The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-03-17

Wages ran from $1.75 per day for
common laborers to $8 per day to the
man who sat on an elevated perch and
signaled with his finger the precise
moment when the big dipper of molten
steel should be emptied. Office men
received from $50 a month to $50 q
week. Every man had money. Most
all had bank accounts. Every woman
had had her house we'll furnished and
even the foreign element were buying
pianos.
There were three shifts of eight
hours each, two day and one night.
OF course the work was hard, bat the
wages were liberal. That town had
reached the apex of prosperity, when
down the line came that mischief-mak
or, the walking delegate. By easy in
situations he pointed out to those who
would listen that they were being
robbed. IRA Buttinski was astonished
to hear it, for his energy had gotten
him So day job by now. The walk
ing delegate insisted that IRA was
worth SO 80 to the best Steel Trust. that
ever existed. IRA told his wife, who
pleaded with IRA to keep cool, and
keep his job at the same time. Visions
of So SO were uppermost in Ura's mind,
however, so when the delegate formed
his branch association, IRA joined
along with the herd of sheep SO easily
led. When sufficient men had joined,
the inevitable came. A strike was
ordered. The company told the men:
1--WE are sorry you've struck, for we
cannot pay the increase you ask. At
this time we are running simply TO
keep things going along. This is our
dull season."
"Ratsp said the delegate sotto voce.
sour oreign orders have fallen off
this year far below former years and
we are anxious for our future. How
ever, if you will come back to work in
the morning at the old wages we will
resume and trust to good fortune that
we will recover our lost trade"
"Dirty liars!" said the delegate when
he heard it.
! The workmen were divided as tc
opinions. Those who wanted to return
were forcibly kept from it. Some bold
er ones defied the delegates association
and were made the butt of ridicule by
the others who saw only victory by al
sticking together. If they had rea
grievance, it would have been different
but only by repeated arguments coult
Is per cent of the men see why they
were striking. Perfectly satisfied, per
fectly contented before the advent o.
the delegate. A long strike occurred
, One fine day the company published
its final plea. In conclusion, it salt
that unless the men returned by tn,
, following Monday morning the entir'
, plant would pick up and go to anothe
state where men could labor withou
molestation.
They're only blunirg,' said the dele
gate.
Mr.. Buttinski needed clothes awful
!, Fly bad. Mrs. Buttinski came YER
near to eating the soap she formerl
: disdained. As for Miss Mary and tn
/ little Buttinskis the only food they ha
!. plenty of was food for thought.
!. That Monday morning came an
r went and with it went the first train
load of the steel plant. / wish 20
{ could have seen the Buttinskis, an
: their neighbors, and the townspeopl,
. and the storekeepers. In fact the er
s tire 10000 people set up such wailin
' and gnashing of teeth that the del,
! gate barely got out Of town in tim
t to save being lynched. That town tt
d day, gentlemen, is on the bum. Th
d railroad timetables don't mention it 8
6 all. A signboard at the former st,
tion reads "W," and the trains onl
i whistle in derision and keep huml
' ing down the track. Mr.. Buttinski
!. working on the railroad section fl
q s1.25 per day; his family occupy ths
Q shanty you have often noticed dow
a by the creek. Mrs. Bnttinski go,
e barefooted once more and Mary weal
a mas cast off dresses. Instead of real
1. ing books from fine library the lit
q Buttinskis belong to the corner gan
q and they do say that the oldest boy
& getting pretty tough.