GIBSON:  I understand you don’t blow the whistle any more.  What hours are you working now?

CARTER:  Well, first we thought we ought to work about six; but we got on such a good basis a good many of them are talkin’ how they think that’s too much.  It’d suit me either way. That ain’t the trouble over at that factory, Mr. Gibson.

GIBSON:  What is the trouble over at that factory?

CARTER [with feeling]:  Mr. Gibson, it’s the inequality.  Look at me now, and look at Simpson.  Simpson and his wife haven’t got a child, and I got seven, every one of ’em to support, and my married daughter lost her husband and got a shock, and I got her and her three little ones pretty much on my hands.  And Simpson draws down every cent as much as what I do; just exactly the same.  And if the truth was told he don’t work as much as what I do.  Then, look at them bachelors; they ain’t got nobody to support!  Well, that’s got to be settled!

GIBSON:  How are you going to settle it?

CARTER [cheerfully]:  Oh, the committee meetin’ settles everything by vote.  I’d of put a motion about these matters at some o’ the meetings long ago except I’m chairman and they worked a rule on me the chairman can’t put motions.  But some of us got it fixed up to git it put over at the meeting to-morrow.  That’s the big meeting to-morrow—­the monthly one.  Don’t misunderstand me, Mr. Gibson; I ain’t makin’ no complaint about these here details, because everything else is so splendid and prosperous it seems like this here New Dawn Mr. Mifflin called it in his article.

GIBSON:  Nothing else worries you then, Carter?

CARTER:  Nothing else in the world, Mr. Gibson.  Except there might be some of ’em don’t take their responsibilities the way I could wish.  Fact is, there’s so much talkin’ gits to goin’ over there sometimes you can’t hear yourself work.  Me?  I’m an honest worker, if I work for you or work for myself.  But I can’t claim they’re all that way.  Some that used to loaf, you can’t claim they don’t loaf more than they did; yes, sir!

GIBSON:  They get just the same as you do, though, don’t they?

CARTER:  Oh, yes!  That’s the sinee que none; it’s the brotherhood between comrades.  I don’t mean to complain, but they’s one thing that don’t look to me just fair.  It took me four years to learn my trade and I’m a skilled workman, and now some Hunnyacks that just sends strips along through a chute—­and it’s all they do know how to do—­they used to git two and a half a day to my six, but this way we both git just the same.  I says something about it didn’t seem right to me, and one them Hunnyacks called me a boor-jaw.  Well, then I talked to Miss Gorodna about it.

GIBSON:  What did Miss Gorodna say?

CARTER:  Miss Gorodna says:  “But you both get enough, don’t you?”

GIBSON:  Well, don’t you?

CARTER [scratching his head]:  Yes, plenty; and it sounds all right, them and me gittin’ the same; but I can’t just seem to work it out in my mind how it is right. [Cheering up.] Mr. Mifflin says himself, though, it’s just wonderful!  And we certainly are makin’ great money!