The cheering assumed an even greater violence, then ceased in sudden breathless silence.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said in a slightly bored voice, "this gentleman is Mr.Howard E.Bigelow, a representative of the American Federation of Labour, whom as a member of the Woodworkers' Union, Local 197, I am anxious to hear if you don't mind." He bowed to the visitor, bowed to the audience once more swaying under a tempest of cheers, and, followed by McNish, made his way to his seat.
From the first moment of his speech Mr.Howard E.Bigelow had to fight for a hearing.

The little Cockney was the centre of a well-organised and thoroughly competent body of obstructers who by clever "heckling," by points of order, by insistent questioning, by playing now upon the anti-American string, now upon the anti-Federation string, by ribald laughter, by cheering a happy criticism, completely checked every attempt of the speaker to take flight in his oratory.

The International official was evidently an old hand in this sort of game, but in the hands of these past masters in the art of obstruction he met more than his match.

Maitland was amazed at his patience, his self-control, his adroitness, but they were all in vain.

At last he was forced to appeal to the Chairman for British fair play.