DR. JONATHAN. He may prefer to lose his contract. RENCH. Well, he can afford to. Then he can go to hell. HILLMAN. Hold on, Sam, that ain't no way to talk to the doctor! RENCH. I didn't mean no disrespect to him. He don't go 'round preachin', like some fellers I could mention, but actions is louder than words. Ain't that the reason we're here, because he sympathizes with us and thinks we're entitled to a little more of this freedom that's bein' handed 'round? We want you to help us, doctor. DR. JONATHAN. It seems to me you've come a little late, Rench,--after the event. HILLMAN. Maybe if you'd said a word, they'd never have voted to strike. FERSEN. But you never said nothing, Doctor. DR. JONATHAN. Well, when you get around to admitting doctors to your labour unions, perhaps they'll talk. HILLMAN. If all the doctors was like you! DR. JONATHAN. Give 'em a chance, Hillman. HILLMAN. We don't have to explain to you why we want the union,--it's the only way we'll ever get a say about the conditions in which we work and live, now that the day of individual bargaining is gone by. You understand. Mr. Pindar raised our wages when we threatened to strike last fall, but he calculates to drop 'em again when the soldiers come home. FERSEN (nodding). Sure thing! HILLMAN. It's this way, doctor. We notice Mr. Pindar comin' in here to see you every day or so,--like the rest of Foxon Falls. And we thought you could make him see this thing straight, if any man could. DR. JONATHAN. So the shops will be idle. RENCH. Not a shaft'll turn over till he recognizes the union. HILLMAN. We don't want to do nothin' to obstruct the war, but we've got to have our rights. DR. JONATHAN. Can you get your rights now, without obstructing the war? RENCH (aggressively). I get what you're driving at, doctor. You're going to say that we've just reached quantity production on these here machines, and if labour gets from under now, the Huns win. But tell me this,--where'll labour be if America wins and our Junkers (he pronounces the J) come out on top?--as they callate to. DR. JONATHAN (smiling). When a building with dry rot catches fire, Rench, can you put limit to how much of it will burn? RENCH (after a pause). Maybe not. I get you--but-- DR. JONATHAN. No nation, no set of men in any nation can quench that fire or make the world that is coming out of this war. They may think they can, but they can't. HILLMAN. That's so! DR. JONATHAN. Germany will be beaten, because it is the temper of the nation, the temper of the times--your temper. You don't want Germany to win, Rench? RENCH. No, I guess not. DR. JONATHAN. And if you don't work here, you'll go off to work somewhere else. RENCH. Where they recognize the union. DR. JONATHAN. A good many of your friends have enlisted, haven't they? (RENCH nods.) And what do you suppose they are fighting for? RENCH. For the same thing as we want, a square deal.