Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/163

 benefit. These wages were refused, and Crane endeavoured to explain to the men the object of this self-help community, but the meeting broke up in disorder, and the earnest man was not listened to.

The forty promptly struck work, but once more were overcome by starvation, and although Bert Harrison declared this to be a favourite weapon of the capitalist, and offered to lead a raid upon the larder, the strike had gone too far. The hungry men knew that they could secure a meal, beer and tobacco at once if they gave in, so to Bert's chagrin, they paid as little attention to his eloquence as they had to Crane's, and surrendered on the terms that a meal should be served forthwith. Having fed sumptuously, and drunk to their satisfaction, they instantly inaugurated their final strike.

All except Stranleigh were gathered in the central hall, when they gave their ultimatum to Crane, who was on the verge of tears. They began proceedings by great stamping of feet, and by singing in lusty chorus the song—