ItwasutterlyinvainthatBrotherSimmonsandhiswholefollowingpointedoutunitedlyandsuccessivelytheutterimpossibilityandabsurdityoftheproposalwhichwasunconstitutionalandwithoutprecedent。Thehockeyteamhadthecompanywiththemandwiththebitintheirteethsweptallbeforethem。
Atthispoint，McNishdisplayedthemaster-handthatcomesfromlongexperience。Hesawhisopportunityandseizedit。
“Mr。President，“hesaid，andatoncehereceivedthemostcompleteattention。“Aconfessthisisamostextraordinaryproposal，butA’mgoin’taesupportit。“Theroarthatansweredtoldhimthathehadregainedcontrolofthemeeting。“BrotherSimmonssaysitisunconstitutionalandwithoutprecedent。Heisnocorrectinthis。
Ahaveknownbaithmaistersandmanagerswhoretainedtheirunioncards。Agrantyeitisunusual，butmayIpointootthatthecircumstancesareunusual？“——Wildyellsofapproval——“AndCaptainMaitlandisanunusualman“——louderyellsofapproval——“Itmaythatthereissomethingintheconstitutiono’thisunionthatstandsintheway——“Criesof“No！No！“andconsignmentoftheconstitutiontoanamelesslocality——“Aventuretosuggestthatacommitteebeappointed，consistingofBrothersSykes，Macnamaraandthechairman，wi’poorstaeadd，taegointothismaitterwithCaptainMaitlandandreport。“
Itwasamaster-stroke。Atrueunionmanregardswithvenerationtheconstitutionandhesitatestotamperwithitexceptinaperfectlyconstitutionalmanner。Theoppositiontotheadministration’soriginalresolutionhadgainedwhattheysought，atemporarystay。Thecommitteewasappointedandthedangertoboththeresolutionandtheconstitutionforthepresentaverted。