Why single out The Patriot,
specially, Banneker asked.
"Hypocrite," muttered the giant.
At length the reason came out, under pressure: The Patriot had been (in
the words of the labor man) making a big row over the arrest of certain
labor organizers, in one of the recurrent outbreaks against the Steel
Trust, opposed by that organization's systematic and tyrannous method of
oppression. So far, so good. But why hadn't the paper said a word about
the murder of strikers' wives and children out at the Veridian Lumber
Company's mills in Oregon; an outrage far surpassing anything ever laid
to the account of the Steel Trust? Simple reason, answered Banneker;
there had been no news of it over the wires. No; of course there hadn't.
The Amalgamated Wire Association (another tool of capitalism) had
suppressed it; wouldn't let any strike stuff get on the wires that it
could keep off. Then how, asked Banneker, could it be expected--?
McClintick interrupted in his voice of controlled passion; had Mr.
Banneker ever heard of the Chicago Transcript (naming the leading
morning paper); had he ever read it? Well, The Transcript--which, he,
McClintick, hated strongly as an organ of money--nevertheless did
honestly gather and publish news, as he was constrained huskily to
admit.
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