Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-21

We must know what is going on, for 1t
will be no consolation to be told in a week
or two-or three-that you find you have
no chance of succeeding, and that we must
make the best terms we can. You must
remember that, although you lose no situa-
ton, we do. Will you call q meeting and
explain to the men what the chances of
success are?"
II will do nothing of the sort. A general
does not call his army together and explain
to them what he intends to do next. l am
leader of this strike, and l am going to lead
it my. own way or not at all. You say the
factory is filling up, but l tell you that not
a stroke of work has been done since the
strike began. All l will promise to do is
to let you know two weeks before we como
to the end of our funds; then, If you do not
think we will succeed, you will have time
to make what arrangements you please, and
depose me-
"oh, that kind of high-handed business
does not do In this age. You are not an
autocrat, remember. The men have every
right to demand an account OF what you are
doing with them and their money"
when you we're leader, Gibbons, they were
at the end of their funds before you let them
know anything about 1t. There was talk
enough in these days and precious little in
formation went into it. l won't conduct a
strike with my mouth, and / won't stand
any interference"
You are our servant, | beg you to remem-
Der, and it is no interference when we simply
ask to know what is being done and what you
intend to do. Now, you will either call a
meeting of the men at the Salvation hall or
we will. Which is it to be?"
81 shall not call a meeting. If you call
one, then you take the responsibility OF med
ding In a matter you don't understand. 1t
is quite possible that you may be able to en-
barrnss, or perhaps defeat me; but If you do,
the time will come when the men will curse
you for your Intervention. | tell you we are
bound to win this strike II you keep your
hands off. Calling a meeting will merely
show Sartwell that we are getting a%nxioue,
and his whole hope is centered in a division
among us. He was frank enough to tell me
so himself"
When did he tell you that?"
Before the strike began"
Gibbons looked significantly at the deputa-
ton, and one or two of the members nodded
sadly, as much as to say they wouldn't have
believed it, but it was now only too evident,
from the secretary's own admission, that he
had secret communications with the enemy.
81 think" said Gibbons, solemnly, that
after what you have said, there is all the
more reason why you should call the men
together, and explain to them how you came
to be discussing with Sartwell the probable
failure of the strike even before it began.
You knew that was a tender point with us
long since, and If Sartwell is your enemy, as
you said he was, | cant see for the life of
me why"
"Oh, there is no need of any secrecy about
1t, Gibbons. In fact, there is little mystery
about anything We do, and that is one rea- !
son ! don't want to call a public meeting"
Things are bad enough as they are. /
have found that Sartwell generally knows
what we are about to do before many OF us
know 1t ourselves. / went to Sartwell be-
cause he asked me to go. He knew this
strike was coming on, although had imag-
ined 1t had only been discussed between
myself and some OF the others. He offered
me the assistant managership of the works
II . would resign my position az secretary.
l refused, and he told me this strike was
bound to fail because the men would not |
be true to me. You can give the men the
whole particulars of my talk with Sartwell,
but there is no need of calling a meeting
to discuss it,"
THAT may all be true, but / confess 1t
sounds rather tishy. / doubt If Sartwell is
so much afraid of you as that comes to.
there is no harm in fnding out
Just where we stand. | will do my best to
calm the apprehensions OF the men, but II
give you warning that II nothing more en-
couraging than we have had lately turns
up within a week, there will be trouble. The
men will call a meeting themselves If you
IF nothing happens within a week, / will
call a meeting and give them an account of
has been done so far; but | don't APP
of meetings, and l shall call one prac-
.ically under compulsion. You are forcing
ny hand, Gibbons, and you promised me
play"
1T seems to me you have had a good run
or your money. and l think we are very
patient in conserving TO wait a week when
We are being led we don't know where"
The deputation then withdrew and Mar
ten paced up and down the room, wondering
I the directors were giving Sartwell as un-
a time as the men were giving him.
rs was the case during the former strike,
he Salvation hall had been placed at the
OF the men. Marsten had called no
meetings except the one that had ushered
n the strike. He made his headquarters, I
in a room that opened upon the
latfoTm, and which also communicated with
narrow lane that led along the outside of
he hall to the street. Here his pickets re-
orted to him, and here the work made
eeessary by the strike-the bookkeeping
nd the correspondence-was done. Here
lso letters and kilograms were received. 1t
las a bare room with only two or three
hairs and a rough table as Its furnishing.
eyeral religious and moral notices we're
acked on the boards that formed The walls.