The Brigand's Cave
'Obscurer' setting forth this view. He pointed out that a halfpenny rate in that town would produce a sum of £800, which would be more than sufficient to provide food for all the hungry school children. In the next issue of the paper several other letters appeared from leading citizens, including, of course, Sweater, Rushton, Didlum and Grinder, ridiculing the proposal of the Trades' Council, who were insultingly alluded to as 'pothouse politicians,' 'beer-sodden agitators,' and so forth. Their right to be regarded as representatives of the working men was denied, and Grinder, who, having made enquiries amongst the working men, was acquainted with the facts, stated that there was scarcely one of the local branches of the trades unions which had more than a dozen members; and as Grinder's statement was true, the secretary was unable to contradict it. The majority of the working men were also very indignant when they heard about the secretary's letter: they said the rates were quite high enough as it was, and they sneered at him for presuming to write to the papers at all.
'Who the bloody 'ell was e'?' they said. ''E was not a gentleman! 'E was only a workin' man the same as themselves—a common carpenter! What the 'ell did 'e know about it? Nothing. 'E was just trying to make 'isself out to be Somebody, that was all. The idea of one of the likes of them writing to the papers!'
One afternoon when Crass, Harlow, Philpot and Easton were talking together in the street, they presently caught sight of Owen across the way. They had been discussing the secretary's letter and the halfpenny rate, and as Owen was one of the members of the Trades' Council Crass suggested that they should go and tackle him about it.
'How much is your house assessed at?' asked Owen, after listening for about a quarter of an hour to Grass's objections.
'Fourteen pound,' replied Crass.
'That means that you would have to pay sevenpence per year if we had a halfpenny rate. Wouldn't it be worth sevenpence a year to you to know that there were no starving children in the town?'
'Why should I 'ave to 'elp to keep the children of a man who's too lazy to work, or spends all 'is money on drink?' shouted Crass. ''Ow are yer goin' to make out about the likes o' them?'
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