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It was the most interesting thing. He went down and made a first-class speech, which astonished Bridges. He hadn't believed that Roger Lapham could make such a speech, that he could stand up on his feet before a bunch of longshoremen and be so clear, so unafraid, no normal, so natural, so convincing. He made a first-class speech, couldn't be better. At the end of it they gave him a rousing cheer. Instead of killing him like Mrs. Lapham thought they would, they cheered him to the rafters.

Then Bridges rose. Bridges made a very polite speech in which he said that he thought it was a great day for San Francisco that Roger Lapham made a speech like that to the longshor emen. “We're sure proud to know you, Mr. Lapham, and proud to do business with you.” It was that kind of talk. “But,” he said, “I want to say this for the benefit of these longshoremen, who really have been greatly pleased that you came to tell them. We wish more employers would come and speak to them. But for their benefit, and lest they be confused by some of these things, I want to point out to them what I have pointed out to you, Mr. Lapham, privately.” In other words, he made a short speech in which he said, “Mr. Lapham's a fine fellow, and he's certainly got a better idea of what the labor problems of this country and this