"Gentlemen, I am afraid you may think I do things with a high hand.

But I have been at this engineering business just long enough to know that I must banish all serious vices from a camp of laborers if I hope to get the best results in work out of the men.

So I must tackle some problems rather stiffly, and use my fists when I'm driven to a corner." "I am not thoroughly satisfied of the wisdom of your course," said Mr.
Bascomb slowly.
"Sorry to disagree with you, Bascomb," broke in the treasurer, "but I've had some experience in handling what is called wild labor, and I believe that Reade goes at it in just the right way.

I don't believe there are really fifty really wild or troublesome men in that camp.

The few bad ones usually start trouble going, and then the good ones are driven into it.
Let Reade stop the vices over yonder, in the way that he wants to, and the worst of the crowd will call for their time and leave camp.