The record-union., 1898-01-31
THE STRIKE AT NO. 9.

Tommy Callahan started it. For some
weeks Tommy had been developing
scheme which he expected would MAKE
the breaker boys of Sugar Notch NO.
famous from one end of the valley lo
the other AS events proved, 1t did,
but not IN the way that Tommy eX-
pected The scheme was formed a1tei
Tommy had attended a meeting OF the
X. of L.. No - He was not a deie-
gate nor an invited guest, but the
meeting was held in Monohan's HAN
and close to the rear OF the hall Is
large oak tree With one branch over
hanging the roof, and on this roor Is
a. skylight and some loose boards
That is how Tommy attended the
meeting and saw and heard all thai
took place There were some very
fiery speeches, and Tommy's plooo
tineled with enthusiasm, and he wished
over and over again that he was tel
years older and a delegate. 1t was
after Tommys father had made
speech about oppression, monopoly
workingmen's rights, higher scales
foreign labor and recognition OF labor
L
up. and he slid down that tree so fasl
that for moment he regretted us
haste: his enthusiasm triumphed over
the momentary pain, however, ana hs
hurried home to lie awake IN ped plan
ming and planning, and also plunlhs
himself on the glory which was TO pt
his
The next week or ten days the resi-
.1y
dents of the Notch plodded along III
their usual humdrum fashion ana no
ticed no disturbing element IN the an
Had they paid any particular attention
to Tommy Callahan they would nave
seen him walking about with heao uh-
usrallv erect and an air of Importance
which boded something worthy or at
1ention. But the only persons who
cast a second glance at Tommy III
those days were the boys of Tommy
age who worked in the breaker, aho
to them he would impart in whisper
information which would make then
walk in much the same MANNER ina
Tommy did Then he would go OF
until he met the next boy. and anothei
Whispered consultation would ensue.
Thus a week or ten days passed
Tommy was searching for a grleF-
ance and also organizing the boys foi
the move he intended to make. He
found no difficulty in this. the boys be-
ing quite as enthusiastic as himself
not perhaps from the same high mo-
1ives for it must be confessed tha'
the majority of them viewed the affali
as a great piece of fun, and expected
to enjoy it much more than they en-
from
school
Finally Tommy called meeting o.
the Executive Board comprising PAD
dy Mangan, Mickey Dongher, Denny
Doris. Pat Golden and Cornelius 81
Aloysius McMonegal, who was cailet
"Condy" by ali except his enemies
The five held meeting in German !
barn. Tommy being there, too, as Pres
ident of the order. lie had found
grievance The boys at No. . down II
Warrior Run received five cents more
a day than the Sugar Notch boys. lie
made a speech declaring that sucf
'scrimination wasn't no go, an L thlnf
us boys ought to be perfected. ram
right that no monopoly should set dowI
on lis as work so hard fer such sinai
nav. We wants our rights and we'se
eoin' to have 'em." There was ap'
plause at this. Getting warmed L
his subject, Tommy continued IN more
fiery vein, "Ders got to be some actor
took and to onced; we'se suffered to(
long under dis reign of tyranny tht
had carefully studied this phrase)
now we must free ourselves from th'
woke. In the words of a great pom
tician, representation without taxes
amt what free Americans want
Tommy did not quite understand tn:
nhrase but ii sounded well and there
was more applause.
Then Mickey Dongher summed up the
situation graphically: Tommy l.
right" he said, ''we'se got to stand uE
for our rights. I fer one am ready. Are
We wild me. me buckos?" The committee
arose as one man; they were with him tf
the death.
..To-morrow morning we will pass dS
word" said Tomm- DE committee
and meself II make de demand, and if di
company don't give US wat we want by
de next morning out we goes.
Yep. out we goes echoed the others
''Der's one thing more afore we ad'
io,,rn" " said Tommy: I'VE ought to have
a grip en- a pass word
Denny Doris objected to this. What
de use?" he remarked: I'VE all knows
each other"
Tommy admitted this, but said every
society had a grip and pass word. The
others agreed with Tommy, and Denny
withdrew his objection. After soInc
cogitation it was decided the grip shouo
be the same as when the hand IS held
So
ball the thumb and first two fingers
extended and the other fingers closed
Then came the question of a pass
word. Pat Golden suggested Bulldog,
and Condy McMonagel Johnny Get
Your Gun" Paddy Mangan thought
sweet Marie more appropriate. Tom