Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-08-22
THE STRIKE AT
ROCKY BOTTOM
BY J. A. coNwELL.

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 shat had grown up around the
works. "Our contract with the Broad
way Bridge company requires US to
deliver a big lot of finished lumber
every week"
There is a clause in the contract
which suspends its operation during a
shutdown occasioned by a 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 I can," said
Mr.. Gray, turning toward that officer.
"The men wouldn't work an hour I'M
der such a cut" responded the super
intendept.
"Just what I expected" continued
the president, locking his fingers un-
der his prominent abdomen and twirl-
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. I
am here to look out for my own inter-
ests and for those of the other stock
holders
"The men are our neighbors, though
not yours, Mr.. White. Many of them
are friends. Whether they strike or
continue to work a the reduced wages,
they and their families will be sorely
pinched."
Somebody must be pinched, in any
event. If we continue to operate the
works at 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 otheEs, 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 o.
ever he led. Being an intelligent and
observing man, he had suspected that
the company was not making money
and feared some such course s the one
ador&e He was, therefore, not taken
unawares.
"Of course, we can't work for such
wages" said he to Mr.. Gray. eve
must go out"
"How are the men to live through
the winter without work? inquired
the merchant.
''That is what I 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, We'll
be o. K"
"Half a loaf is better than no bread,
Mason, don't act hastily
eff 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
L E i
"And if you striker"
.'He'd expect to start up at the old
wages as soon as coal comes, and he'd
do it, too"
''In what way do you expect me to
help you?"
"You have Eour warehouse filled with
everything that We'll need. There are
about 400 of US, Mr.. Gray, and you
know there is not 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
pay the debt. We shall be very CRATE
full for your help. Will you not do for
us 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 a 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 I 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, a quiet listener till now.
"An improbablec contingency There's
to much money in their operation or
dinarily to allow them to remain idle