DR. JONATHAN. And what do you think George Pindar is fighting for? RENCH. I ain't got nothing to say against him. DR. JONATHAN. If you close down the Pindar Shops, won't it mean that a few more of your friends will lose their lives? These men are fighting for something they don't yet understand, but when they come back they'll know more about it. Why not wait until George Pindar comes back? RENCH. He mayn't never come back. DR. JONATHAN. Give him the opportunity. RENCH. I like George,--he's always been friendly--what we call a common man up here in New England--naturally democratic. But at bottom employers is all alike. What makes you think he won't take his ideas about labour from the old man? DR. JONATHAN. Because he belongs to the generation that fights this war. HILLMAN (shuffling). It ain't no use, doctor. Unless you can bring Mr. Pindar 'round, the shops'll close down. DR. JONATHAN. I can't, but something else can. HILLMAN. What? DR. JONATHAN. Circumstances. No man can swim up stream very long in these days, Hillman. Wait a while, and see. RENCH (rising). We've voted to put this strike through, and by God, we'll do it. FERSEN (rising and shaking hands with DR. JONATHAN). It's fine weather, doctor. RENCH (bursting into a laugh). He's like the man who said, when Congress declared war, “It's a fine day for it!” It's a fine day for a strike! HILLMAN (who has risen, shaking hands with DR. JONATHAN). But you'll talk to Mr. Pindar, anyway? DR. JONATHAN (smiling). Yes, I'll talk with him. (Enter TIMOTHY FARRELL, right, in working clothes.) TIMOTHY. Good morning, doctor. (Surveying the committee.) So it's here ye are, after voting to walk out of the shops just when we're beginning to turn out the machines for the soldiers! RENCH. If we'd done right we'd have called the strike a year ago. TIMOTHY. Fine patriots ye are--as I'm sure the doctor is after telling you--to let the boys that's gone over there be murdered because ye must have your union! HILLMAN. If Mr. Pindar recognizes the union, Timothy, we'll go to work tomorrow. TIMOTHY. He recognize the union! He'll recognize the devil first! Even Dr. Jonathan, with all the persuasion he has, couldn't get Mr. Pindar to recognize the union. He'll close down the shops, and it's hunting a job I'll be, and I here going on thirty years. RENCH. If he closes the shops--what then? The blood of the soldiers'll be on his head, not ours. If there were fewer scabs in the country-- HILLMAN. Hold on, Sam. TIMOTHY. A scab, is it? If I was the government do you know what I'd do with the likes of you--striking in war time? I'd send ye over there to fight the Huns with your bare fists. I'm a workman meself, but I don't hold with traitors. RENCH. Who's a traitor? It's you who are a traitor to your class. If a union card makes a man a traitor, your own son had one in his pocket the day he enlisted.