按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
or
‘Vote for D'Encloseland： Tariff Reform and Plenty of Work！'
This beautiful idea … ‘Plenty of Work' … appealed strongly to the Tory workmen。 They seemed to regard themselves and their children as a sort of machines or beasts of burden； created for the purpose of working for the benefit of other people。 They did not think it right that they should Live； and enjoy the benefits of civilization。 All they desired for themselves and their children was ‘Plenty of Work'。
They marched about the streets singing their Marseillaise； ‘Work； Boys； Work and be contented'； to the tune of ‘Tramp； tramp； tramp the Boys are marching'； and at intervals as they tramped along； they gave three cheers for Sir Graball； Tariff Reform； and … Plenty of Work。
Both sides imported gangs of hired orators who held forth every night at the corners of the principal streets； and on the open spaces from portable platforms； and from motor cars and lorries。 The Tories said that the Liberal Party in the House of Commons was composed principally of scoundrels and fools； the Liberals said that the Tory Party were fools and scoundrels。 A host of richly dressed canvassers descended upon Windley in carriages and motor cars； and begged for votes from the poverty…stricken working men who lived there。
One evening a Liberal demonstration was held at the Cross Roads on Windley Hill。 Notwithstanding the cold weather； there was a great crowd of shabbily dressed people； many of whom had not had a really good meal for months。 It was a clear night。 The moon was at the full； and the scene was further illuminated by the fitful glare of several torches； stuck on the end of twelve…foot poles。 The platform was a large lorry； and there were several speakers； including Adam Sweater himself and a real live Liberal Peer … Lord Ammenegg。 This individual had made a considerable fortune in the grocery and provision line； and had been elevated to the Peerage by the last Liberal Government on account of his services to the Party； and in consideration of other considerations。
Both Sweater and Ammenegg were to speak at two other meetings that night and were not expected at Windley until about eight…thirty； so to keep the ball rolling till they arrived； several other gentlemen； including Rushton … who presided … and Didlum； and one of the five pounds a week orators； addressed the meeting。 Mingled with the crowd were about twenty rough…looking men … strangers to the town … who wore huge green rosettes and loudly applauded the speakers。 They also distributed Sweater literature and cards with lists of the different meetings that were to be held during the election。 These men were bullies hired by Sweater's agent。 They came from the neighbourhood of Seven Dials in London and were paid ten shillings a day。 One of their duties was to incite the crowd to bash anyone who disturbed the meetings or tried to put awkward questions to the speakers。
The hired orator was a tall； slight man with dark hair； beard and moustache； he might have been called well…looking if it had not been for a ugly scar upon his forehead； which gave him a rather sinister appearance。 He was an effective speaker； the audience punctuated his speech with cheers； and when he wound up with an earnest appeal to them … as working men … to vote for Adam Sweater； their enthusiasm knew no bounds。
‘I've seen him somewhere before；' remarked Barrington； who was standing in the crowd with Harlow； Owen and Easton。
‘So have I；' said Owen； with a puzzled expression。 ‘But for the life of me； I can't remember where。'
Harlow and Easton also thought they had seen the man before； but their speculations were put an end to by the roar of cheering that heralded the arrival of the motor car； containing Adam Sweater and his friend； Lord Ammenegg。 Unfortunately； those who had arranged the meeting had forgotten to provide a pair of steps； so Sweater found it a matter of considerable difficulty to mount the platform。 However； while his friends were hoisting and pushing him up； the meeting beguiled the time by singing：
‘Vote； vote； vote for Adam Sweater。'
After a terrible struggle they succeeded in getting him on to the cart； and while he was recovering his wind； Rushton made a few remarks to the crowd。 Sweater then advanced to the front； but in consequence of the cheering and singing； he was unable to make himself heard for several minutes。
When at length he was able to proceed； ho made a very clever speech … it had been specially written for him and had cost ten guineas。 A large part of it consisted of warnings against the dangers of Socialism。 Sweater had carefully rehearsed this speech and he delivered it very effectively。 Some of those Socialists； he said； were well…meaning but mistaken people； who did not realize the harm that would result if their extraordinary ideas were ever put into practice。 He lowered his voice to a blood…curdling stage whisper as he asked：
‘What is this Socialism that we hear so much about； but which so few understand？ What is it； and what does it mean？'
Then； raising his voice till it rang through the air and fell upon the ears of the assembled multitude like the clanging of a funeral bell； he continued：
‘It is madness！ Chaos！ Anarchy！ It means Ruin！ Black Ruin for the rich； and consequently； of course； Blacker Ruin still for the poor！'
As Sweater paused； a thrill of horror ran through the meeting。 Men wearing broken boots and with patches upon the seats and knees； and ragged fringes round the bottoms of the legs of their trousers； grew pale； and glanced apprehensively at each other。 If ever Socialism did come to pass； they evidently thought it very probable that they would have to walk about in a sort of prehistoric highland costume； without any trousers or boots at all。
Toil…worn women； most of them dressed in other women's shabby cast…off clothing … weary； tired…looking mothers who fed their children for the most part on adulterated tea； tinned skimmed milk and bread and margarine； grew furious as they thought of the wicked Socialists who were trying to bring Ruin upon them。
It never occurred to any of these poor people that they were in a condition of Ruin； Black Ruin； already。 But if Sweater had suddenly found himself reduced to the same social condition as the majority of those he addressed； there is not much doubt that he would have thought that he was in a condition of Black Ruin。
The awful silence that had fallen on the panic…stricken crowd； was presently broken by a ragged…trousered Philanthropist； who shouted out：
‘We knows wot they are； sir。 Most of 'em is chaps wot's got tired of workin' for their livin'； so they wants us to keep 'em。'
Encouraged by numerous expressions of approval from the other Philanthropists； the man continued：
‘But we ain't such fools as they thinks； and so they'll find out next Monday。 Most of 'em wants 'angin'； and I wouldn't mind lendin' a 'and with the rope myself。'
Applause and laughter greeted these noble sentiments； and Sweater resumed his address； when another man … evidently a Socialist … for he was accompanied by three or four others who l