Without somebody to do
precisely what he is doing we should get no satisfactory result."
"It is just team-work!" put in Theo.
"That's it--team-work; team-work and nothing else. And just as in
athletics some men better adapted for batting, catching, running, and
kicking are singled out for the posts of fielder, shortstop, or
tackle but contribute equally to the game, so it is with the men in a
factory. Some day the world is going to accept that creed and pay to
every human being a living wage; not, perhaps, because what he is
doing is skilled or difficult; but because it is indispensable and we
cannot do without that particular rung in the labor ladder. Some one
must fill that post, and he who does it should be respected and
compensated because he is necessary to civilization and to our
national prosperity."
Mr. Croyden caught his breath and then laughed in confusion.
"The idea of my giving you a lecture on the labor question, Theo," he
said flushing. "I always get hot on the matter, for it is one of my
hobbies. Next time when you hear me getting started just slow me down
and let me cool off. You see it is pretty close to my heart, because
I have been attempting to work out some of its difficult phases here
in my own mills.
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