Who can blame them?
If I had been at home, however, I might have been persuaded to open the works, as the superintendent desired, to test whether our old men would go to work as they had promised.

But it should be noted that the works were not opened at first by my partners for new men.

On the contrary, it was, as I was informed upon my return, at the wish of the thousands of our old men that they were opened.

This is a vital point.
My partners were in no way blamable for making the trial so recommended by the superintendent.

Our rule never to employ new men, but to wait for the old to return, had not been violated so far.