You'll not lay hands on property in this State.
You'll not lay hands on property in this State.
Harry Egerton.
The right of men to work is just as sacredAs is the right of property, General Chadbourne,And more important to the general welfare.
The right of men to work is just as sacredAs is the right of property, General Chadbourne,And more important to the general welfare.
General Chadbourne.
These gates have stood wide open here for weeks.
These gates have stood wide open here for weeks.
Sam Williams.
And on whose terms?
And on whose terms?
Workmen.
That's the point; on whose terms?
That's the point; on whose terms?
General Chadbourne.
Of course you'd like to make the terms yourselves.
Of course you'd like to make the terms yourselves.
Harvey Anderson.
Why shouldn't they?
Why shouldn't they?
Harry Egerton.
What would you have men do?
What would you have men do?
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 thinkOf 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.
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 thinkOf 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.
We have to live.
General Chadbourne.
(Ignoring Anderson, as he does throughout)
Employers have the rightTo buy their labor in the open market,And if you fellows here can't meet the price——
Employers have the rightTo 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?
You'd have us starve?
General Chadbourne.
You'll have to step asideAnd give way to some stronger men that can
You'll have to step asideAnd give way to some stronger men that can
Sam Williams.
And you expect men to obey a lawThat gives no hope of anything but this?
And you expect men to obey a lawThat gives no hope of anything but this?
General Chadbourne.
You'd been to work and you'd been satisfiedIf some outsiders hadn't come alongAnd fired your ignorant minds.
You'd been to work and you'd been satisfiedIf some outsiders hadn't come alongAnd fired your ignorant minds.
(Murmurs in the crowd)
Chris Knudson.
Hold your tongues, men.
Hold your tongues, men.
Harry Egerton.
Pardon me, General Chadbourne—
Pardon me, General Chadbourne—
Harvey Anderson.
(To Buck Bentley)
Land o' the free!
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.
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.
I'm here on duty; quite a different thing.
Harry Egerton.
What I have done I have done not without causeNor hastily.
What I have done I have done not without causeNor hastily.
General Chadbourne.
You know yourself these menWould have been to work.
You know yourself these menWould have been to work.
Sam Williams.
We'd had to——
We'd had to——
General Chadbourne.
There you are!
There you are!
Sam Williams.
If it hadn't been for Mr. Egerton.
If it hadn't been for Mr. Egerton.
Harry Egerton.
Yes, probably they would.
Yes, probably they would.
Harvey Anderson.
That's just the point.
That's just the point.
General Chadbourne.
Then who is responsible?
Then who is responsible?
Harvey Anderson.
They'd gone to work.
They'd gone to work.
Harry Egerton.
For this, I am. But for conditions here——
For this, I am. But for conditions here——
General Chadbourne.
(To Captain Haskell)
Remember that.
Remember that.
Workmen.
No! We! We seized the mill!
No! We! We seized the mill!
Harry Egerton.
I led them.
I led them.
Buck Bentley.
It was we unlocked the gates.
It was we unlocked the gates.
Workmen.
But we marched in, so we're responsible.
But we marched in, so we're responsible.
Harvey Anderson.
We won't dispute about who did it, partners.There's glory enough for all.
We won't dispute about who did it, partners.There's glory enough for all.
(Cheers)
I'm in it too.
I'm in it too.
(He laughs)
Harry Egerton.
But for conditions that produced this strikeGod knows and I know it was not these men.I only wish that that was farther off.
But for conditions that produced this strikeGod knows and I know it was not these men.I only wish that that was farther off.
General Chadbourne.
If wrong's been done there's legal remedies.
If wrong's been done there's legal remedies.
Harry Egerton.
Conditions, General, that outreach the law.
Conditions, General, that outreach the law.
Sam Williams.
For it's that 'open market'——
For it's that 'open market'——
Voice.
(From the crowd)
Who makes the law?
Who makes the law?
Sam Williams.
Their legal right to buy the cheapest menAnd drive them just as hard and just as longAs they can stand it.
Their legal right to buy the cheapest menAnd drive them just as hard and just as longAs they can stand it.
Buck Bentley.
And no troops are sent.
And no troops are sent.
Cries.
(Some militiamen joining in)
That's right!
That's right!
Workmen.
No troops for us! No troops for us!
No troops for us! No troops for us!
