enus omne will have nothing to do with an
Arbitration Committee. Hence they are all for an Arbitration Committee.
On the other hand, neither the unions nor McGinnis are greatly in love
with the prying methods of the Conciliation Board, and hence reject the
aid of the Lemieux Act."

"But why should they all be dominated by a man like McGinnis?" demanded
Adrien. "Why doesn't some employer demand a Conciliation Board? He can
get it, you know."

"They naturally stand together," said Hugh.

"But they won't long. Maitland declares that he will take either board,
and that if the committee cannot agree which to choose, he will withdraw
and make terms on his own. He furthermore gave them warning that if any
strike-breakers were employed, of which he had heard rumours, he would
have nothing to do with the bunch."

"Strike-breakers?" said Adrien. "That would certainly mean serious
trouble."

"Indeed, you are jolly well right," said Vic. "We will all be in it
then. Civic guard! Special police! 'Shun! Fix bayonets! Prepare for
cavalry! Eh?"

"Oh, how terrible it all is," said Mrs. Templeton.

"Nonsense, Vic," said Hugh. "Don't listen to him, Mrs. Templeton. We
will have nothing of that sort."

"Well, it is all very sad," said Mrs. Templeton. "But here is Rupert. He
will give us the latest."

But Rupert appeared unwilling to talk about the meeting of the morning.
He was quite certain, however, that the strike was about to break. He
had inside information that the resources of the unions were almost
exhausted. The employers were tightening up all along the line, credits
were being refused at the stores, the unions were torn with dissension,
the end was at hand.

"It would be a great mercy if it would end soon," said Mrs. Templeton.
"It is a sad pity that these poor people are so misguided."

"It is a cruel shame, Mrs. Templeton," said Rupert indignantly. "I have
it from scores of them that they didn't want to strike at all. They were
getting good wages--the wage scale has gone up steadily during the war
to the present extravagant height."

"The cost of living has gone up much more rapidly, I believe," said
Adrien. "The men are working ten hours a day, the conditions under which
they labour are in some cases deplorable; that McGinnis foundry is a
ghastly place, terribly unhealthy; the girls in many of the factories
are paid wages so shamefully low that they can hardly maintain
themselves in decency, and they are continu