"But -- but--" stammered Jurgis. He had somehow
taken it for granted that he should go out with his union.

"The packers need good men, and need them bad," con~
tinued the other, "and they'll treat a man right that
stands by them. Why don't you take your chance and
fix yourself?"

"But," said Jurgis, "how could I ever be of any use
to you -- in politics?"

"You couldn't be it anyhow," said Scully, abruptly.

"Why not?" asked Jurgis.

"Hell, man!" cried the other. "Don't you know
you're a Republican? And do you think I'm always going
to elect Republicans? My brewer has found out already
how we served him, and there is the deuce to pay."

Jurgis looked dumfounded. He had never thought of
that aspect of it before. "I could be a Democrat," he said.

"Yes," responded the other, "but not right away; a
man can't change his politics every day. And besides, I
don't need you -- there'd be nothing for you to do. And
it's a long time to election day, anyhow; and what are
you going to do meantime?"

"I thought I could count on you," began Jurgis.

"Yes," responded Scully, "so you could -- I never yet
went back on a friend. But is it fair to leave the job I
got you and come to me for another? I have had a hun~
dred fellows after me today, and what can I do? I've put
seventeen men on the city pay-roll to clean streets this one
week, and do you think I can keep that up forever? It
wouldn't do for me to tell other men what I tell you, but
you've been on the inside, and you ought to have sense
enough to see for yourself. What have you to gain by a
strike?"

"I hadn't thought," said Jurgis.

"Exactly," said Scully, "but you'd better. Take my
word for it, the strike will be over in a few days, and the
men will be beaten; and meantime what you get out of it
will belong to you. Do you see?"

And Jurgis saw. He went back to the yards, and into
the work-room. The men had left a long line of hogs in

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