"You do it." The men were paid monthly checks and had never heard any complaint from their landlords and grocerymen who were willing to wait for their pay.
The complaint had been made by a few outsiders who wanted to see money circulate faster in town and thus boom things up a bit.

They had aroused the strike spirit of the men by speeches like this: "The bosses own you body and soul.

They regard you as slaves.

Your work makes them rich and yet they won't pay for your work.

While they are piling up profits you go around without a nickel in your jeans.