Then began the calling of witnesses. There were plenty of them indeed who had heard the defendant say that in his opinion the wage system was all wrong, that wealth obtained from the product of labor should be fairly divided between the capitalist and the workman, and that his sympathies in the present industrial conflict were entirely with the men, all of whom should be permitted to resume their old places on their own terms. There was more evidence to the effect that McCormack had declared that the President and the Congress were but pawns in the hands of wealth, and that the present political system was but an instrument for the exploitation of labor. It was all very crude, sophomoric and harmless, but it had about it an air of disloyalty that was distinctly damaging to the chances of the young defendant. Then First Sergeant Ben Barriscale was called to the stand as a witness for the prosecution. He could do little more than to repeat, in substance, the evidence already given, but he made it stronger, more direct, more convincing. He laid especial stress on the attitude of the defendant toward the parties in the existing strike, his criticism of the owners of the mills, his sympathy with the idle workmen who were threatening revenge and disorder. While the animus of the witness was plain, his testimony was not to be lightly considered. Brownell took him in hand for cross-examination. “You and the defendant were rival candidates last year for the office of first lieutenant, were you not?” “I was a candidate,” replied the witness sharply. “I believe the defendant was one also.” “And the defendant won out?” “By one vote, yes.” “And you felt pretty sore about it?” “I felt humiliated and outraged because his rank was inferior to mine, and, holding the opinions he did and does, he had no right to the office.” “And you declared, at the time of the election, in the presence of the entire company, that either McCormack would be dismissed from the Guard or you would get out of it; that you would refuse to serve in the same company with him; you said that, did you not?” “I did, and I repeat it now. He’s not a fit man for any loyal Guardsman to serve with or under.” Barriscale’s voice, resonant with wrath, reached to every corner of the room. The members of the court glanced at one another in apparent surprise and apprehension. Brownell waved his hand to the witness and said smilingly: “That is all.”