(This cry is caught up by the crowd and is carried on back through the mill. Chadbourne looks at the militiamen and unbuttons his overcoat and feels about in his pockets)
Harry Egerton.
Pardon me, General, if I speak right out,But I've seen wages lowered to buy lands,And I've seen bread taken from these men hereTo gamble with. There are some things, General Chadbourne,That can't go on. We've but one life to liveAnd we just can't stand by and see some thingsAnd live. It's not worth while, it's not worth while.
Pardon me, General, if I speak right out,But I've seen wages lowered to buy lands,And I've seen bread taken from these men hereTo gamble with. There are some things, General Chadbourne,That can't go on. We've but one life to liveAnd we just can't stand by and see some thingsAnd live. It's not worth while, it's not worth while.
Buck Bentley.
And while you're here I want to say a word,For possibly we won't see you any more,And they'll be asking of us up the State.I never thought of it——
And while you're here I want to say a word,For possibly we won't see you any more,And they'll be asking of us up the State.I never thought of it——
General Chadbourne.
(Handing Haskell a notebook)
Take down their names.
Take down their names.
Buck Bentley.
Till Mr. Egerton made his talk that day;But it's a fact and it stares you in the face:When Companies are wronged, or think they are,They touch the wires and the troops are sent,But when the men are wronged, or think they are,It's 'legal remedies.'
Till Mr. Egerton made his talk that day;But it's a fact and it stares you in the face:When Companies are wronged, or think they are,They touch the wires and the troops are sent,But when the men are wronged, or think they are,It's 'legal remedies.'
Sam Williams.
That's well put, Comrade.
That's well put, Comrade.
Harvey Anderson.
That don't mean anything.
That don't mean anything.
First Militiaman.
(To Haskell)
John Stamper.
John Stamper.
First Guard.
IGuess you know me.
IGuess you know me.
Second Militiaman.
And you can take mine, too.
And you can take mine, too.
Harvey Anderson.
Who ever saw the like of this before!
Who ever saw the like of this before!
Third Militiaman.
Kelley.
Kelley.
Second Guard.
And mine.
And mine.
Harry Egerton.
A hundred years from nowThey'll write them in the larger book of Fame.
A hundred years from nowThey'll write them in the larger book of Fame.
Fourth Militiaman.
This is the third time we've been out this year.
This is the third time we've been out this year.
Harvey Anderson.
You look like Israel Putnam and Paul Jones.
You look like Israel Putnam and Paul Jones.
Buck Bentley.
We came down here to see the square thing done;But it's got to work both ways.
We came down here to see the square thing done;But it's got to work both ways.
Sixth Militiaman.
And mine.
And mine.
Seventh Militiaman.
And mine.
And mine.
Harvey Anderson.
(To Chadbourne)
You're all right, partner, only you don't seeThe inside of this thing that's happened here.The day's gone by when two or three big menCould ride her to and fro for their own gainAnd lay her up and starve the crew. That's past.We're going to take the flags down of the Kings,Kings of Lumber, Kings of Cotton, Kings of Coal,From one end to the other of this land,And we'll all be Americans, North and SouthAnd East and West until you touch the seas.And there's the thing that's going to fly the mast.
You're all right, partner, only you don't seeThe inside of this thing that's happened here.The day's gone by when two or three big menCould ride her to and fro for their own gainAnd lay her up and starve the crew. That's past.We're going to take the flags down of the Kings,Kings of Lumber, Kings of Cotton, Kings of Coal,From one end to the other of this land,And we'll all be Americans, North and SouthAnd East and West until you touch the seas.And there's the thing that's going to fly the mast.
(Points to the flag on the floor)
And when she climbs you'll hear the guns go offAnnouncing a new Independence here.
And when she climbs you'll hear the guns go offAnnouncing a new Independence here.
(Tremendous cheering)
(Two militiamen are seen coming up the stairs, the one loaded with blankets, the other with ten or twelve rifles)
General Chadbourne.
(To Harry Egerton)
And this is final, eh?
And this is final, eh?
Voice.
(From the crowd)
We'll hold the mill!
We'll hold the mill!
Workmen.
(Catching sight of the two militiamen)
And the mine too! That's right! And the mine too!
And the mine too! That's right! And the mine too!
(Tremendous cheering)
Harry Egerton.
