"Quite correct," said I.
"Then, may I ask, sir, without offence, why you've called in Day & Higgins ?" "You may," said I, "and, with or without offence, I'll answer your question.

I've called them in because they're good loyal people.
Higgins has joined the army, and so has Day's eldest boy, while you have been going on like a confounded pro-German." "You've no right to say that, Major Meredyth." "Not when you go over to Godbury"-- the surging metropolis of the County some fifteen miles off--"and tell a pack of fools to strike because this is a capitalists' war?
Not when you go round the mills here, and do your best to stop young fellows from fighting for their country?
God bless my soul, in whose interests are you acting, if not Germany's ?" He put on his best platform manner.

"I'm acting in the best interests of the people of this country.

The war is wrong and incredibly foolish and can bring no advantage to the working man.

Why should he go and be killed or maimed for life?
Will it put an extra penny in his pocket or his widow's?
No.