Then, too, there was something in his argument. It was not wise to start educating these Negroes and getting them discontented just now. Ignorant labor was not ideal, but it was worth too much to employers to lose it now. Educated Negro labor might be worth more to Negroes, but not to the cotton combine. ‚ÄúH‚Äôm‚ÅÝ‚Äîwell, then‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù and John Taylor went into a brown study, while Cresswell puffed impatiently at a cigarette.
‚ÄúI have it,‚Äù said Taylor. Cresswell sat up. ‚ÄúFirst, let Mr. ¬ÝEasterly get Smith.‚Äù Easterly turned to the telephone.
“Is that you, Smith?”
‚ÄúWell, this is Easterly.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ Yes‚ÅÝ‚Äîhow about Mrs. ¬ÝGrey‚Äôs education schemes?‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ Yes‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ h‚Äôm‚ÅÝ‚Äîwell‚ÅÝ‚Äîsee here Smith, we must go a little easy there.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ Oh, no, no‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut to advertise just now a big scheme of Negro Education would drive the Cresswells, the Farmers‚Äô League, and the whole business South dead against us.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ Yes, yes indeed; they believe in education all right, but they ain‚Äôt in for training lawyers and professors just yet.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ No, I don‚Äôt suppose her school is.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ Well, then; see here. She‚Äôll be reasonable, won‚Äôt she, and placate the Cresswells?‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ No, I mean run the school to suit their ideas.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ No, no, but in general along the lines which they could approve.‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ Yes, I thought so‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ of course‚ÅÝ‚Ää‚Å݂Ķ goodbye.‚Äù
“Inclined to be a little nasty?” asked Taylor.
‚ÄúA little sharp‚ÅÝ‚Äîbut tractable. Now, Mr. ¬ÝCresswell, the thing is in your hands. We‚Äôll get this committee which Taylor suggests appointed, and send it on a junket to Alabama; you do the rest‚ÅÝ‚Äîsee?‚Äù