terms with the enemy, that's what you've done. You've sold out the cause
of labor, of all labor. You are leaving the battle-field like cowards."

"I'm not saying anything," O'Connor answered sullenly. "Only I guess we
know what's best for us a little bit better than you do."

"And you don't care a cent for what is best for the rest of labor. You
kick it into the ditch."

"I'm not saying anything," O'Connor replied, "except that I'm president
of the Machinists' Association, and it's my business to consider the
interests of the men I represent, that's all."

And then, when the labor leaders had left, Ernest, with the calmness of
defeat, outlined to me the course of events to come.

"The socialists used to foretell with joy," he said, "the coming of the
day when organized labor, defeated on the industrial field, would come
over on to the political field. Well, the Iron Heel has defeated
the labor unions on the industrial field and driven them over to the
political field; and instead of this being joyful for us, it will be
a source of grief. The Iron Heel learned its lesson. We showed it our
power in the general strike. It has taken steps to prevent another
general strike."

"But how?" I asked.

"Simply by subsidizing the great unions. They won't join in the next
general strike. Therefore it won't be a general strike."