Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RHYS LEWIS. 117
immediately surrounded by their fello-w-workmen, eaca in-
quiring of the other whether they had been paid off. Morris
Hughes desired Bob to speak. He did so as follows— and I, who
yield to no man living in correctly relating what I myself have
heard (for if I am vain of anything, it is of my memory), bear
most solemn witness that he never said a single word beyond
those which I now reproduce : —
"My dear fellow-workmen," Bob began. "I and my
associates have been paid off. We bid a last farewell to Bed
Fields, and turn our faces elsewhere to look for employment."
Before he could say any more some of the men began execra-
ting the management, whereupon the two police officers inter-
posed, with a request that they should go off quietly home.
Both were unceremoniously thrust aside, and Bob was asked,
with a shout, to go on. He accordingly proceeded: —
"We leave you with an easy conscience. We have done
nothing wrong, and we trust no one will condemn us for
publicly repeating the conviction we held in private, that we
were unfairly and unjustly treated. You must now fight for
your rights without help from us ; but wherever we go to, your
welfare and your success will always lie near to our hearts. I
am not unconscious of the fact that there are before me scores
of men older, wiser, and more experienced, than I ; but permit
me to give you a word of advice. Take care not to do anything
of which you may be ashamed hereafter. Be led by the wisest
of your number, and, in battUng for your rights, do so as men
endowed with reason, who are to be called to account hereafter
for all your actions. I think, and my friends here agree with
me, that your best plan will be to lay your complaints before
the directors in person. In Abraham Jones's time, if there was
anything for which we wanted a remedy, all we had to do
was to place the matter before him, and it would be sure of care-
ful consideration. But I fear it would be useless for you to
appeal to Mr. Strangle, because "
Unfortunately, while Mr. Strangle's name was on Bob's lips,
that individual came out of the office, and looked frowningly at
the crowd. No sooner did he make his appearance than scores
of throats opened out upon him, like a pack of hounds in full
cry. A fierce rush was made towards him. and he was carried