On the other hand, he knew full well that men were apt to be suspicious of welfare schemes "promoted from above." His own hockey men he felt sure he could carry with him.

If he could only win McNish to be his sergeant-major, success would be assured.

This must be his first care.
He well knew that McNish had no love for Simmons, whom the Scotchman despised first, because he was no craftsman, and chiefly because he had no soundly-based system of economics but was governed by the sheerest opportunism in all his activities.

A combination between McNish and Simmons might create a situation not easy to deal with.

Jack resolved that that combination should be prevented.