； the door opened and Maitland walked in。 A few
moments of tense silence； and then something seemed to snap。 The
opposition； led by the hockey men and their supporters； burst into
a demonstration of welcome。 The violence of the demonstration was
not solely upon Maitland's account。 The leaders of the opposition
were quick to realise that his entrance had created a diversion for
them which might save them from disastrous defeat。 They made the
most of this opportunity； prolonging the demonstration and joining
in a 〃chair procession〃 which carried Maitland shoulder…high about
the room； in the teeth of the violent protest of Brother Simmons
and his following。
Order being restored； business was again resumed； when Brother
Macnamara rose to his feet and； in a speech incoherent at times；
but always forceful； proposed that the usual order be suspended
and that here and now a motion be carried expressing their
gratification at the recent great hockey victory and referring in
highly laudatory terms to the splendid work of Brother Captain
Maitland； to whose splendid efforts victory was largely due。
It was in vain that Brother Simmons and those of his way of
thinking sought to stem the tide of disorder。 The motion was
carried with acclaim。
No sooner had this matter been disposed of than Maitland rose to
his feet and said：
〃Mr。 President； I wish to thank you all for this very kind
reference to my team and myself。 I take very little credit for
the victory which we won。 We had a good team； indeed； quite a
remarkable team。 I have played in a good many athletic teams of
various kinds； but in two particulars the Maitland Mills Hockey
Team is the most remarkable of any I have knownfirst； in their
splendid loyalty in taking their training and sticking together；
that was beyond all praise； and； secondly； in the splendid grit
which they showed in playing a losing game。 Now； Mr。 President； I
am going to do something which gives me more regret than any of you
can understand。 I have to offer my resignation as a member of this
union。 I have accepted the position of manager of the planing mill
and I understand that this makes it necessary that I resign as a
member of this union。 I don't really see why this should be
necessary。 I don't believe myself that it should； and； brothers； I
expect to live long enough to belong to a union that will allow a
fellow like me to be a member with chaps like you。 But meantime；
for the present I must resign。 You have treated me like a brother
and a chum。 I have learned a lot from you all； but one thing
especially； which I shall never forget： that there is no real
difference in men that is due to their position in life； that a
man's job doesn't change his heart。〃
He paused for a few moments as if to gather command of his voice；
which had become suddenly husky。
〃I am sorry to leave you； boys； and I want to say to you from my
heart that though I cannot remain a member of this union； I can be
and I will be a brother to you all the same。 And I promise you
that； as far as I can； I will work for the good of the union in the
future as I have done in the past。〃
McNish alone was prepared for this dramatic announcement； although
they all knew that Maitland sooner or later would assume a position
which would link him up with the management of the business。 But
the suddenness of the change and the dramatic setting of the
announcement created an impression so profound as to neutralise
completely the effect of McNish's masterly speech。
Disappointed and enraged at the sudden turn of events； he was too
good a general to allow himself to be routed in disorder。 He set
about to gather his disordered forces for a fresh attack； when once
more the hockey men took command of the field。 This time it was
Snoopy Sykes； the most voiceless member of the union。
After a few moments of dazed silence that followed Maitland's
announcement of his resignation； Snoopy rose and； encouraged by the
cheers of his astonished comrades； began the maiden speech of his
life。
〃Mr。 President；〃 he shouted。
〃Go to it； Snoopy； old boy。〃
〃I never made a speech in my life； never〃
〃Good； old scout； never begin younger！ Cheerio； old son！〃
〃And I want to say that he don't need to。 I once heard of a feller
who didn't。 He kept on and he didn't do no harm to nobody。 And
the Captain here wouldn't neither。 So what I say is he don't need
to；〃 and Snoopy sat down with the whole brotherhood gazing at him
in silence and amazed perplexity； not one of them being able to
attach the faintest meaning to Snoopy's amazing oration。
At length Fatty Findlay； another of the voiceless ones； but the
very special pal of Snoopy Sykes； broke forth in a puzzled voice：
〃Say it again； Snoopy。〃
There was a roar of laughter； which only grew in volume as Snoopy
turned toward his brothers a wrathful and bewildered countenance。
〃No；〃 said another voice。 〃Say something else； Snoopy。 Shoot a
goal this time。〃
Again Snoopy rose。 〃What I said was this；〃 he began indignantly。
Again there was a roar of laughter。
〃Say； you fellers； shut up and give a feller a chance。 The Captain
wants to resign。 I say 'No。' He is a darned good scout。 We want
him and we won't let him go。 Let him keep his card。〃
〃By the powers；〃 roared Macnamara； 〃it is a goal； Snoopy。 It's a
humdinger。 I second the motion。〃
It was utterly in vain that Brother Simmons and his whole following
pointed out unitedly and successively the utter impossibility and
absurdity of the proposal which was unconstitutional and without
precedent。 The hockey team had the company with them and with the
bit in their teeth swept all before them。
At this point； McNish displayed the master…hand that comes from
long experience。 He saw his opportunity and seized it。
〃Mr。 President；〃 he said； and at once he received the most complete
attention。 〃A confess this is a most extraordinary proposal； but
A'm goin' tae support it。〃 The roar that answered told him that he
had regained control of the meeting。 〃Brother Simmons says it is
unconstitutional and without precedent。 He is no correct in this。
A have known baith maisters and managers who retained their union
cards。 A grant ye it is unusual； but may I point oot that the
circumstances are unusual？〃Wild yells of approval〃And Captain
Maitland is an unusual man〃louder yells of approval〃It may that
there is something in the constitution o' this union that stands in
the way〃Cries of 〃No！ No！〃 and consignment of the constitution to
a nameless locality。〃A venture to suggest that a committee be
appointed； consisting of Brothers Sykes； Macnamara and the
chairman； wi' poors tae add； tae go into this maitter with Captain
Maitland and report。〃
It was a master…stroke。 A true union man regards with veneration
the constitution and hesitates to tamper with it except in a
perfectly constitutional manner。 The opposition to the
administration's original resolution had gained what they sought； a
temporary stay。 The committee was appointed and the danger to both
the resolution and the constitution for the present averted。
Again Mr。 McNish took command。 〃And noo； Mr。 President；〃 he said；
〃the oor is late。 We are all tired and we all wish to give mair
thocht to the main maitter before us。 A move； therefore； that we
adjourn to the call o' the Executive。〃
Once more Brother Simmons found himself in a protesting minority；
and the meeting broke up； the opposition jubilant over their
victory； the supporters of the administration determined to await a
more convenient time。
CHAPTER XII
LIGHT THAT IS DARKNESS
At the next monthly meeting of Local 197 of the Woodworkers' Union；
the executive had little difficulty in finally shelving the report
of its committee appointed to deal with the resignation of Captain
Maitland； and as little difficulty in passing by unanimous vote
their resolution held up at the last meeting。 The allied unions
had meantime been extended to include the building trades。 Their
organization had been perfected and their discipline immensely
strengthened。 Many causes contributed to this result。 A month's
time had elapsed and the high emotional tides due to athletic
enthusiasm； especially the hockey victory； had had space to
subside。 The dead season for all outdoor games was upon them and
the men； losing touch with each other and with their captain； who
was engrossed in studying his new duties； began to spend their
leisure hours in loafing about the str