The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-06-10

of in the price of flour had made the
business unremunerative this season,
but old John Cardiff, rather than
throw his men out of work, determined
to keep the mills going even at q loss
| to himself But the men about the
same time demanded an increase in
their wages, and the gru6 owner had
to explain that he couldn't listen to
such demand for the present He
told his employees that he was losing
money right along by keeping the mills
running: but they did not believe it
Matters kept growing worse until
| they eliminated in the strike. The
| men were all assembled around one OF
| the largest mills when Ernest arrived
upon the scene He had sent Daisy up
| to the old mansion to acquaint his
| uncle with the condition OF affairs
The groups of men separated when
Ernest appeared before them. as II they
felt guilty about something, for there
| was not one on the place who did not
like the young superintendent.
The mills had already stopped run
| ming. and the great waterwheels, fam
| tastically covered with green moss and
| weeds. stood silent and immovable as
| the pent-up waters trickled gently over
| them.
What's the meaning of this. men?"
| Ernest asked, knowing full well what
| it all meant, but unable to say any
| thing else for the moment
I'VE won't go to work, sir. again
at the present rate of wages" replied
Jim Hardy. the ringleader of the strik-
| ing mill-meu. I'VE must have more
wages"
| Ernest bit his lip in vexation, fo- Jim
Hardy was character not very we'll
liked. and one whose past history was
a mystery to all. He had been tramp
once. and he loved drink better than
work any day.
Didn't my uncle explain to you why
he couldn't raise your wages?' the
young superintendent asked Hes
running the mills at loss now. All Of
the others on the river have stopped.
and he only keeps these going to keep
his employees in work"
.'Bosh, That won't 60 down. y
laughed Jim Hardy. harshly. We've
heerd that kind of talk before"
We'll. it's the truth" exclaimed Err
nest, holly, land if you doubt my word
you can leave these mills at once. We
won't take you back under any cir
cumstances- Step into the office and
III pay you off"
See that? Didn't I tell you 500"
exclaimed Hardy. with grim smile.
The youngster is IN league with the old
man. Both of EN- are tryin' to grind us
under foot. But we won't stand it.
Down with the capitalists and their
hounds. Down with them
The men shouted feebly at these re-
marks, and appeared ready to sup
port their leader only in halfhearted
/ way.
Ernest made an appeal to the others.
but Hardy influence was stronger than
his. and the strikers refused TO 60 to
work. Mr.. Cardiff soon appeared on
the scene. but he was not in mood to
parley or coax. and after roundiy ours
ing the men for their shortsightedness.
he ordered the mills to be locked.
Il kept them going for your sakes. .
he said. finally, but if you want them
closed, well and, good I'm losing hun
dreds of dollars every week. and III
save that now. | can stand it longer
than you can"
The strike was thus thoroughly or.
ganized. and the great mills shut down.
1t had been a hard season with the
milling men. and the strikers soon re-
GREETED that they had followed the
leadership OF Hardy: but they had gone
too far to back down. They made over
lures with Cardiff to see if a compro-
mise could not be effected: but he
made only one offer to them. which
they were unwilling to accept AL
who would return under the former
rules and wages would be received
back and when business picked up he
would confer with them about raising
the wages.
Hardy urged the men to hold out. and
not to yield to this offer. Like sheep
following blindly false leader. they
clung to him. and obeyed everything he
said. Some of the strikers became bit
terly pinched for food. and they grew
silent, morose and desperate. The
-four was locked up in huge mill. and
while there was plenty near by the mill
hands were suffering from hunger.
Il won't give them any" blurted out
Mr.. Cardiff when Ernest suggested
feeding the families of the men.
They've got to suffer for their indis-
cretion; that's the only way to teach
them a lesson"
The men soon became threatening.
and once or twice they openly cursed
the owner of the mill. John Cardiff.
however was a brave. determined man.
and he ignored these threats. He
laughed at the violent shouts of the
men. and swore that he would bring
them to terms
Bat one day ne was returning from
one Of the upper mills in his wagon
when a body of the most desperate
characters formerly in his employ.
stopped his horse. He paled for a
moment. and dreaded the final outcome
of the interruption: but recovering him
self he struck one of the men violently
with his whip. shouting at the same
| time: