There was also a small number of Socialists - not more than half a dozen altogether - who did not join in the applause.These men were all sitting at the end of the long table presided over by Payne.None of them had joined in the applause that greeted the speeches, and so far neither had they made any protest.Some of them turned very red as they listened to the concluding sentences of Grinder's oration, and others laughed, but none of them said anything.They knew before they came that there was sure to be a lot of 'Jolly good fellow' business and speechmaking, and they had agreed together beforehand to take no part one way or the other, and to refrain from openly dissenting from anything that might be said, but they had not anticipated anything quite so strong as this.
When Grinder sat down some of those who had applauded him began to jeer at the Socialists.
`What have you got to say to that?' they shouted.`That's up against yer!'
`They ain't got nothing to say now.'
`Why don't some of you get up and make a speech?'
This last appeared to be a very good idea to those Liberals and Tories who had not liked Grinder's observations, so they all began to shout `Owen!' `Owen!' `Come on 'ere.Get up and make a speech!' `Be a man!'
and so on.Several of those who had been loudest in applauding Grinder also joined in the demand that Owen should make a speech, because they were certain that Grinder and the other gentlemen would be able to dispose of all his arguments; but Owen and the other Socialists made no response except to laugh, so presently Crass tied a white handkerchief on a cane walking-stick that belonged to Mr Didlum, and stuck it in the vase of flowers that stood on the end of the table where the Socialist group were sitting.
When the noise had in some measure ceased, Grinder again rose.`When I made the few remarks that I did, I didn't know as there was any Socialists 'ere: I could tell from the look of you that most of you had more sense.At the same time I'm rather glad I said what I did, because it just shows you what sort of chaps these Socialists are.
They're pretty artful - they know when to talk and when to keep their mouths shut.What they like is to get hold of a few ignorant workin'
men in a workshop or a public house, and then they can talk by the mile - reg'ler shop lawyers, you know wot I mean - I'm right and everybody else is wrong.(Laughter.) You know the sort of thing Imean.When they finds theirselves in the company of edicated people wot knows a little more than they does theirselves, and who isn't likely to be misled by a lot of claptrap, why then, mum's the word.
So next time you hears any of these shop lawyers' arguments, you'll know how much it's worth.'
Most of the men were delighted with this speech, which was received with much laughing and knocking on the tables.They remarked to each other that Grinder was a smart man: he'd got the Socialists weighed up just about right - to an ounce.
Then, it was seen that Barrington was on his feet facing Grinder and a sudden, awe-filled silence fell.
`It may or may not be true,' began Barrington, `that Socialists always know when to speak and when to keep silent, but the present occasion hardly seemed a suitable one to discuss such subjects.
`We are here today as friends and want to forget our differences and enjoy ourselves for a few hours.But after what Mr Grinder has said Iam quite ready to reply to him to the best of my ability.
`The fact that I am a Socialist and that I am here today as one of Mr Rushton's employees should be an answer to the charge that Socialists are too lazy to work for their living.And as to taking advantage of the ignorance and simplicity of working men and trying to mislead them with nonsensical claptrap, it would have been more to the point if Mr Grinder had taken some particular Socialist doctrine and had proved it to be untrue or misleading, instead of adopting the cowardly method of making vague general charges that he cannot substantiate.He would find it far more difficult to do that than it would be for a Socialist to show that most of what Mr Grinder himself has been telling us is nonsensical claptrap of the most misleading kind.He tells us that the employers work with their brains and the men with their hands.If it is true that no brains are required to do manual labour, why put idiots into imbecile asylums? Why not let them do some of the hand work for which no brains are required? As they are idiots, they would probably be willing to work for even less than the ideal "living wage".If Mr Grinder had ever tried, he would know that manual workers have to concentrate their minds and their attention on their work or they would not be able to do it at all.His talk about employers being not only the masters but the "friends" of their workmen is also mere claptrap because he knows as well as we do, that no matter how good or benevolent an employer may be, no matter how much he might desire to give his men good conditions, it is impossible for him to do so, because he has to compete against other employers who do not do that.It is the bad employer - the sweating, slave-driving employer - who sets the pace and the others have to adopt the same methods - very often against their inclinations - or they would not be able to compete with him.If any employer today were to resolve to pay his workmen not less wages than he would be able to live upon in comfort himself, that he would not require them to do more work in a day than he himself would like to perform every day of his own life, Mr Grinder knows as well as we do that such an employer would be bankrupt in a month; because he would not be able to get any work except by taking it at the same price as the sweaters and the slave-drivers.
`He also tells us that the interests of masters and men are identical;but if an employer has a contract, it is to his interest to get the work done as soon as possible; the sooner it is done the more profit he will make; but the more quickly it is done, the sooner will the men be out of employment.How then can it be true that their interests are identical?
