"In that matter you went too far---altogether
too far!"
"I'm afraid I don't understand you, sir."
"You mean, Reade, that you don't want to understand me," snapped the
president. "You admit having chased out the gamblers, don't you?"
"Of course, I admit it, sir."
"That was a bad move. In the future, Reade, you will not interfere with
any forms of amusement that the men may select for themselves in their
evening hours."
Tom stared at the speaker in undisguised amazement.
"But, Mr. Bascomb, the men are shamelessly robbed by the sharpers who come
here to gamble with them."
"That's the men's own affair," scoffed the president. "Anyway, they have
a right to pitch away their wages if they want to. Reade, when you're as
old as I am you will understand that workmen who throw away their money
make the best workmen. They never have any savings, hence they must make
every effort to keep their jobs. A workman with savings becomes too
independent."
"I am certain you have seen more of the world than I have, Mr. Bascomb,"
Reade replied, respectfully. "At the same time I can't agree with you on
the point you have just stated. A workman with a bank account has always
a greater amount of self-respect, and a man who has self-respect is bound
to make a good citizen and a good workman.
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