If you have any way to guaranteeThat these men who have worked here many yearsAnd faithfully, as I know, will have their rightTo work respected and at an honest wage,And that while there are profits to be sharedThere'll be no starving time among these men——
If you have any way to guaranteeThat these men who have worked here many yearsAnd faithfully, as I know, will have their rightTo work respected and at an honest wage,And that while there are profits to be sharedThere'll be no starving time among these men——
General Chadbourne.
Don't think because you're Mr. EgertonThat you're immune. You'll find the laws the sameWhether you're Mr. Egerton or not.
Don't think because you're Mr. EgertonThat you're immune. You'll find the laws the sameWhether you're Mr. Egerton or not.
(Starts for the stairs)
If need be I'll call out ten thousand men.
If need be I'll call out ten thousand men.
Voice.
(Back in the mill)
Bring on the Constitution and let's vote!
Bring on the Constitution and let's vote!
Fifth Militiaman.
(With the paper)
You'll have your hands full if reports are true.
You'll have your hands full if reports are true.
Harry Egerton.
We none of us can tell what men will do.The times are changing and the days bring light.
We none of us can tell what men will do.The times are changing and the days bring light.
General Chadbourne.
You mean you'll stir up mutiny again?
You mean you'll stir up mutiny again?
Harry Egerton.
I'll see they get the truth, then let them choose.That is a right we all have, General Chadbourne.
I'll see they get the truth, then let them choose.That is a right we all have, General Chadbourne.
General Chadbourne.
You'll have no chance to see them.
You'll have no chance to see them.
(Goes down the stairs, the two guards leading the way)
Harry Egerton.
Very well.Just say to Governor Braddock it's with him.We'll keep right on at work. The gates shall beOpen and the men shall come and go.
Very well.Just say to Governor Braddock it's with him.We'll keep right on at work. The gates shall beOpen and the men shall come and go.
Captain Haskell.
(To two militiamen who are busy stringing the flag on the rope)
Damn pretty men you are to raise a flag.You ought to have a red one.
Damn pretty men you are to raise a flag.You ought to have a red one.
First Militiaman.
Go on, Haskell.
Go on, Haskell.
Second Militiaman.
We'll see what kind of men dare take it down.
We'll see what kind of men dare take it down.
Captain Haskell.
Wait till Court Martial sits.
Wait till Court Martial sits.
(Disappears down the stairs. There is a movement of the workmen back into the mill)
Harvey Anderson.
(Shouting)
Now let's to work!
Now let's to work!
(The militiamen gather left, and to some of them the rifles, knapsacks, etc., are distributed. Buck Bentley, who has taken the bugles in his hands, walks to and fro)
Harvey Anderson.
You'd better be off, Bentley, don't you think?They'll turn Hell upside down to get that mine.
You'd better be off, Bentley, don't you think?They'll turn Hell upside down to get that mine.
Buck Bentley.
He wanted to say something to me.
He wanted to say something to me.
Harvey Anderson.
(Calls rear left to Harry Egerton, who is engaged with Dicey, a number of workmen being gathered about them)
Partner!
Partner!
(They stand silent, watching the group)
Buck Bentley.
Harry's too easy with him.
Harry's too easy with him.
A Workman.
(Leaving the group and passing rear, calls to Anderson)
The same old sore.
The same old sore.
Harvey Anderson.
You've noticed any change these past few days?
You've noticed any change these past few days?
Buck Bentley.
In Egerton, you mean? Ain't it the strainOf breaking with his family?
In Egerton, you mean? Ain't it the strainOf breaking with his family?
(Harry Egerton starts toward them, but Dicey keeps after him, the men following)
Buck Bentley.
(To Anderson, who has turned aside and half pulled from his inside pocket a legal looking document)
What——
What——
Harvey Anderson.
His will.
His will.
Harry Egerton.
(To Dicey)
It's a new day, my friend, a glorious day.
It's a new day, my friend, a glorious day.
Voice.
(Back in the mill)
'Twill soon be night!
'Twill soon be night!
Harry Egerton.
Try to forget the pastAnd everything except that we are menWorking together for the good of all.
Try to forget the pastAnd everything except that we are menWorking together for the good of all.
Wes Dicey.
That ain't the point though, Mr. Egerton.
That ain't the point though, Mr. Egerton.
Sam Williams.
You've got your vote, Wes, same as we have ours,You and your friends have. Why ain't that enough?Or is it that you think the few should rule?
