The Americans Part 70

HARVEY ANDERSON.

You say the State's been fair with them. All right.

But it ain't the State that feeds them, it's the Mill; And it ain't the State that clothes them, it's the Mill; And it ain't the State they think of when they think Of better homes hereafter, it's the Mill.

And there ain't no fairness that ain't fair in here, And there ain't no freedom that ain't free in here, Though there ain't no use of saying that to you.

SAM WILLIAMS.

We have to live.

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

(_Ignoring Anderson, as he does throughout_)

Employers have the right To buy their labor in the open market, And if you fellows here can't meet the price----

VOICE.

(_From the crowd_)

You'd have us starve?

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

You'll have to step aside And give way to some stronger men that can

SAM WILLIAMS.

And you expect men to obey a law That gives no hope of anything but this?

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

You'd been to work and you'd been satisfied If some outsiders hadn't come along And fired your ignorant minds.

(_Murmurs in the crowd_)

CHRIS KNUDSON.

Hold your tongues, men.

HARRY EGERTON.

Pardon me, General Chadbourne--

HARVEY ANDERSON.

(_To Buck Bentley_)

Land o' the free!

HARRY EGERTON.

We are all of us outsiders in a way, Yourself as well as Harvey here and I.

But in a way there's no such thing. We're men, And that which injures one injures us all.

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

I'm here on duty; quite a different thing.

HARRY EGERTON.

What I have done I have done not without cause Nor hastily.

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

You know yourself these men Would have been to work.

SAM WILLIAMS.

We'd had to----

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

There you are!

SAM WILLIAMS.

If it hadn't been for Mr. Egerton.

HARRY EGERTON.

Yes, probably they would.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

That's just the point.

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

Then who is responsible?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

They'd gone to work.

HARRY EGERTON.

For this, I am. But for conditions here----

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.