To this Floyd dictated an immediate answer:
Mr. Sam'l Tustin,
President Chap. 4, A. I. W.
Sir,—In reply to your communication just received, let me say that any interference with Mr. Hugh Farrell, either in the discharge of his duties or in the exercise of his rights outside the works, will be promptly and properly punished. Should a general strike be ordered, as you threaten, or should the management for any reason find it necessary to declare a lockout, no workman will be readmitted to employment at the Halket Mills so long as he remains a member of a union.
Very truly yours,
Floyd Halket,
Gregg telephoned that night to Floyd that in New Rome the feeling was indeed, as Tustin had expressed it, intense. The news had been spread among the men with surprising rapidity that the management was to make a fight for the extermination of the union. A mass meeting had been called for the next night.
"All right," Floyd answered. "Keep yourself as clear of trouble as you can, Gregg. Put the opprobrium for Farrell's promotion on me—and any other trouble that comes up. Are they doing things to Farrell?"
"A crowd followed him and jeered him all the way home this evening. He's not having a pleasant time."
"Any signs of his backing out?"
"Oh, you bet, no!"
"Be ready to have all the men paid off at a moment's notice. I'll be out in the morning. Telephone me if anything turns up."
Floyd's visit to New Rome the next day convinced him that there was nothing for him to do but stand by his declaration to Tustin and await developments.
