River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-08-14
THE STRIKE AT
ROCKY BOTTOM
BY J. A. coNWELL.

Inc question before the board was
whether the works should close or not.
''You must understand, gentlemen,
argued Mr. White, president of the
company and chief owner Of the stock,
that we are now operating the works
at little or no profit and that the
cause Of it is the unexpected failure OF
the rise in the river and a consequent
lack Of cheap fuel. We must shut
down There is no other course"
How can we do that?" inquired Mr..
Gray, treasurer of the company, local
merchant and principal magnate of the
town that had grown up around the
works. "Our contract with the Broad
way Bridge company requires US %
deliver a big lot of finished lumber
every week"
There is clause in the contract
which suspends it's operation during a
shutdown occasioned by strike or
an accident to the machinery" an
swered the president.
"But there IS no strike, and the ma
chinery is all right"
Suppose, Brother Gray, that cut
Of 10 or Is per cent. should be made in
the mems wages, what would be the
result?''
superintendent Brown can answer
that question better than ] cam" said
Mr.. Gray, turning toward that officer
1.-The men wouldn't work an hour I'M
der such a cut" responded the super
intendent.
Just what I expected" continued
the president, locking his fingers I'M
der his prominent abdomen and twlrI-
ing his thumbs with satisfaction.
"We'll make the cut, the works will
close, we shall avoid possible losses,
and at the same time shield ourselves
from trouble with the bridge com
pany"
"But our workmen; are their inter
ests not to be taken into considera-
tion?"
"Business is business, Mr.. Gray. l
am here to look out for my own inter
ests and for those of the other stock
holders"
"The mer are our neighbors, though
rot yours. Mr.. White Many of them
are friends Whether they strike or
they and their families will be sorely
pinched."
'Somebody must be pinched, in any
event. If we continue to operate the
works at a loss it will be us; if we
make the cut it will be somebody else.
I'D rather pinch than be pinched any
time"
The cut was ordered and the presi-
dent hurried away to catch the 1850
train for the city. The remaining 6i-
rectors gathered on the sidewalk
where they were Joined by young Har-
~ Brown, an assistant under his
father, and others, among whom were
John Mason, one of the foremen.
Mason was king among the men in
the works. They regarded him as
their leader and followed whitherso-
ever he led. Being an intelligent and
observing man, he had suspected that
the company was not making money
and feared some such course as the one
adopted. He was, therefore, not taken
unawares.
'Of course, we can't work for such
wages" said he to Mr.. Gray. "We
must go out"
"How are the men to live through
the winter without work? inquired
the merchant.
THAT is what should like to speak
to YOU about. If we can make some ar
rangement with you to help us till the
river rises and coal comes down, Wen
be O. K"
& Sc hoy 7
Mason, don't act hastily"
IF we should accept the cut it would
be all up with US. Our wages'd never
be put back to where they are now,
never. Mr.. White'd say if we can work
through the winter for such wages, we
can do it through the summer. But we
can't do it and live half way decent"
"And if you strike?"
"He'd expect to start up at the old
wages as soon as coal comes, and he'd
do it, too"
I'm what way do you expect me to
help you?"
you have your warehouse filled with
everything that We'll need. There are
about 400 of us, Mr.. Gray, and YOU
know there is not a black sheep among
us If you'll honor our committees
order for supplies We'll obligate our
selves, Jointly and severally, to repay
you as soon as we get to work again.
And two weeks work, maybe less, will
paw the debt. We shall be very CRATE
full for your help. Will you not do for
MS what you'd like to have some one
do for you if you stood in our shoes ?''
Gray knew the men, their wives and
their children, and, being man of few
words, quick of decision in an emer-
gency, and amply able to comply with
the request, he answered: "All right.
Mason I'll do it. But l want you to
countersign the orders. Then I'll be
sure there's no extravaganza"
Suppose the works should not start
up again, Mason" said superintendent
Brown, quiet listener till now.
AN improbable contingency. There's
to much money in their operation or
dinarily to allow them to remain :dIe
very long"
''The old Vulcan mills across the
river haven't had fire lighted in them
for five years" continued Mr.. Brown.
Because the concerns in court and
can't run till the suits decided"
Harry Brown and his father, more