You've got your vote, Wes, same as we have ours,You and your friends have. Why ain't that enough?Or is it that you think the few should rule?
Wes Dicey.
There's got to be good feelin' all aroundIf it's to hold together as you say;It's got to be plumbed well. And I don't see,If it's to be a workers' commonwealth,How you can keep the mine out. Course it's yoursAnd in a way you can do as you please,That is, if you was like most men you could;But bein' different, standin' for the right,We don't just see how you can say 'We'll keepThe mine out and devote it to the Cause.'If the boys ain't the Cause, tell us what is.Maybe it's as we're ignorant and don't know.
There's got to be good feelin' all aroundIf it's to hold together as you say;It's got to be plumbed well. And I don't see,If it's to be a workers' commonwealth,How you can keep the mine out. Course it's yoursAnd in a way you can do as you please,That is, if you was like most men you could;But bein' different, standin' for the right,We don't just see how you can say 'We'll keepThe mine out and devote it to the Cause.'If the boys ain't the Cause, tell us what is.Maybe it's as we're ignorant and don't know.
Harry Egerton.
Please do not put things in this bitter way.The Cause is what you've fought for all these years,A chance to live a freer, larger life.But in this struggle are you men alone?And shall we as we climb to better thingsReach down no help to others, but hold fastTo all we get?
Please do not put things in this bitter way.The Cause is what you've fought for all these years,A chance to live a freer, larger life.But in this struggle are you men alone?And shall we as we climb to better thingsReach down no help to others, but hold fastTo all we get?
Several.
No! No!
No! No!
Harry Egerton.
Would that be right?
Would that be right?
Wes Dicey.
Another point. For years and years we've hadA Union here, and when the fight came on,'Twas as a Union that we made the fight.And Sam knows this is true, 'twas not so muchThe cut in wages, though, that took our strength,As 'twas their breakin' of the Union upAs made us say 'By God, we'll fight or die.'Ain't that true, boys?
Another point. For years and years we've hadA Union here, and when the fight came on,'Twas as a Union that we made the fight.And Sam knows this is true, 'twas not so muchThe cut in wages, though, that took our strength,As 'twas their breakin' of the Union upAs made us say 'By God, we'll fight or die.'Ain't that true, boys?
Two Or Three.
That's true.
That's true.
Wes Dicey.
And then you comeAnd took the stand you did as they'd no rightTo make slaves of us, closin' of the gatesTo make us knuckle down. And you said 'Come,'And the boys followed you, and here they are.And many of 'em, if I sound 'em right,Are wonderin' what we're here for. I'll ask SamIf he's in favor of the Open Shop.
And then you comeAnd took the stand you did as they'd no rightTo make slaves of us, closin' of the gatesTo make us knuckle down. And you said 'Come,'And the boys followed you, and here they are.And many of 'em, if I sound 'em right,Are wonderin' what we're here for. I'll ask SamIf he's in favor of the Open Shop.
Sam Williams.
We formed our Union, Wes, when we were slaves,Same as in war times armies are called out.But when the war is over they go back.
We formed our Union, Wes, when we were slaves,Same as in war times armies are called out.But when the war is over they go back.
Wes Dicey.
'Go back.'
'Go back.'
Sam Williams.
We're free men now.
We're free men now.
Chris Knudson.
We've no foe nowExcept ourselves.
We've no foe nowExcept ourselves.
Wes Dicey.
All of which means you'll voteIn favor of admittin' every manTo full rights here.
All of which means you'll voteIn favor of admittin' every manTo full rights here.
Harvey Anderson.
Look here, pard——
Look here, pard——
Wes Dicey.
Are you Sam?
Are you Sam?
Harvey Anderson.
If it's the soldier boys you're knocking at,They don't intend to stay, most of them don't.But as I think they'll be invited to.
If it's the soldier boys you're knocking at,They don't intend to stay, most of them don't.But as I think they'll be invited to.
(Cheers)
Didn't they leavetheirUnion?
Didn't they leavetheirUnion?
A Militiaman.
The damned dog.
The damned dog.
Sam Williams.
I mean to vote, Wes, for that Living MillThat Mr. Egerton has told us of.For that's the thing, or something like that thing,We've worked for all these years. And now it's come,A place where we can work and be free men,Having a say in things, as Harvey says,God help us if we can't get on as friends.
