United States declared this law to be unconstitutional.  In part the decision read:  “There is no reasonable ground for interfering with the liberty of persons or the right of free contract by determining the hours of labor in the occupation of a baker.”

“You run ahead too fast,” O’Connor answered.  “You don’t know all the ways out.  There is another way out.  We know what we’re about.  We’re sick of strikes.  They’ve got us beaten that way to a frazzle.  But I don’t think we’ll ever need to call our men out again.”

“What is your way out?” Ernest demanded bluntly.

O’Connor laughed and shook his head.  “I can tell you this much:  We’ve not been asleep.  And we’re not dreaming now.”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, or ashamed of, I hope,” Ernest challenged.

“I guess we know our business best,” was the retort.

“It’s a dark business, from the way you hide it,” Ernest said with growing anger.

“We’ve paid for our experience in sweat and blood, and we’ve earned all that’s coming to us,” was the reply.  “Charity begins at home.”

“If you’re afraid to tell me your way out, I’ll tell it to you.”  Ernest’s blood was up.  “You’re going in for grab-sharing.  You’ve made terms with the enemy, that’s what you’ve done.  You’ve sold out the cause of labor, of all labor.  You are leaving the battle-field like cowards.”

“I’m not saying anything,” O’Connor answered sullenly.  “Only I guess we know what’s best for us a little bit better than you do.”

“And you don’t care a cent for what is best for the rest of labor.  You kick it into the ditch.”

“I’m not saying anything,” O’Connor replied, “except that I’m president of the Machinists’ Association, and it’s my business to consider the interests of the men I represent, that’s all.”

And then, when the labor leaders had left, Ernest, with the calmness of defeat, outlined to me the course of events to come.

“The socialists used to foretell with joy,” he said, “the coming of the day when organized labor, defeated on the industrial field, would come over on to the political field.  Well, the Iron Heel has defeated the labor unions on the industrial field and driven them over to the political field; and instead of this being joyful for us, it will be a source of grief.  The Iron Heel learned its lesson.  We showed it our power in the general strike.  It has taken steps to prevent another general strike.”

“But how?” I asked.

“Simply by subsidizing the great unions.  They won’t join in the next general strike.  Therefore it won’t be a general strike.”

“But the Iron Heel can’t maintain so costly a programme forever,” I objected.

“Oh, it hasn’t subsidized all of the unions.  That’s not necessary.  Here is what is going to happen.  Wages are going to be advanced and hours shortened in the railroad unions, the iron and steel workers unions, and the engineer and machinist unions.  In these unions more favorable conditions will continue to prevail.  Membership in these unions will become like seats in Paradise.”