The Project Gutenberg EBook of Benefactor, by George H. Smith

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Title: Benefactor

Author: George H. Smith

Release Date: May 20, 2009 [EBook #28892]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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_We can anticipate that robots will be fiercely resented, at first,
in a society that will see them as the latest--and an
indestructible--widespread threat to the workers whom they will
replace. The men who will seek to alter the status quo will be
called "robot lovers" and stoned. But what happens next?_

benefactor

_by ... George H. Smith_

He clutched at the lever with more force than he'd
intended. It was set for further in the future....

"They're crazy! They're insane! That mob outside is made up of madmen,"
Jacob Clark told his young assistant, Bill Towney.

"They'll be battering at the door any minute now, sir," Towney said
nervously.

"But why? Why are they doing it? My inventions have advanced the world a
hundred years. I've always been a benefactor of man, not a destroyer."

"It's the robots. People are in a rage because they say the robots cause
unemployment by replacing workers."

"It's utter nonsense, you know," Clark said impatiently. "Why can't they
see that my intelligent, self-controlled robots are the greatest boon
the human race has ever received from one man?"

"I don't know, sir, but they don't." Towney paused as the shouting and
pounding outside became more intense. "They demanded that you take the
robots out of the labor market and order your factories to stop making
them. This is the result of your refusal."

"DOWN WITH CLARK! DOWN WITH THE TIN MEN! DEATH TO THE ROBOT LOVERS!"
The furious mob was battering at the door now.

"Really, sir," Towney said, "you should leave here. They'll kill you if
you don't!"

"Leave here? I should say not. I'll defy the fools. I'll tell them what
I've done for them and make them understand." He glanced nervously at
the door. "Besides there's only one door. I couldn't get away n