I mean to vote, Wes, for that Living MillThat Mr. Egerton has told us of.For that's the thing, or something like that thing,We've worked for all these years. And now it's come,A place where we can work and be free men,Having a say in things, as Harvey says,God help us if we can't get on as friends.
(Jim King takes Dicey aside, where Masters joins them)
Harry Egerton.
(Coming to Bentley and the militiamen)
I want to thank you, Bentley, and you men,I want to thank you for the help you've been.You've played the noblest part I ever knew.
I want to thank you, Bentley, and you men,I want to thank you for the help you've been.You've played the noblest part I ever knew.
Buck Bentley.
We followed you.
We followed you.
Harry Egerton.
No. We have interests here,The rest of us have interests here; we've homesAnd families, and the fight was ours. But you,You'd never seen a one of us before.And you came here honorable men, and nowYou're traitors through the State, and mutineers.
No. We have interests here,The rest of us have interests here; we've homesAnd families, and the fight was ours. But you,You'd never seen a one of us before.And you came here honorable men, and nowYou're traitors through the State, and mutineers.
Buck Bentley.
It's all right.
It's all right.
Harry Egerton.
Yes, indeed, it is all right.
Yes, indeed, it is all right.
Fifth Militiaman.
They'll be more, too.
They'll be more, too.
Sixth Militiaman.
He'll never call them out.
He'll never call them out.
Harry Egerton.
You've helped to make the history of this land,And there's not one of you will not be knownAnd honored for it.
You've helped to make the history of this land,And there's not one of you will not be knownAnd honored for it.
A Militiaman.
Half as much as you.
Half as much as you.
Harry Egerton.
And now a little toast before you go.
And now a little toast before you go.
(Shakes hands with them)
Bentley, Kelley, Stamper, and you all,Sam, and you, Harvey, Chris, and Mike, and Wes,You'll join us, you and Jim and Rome?
Bentley, Kelley, Stamper, and you all,Sam, and you, Harvey, Chris, and Mike, and Wes,You'll join us, you and Jim and Rome?
(The three remain aside talking together)
Harry Egerton.
And you,And you back there, you of the Living Mill—For all time, shall we say it?
And you,And you back there, you of the Living Mill—For all time, shall we say it?
Subdued Voices.
For all time.
For all time.
Harry Egerton.
(With a swift glance toward Dicey, King and Masters)
And give our lives, if need be, for this thing?
And give our lives, if need be, for this thing?
Subdued Voices.
And give our lives, if need be, for this thing.
And give our lives, if need be, for this thing.
Harry Egerton.
This is a glorious day.
This is a glorious day.
Militiamen.
(Leaving)
So long! So long!
So long! So long!
Harry Egerton.
Wherever men get free they'll think of us.
Wherever men get free they'll think of us.
Workmen.
So long! So long!
So long! So long!
Buck Bentley.
And there was something else.The General came while you were speaking.
And there was something else.The General came while you were speaking.
Harry Egerton.
Ah!
Ah!
Buck Bentley.
Something about some bugles you said get.
Something about some bugles you said get.
Harry Egerton.
Yes, I forgot. I meant to show you theseThat a Committee brought this afternoon.
Yes, I forgot. I meant to show you theseThat a Committee brought this afternoon.
(Takes a paper from his pocket)
Read them in the meeting, Harvey.
Read them in the meeting, Harvey.
Cries.
Read them now!
Read them now!
Harry Egerton.
Some resolutions of the citizens,Who are glad we've gone on peaceably to work.And if at any time we need their help——
Some resolutions of the citizens,Who are glad we've gone on peaceably to work.And if at any time we need their help——
Sam Williams.
(Taking a bugle and holding it up to the crowd)
The citizens say blow these if we need help!Because we've gone on peaceably to work.
The citizens say blow these if we need help!Because we've gone on peaceably to work.
(Cheers)
It's work, you see, that wins, comrades.
It's work, you see, that wins, comrades.
Chris Knudson.
That's right.
That's right.
Harry Egerton.
I trust, though, that they'll never need to blow.
I trust, though, that they'll never need to blow.
Buck Bentley.
'Twill set the land on fire if they do.
'Twill set the land on fire if they do.
A Workman.
The workingmen throughout the State will hear.
The workingmen throughout the State will hear.
Harvey Anderson.