The Americans Part 29

Think you could govern men and round them up If need be?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

I don't know.

(_Tosses his hat into the air_)

EGERTON.

You don't belong To a Union?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

No.

EGERTON.

You're not the sort of man To stand dictation. You've a work to do, Men of your type. I think I heard you say That you were with the rangers at San Juan?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

I did some time down there.

EGERTON.

Well spent, my boy.

I had a brother in the Civil War.

(_Watches Anderson catching his hat_)

That was a good one. I know how you feel; So full of life you don't care what comes on.

'Out of the way!' It's rare enough these days.

You'd be surprised what cowards most men are, Big six foot fellows who want to go to work; Offer it to them and they shake their heads Because they see some pickets round the corner.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

'Fraid of your soldiers?

EGERTON.

Pickets; Union men.

They'd fly to arms quick enough if Charlie Hare-- Charlie's our Mayor--said 'No more free speech.'

But Williams he can say, 'No more free work.'

They'd rather talk, you see, than be free men.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

That's a good phrase, 'Free Work.'

EGERTON.

A good 'phrase,' yes.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

We ought to put that in our Bill of Rights.

EGERTON.

Our Bill of Rights, my boy, 's no more than air.

It's men to back it up. We've gone to seed In Sabbath speculations on men's rights.

What we need now is Monday morning's work.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

This Williams, I suppose, has gotten rich Controlling all these men?

EGERTON.

That I don't know.

It's not so much the few that he controls As the large numbers they intimidate.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Got to accept his terms or not work, eh?

EGERTON.

They have a thing they call the 'Union Scale.'

(_Looks at his watch_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

And these men that can't work, they stand for that, Having no voice at all in their affairs?

EGERTON.

They don't see; they're a lot of ignorant men.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Why don't you show them?

(_Egerton smiles, walks to the gate and listens, then comes back_)

EGERTON.

Out on the plains, my boy, Tending your cattle, did you speak with them And reason with them?