The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-18
The Eventual Awakening of Mr.. Bim|

goods IN Europe come over mere IN
punches and go to work for European
wages. Haven't you noticed that?"
We'll, I've noticed a few Things
along that line,' said Mr.. BIN.
"Then open your eyes little wider
and you'll see more" said Hardness.
I've got tc go to union meeting or
I'D give you some pointers that
would do you good
When Mr.. BIN went to work Mon
day he was called into Mr.. Squeeza's
private office.
How about the primaries .tomor-
row night?" asked Mr.. Slueeza.
eve got my. men lined up. sir"
'Well, see that there's no mistake.
We've got to give Judge Blohe our
delegation. We must secure his re-
nomination at all hazards"
I'll do my best, SIR said Mr.. BIN.
II know you will, Mr.. BIN, but see
to it that your best is what we want.
Good morning
During the day Mr. BIN thought OF
Hardness and wOnGere1 II he could
swing him into line for Bloke He
asked him about it that evening and
Hardness was rather profane In his
refusal
"Bloke? Not much. He's owned by
the corporations.
You should not cultivate. such dis
respect for our courts, Hardness" said
Mr.. BIN.
''Disrespect nothing Such judges
as Bloke are entitled only to contempt.
He's q mere tool Remember what
tell YOU
But Mr. BIN worked for Bloke, and
in due time Bloke was re-nominated.
Three days after election Hcza,
| Squeeza & Co. announced another 10
| per cent reduction in wages and the
union men walked out Mr.. BIN, not
/ being union, remained at work The
morning after the. strike he picked up
his paper and noted that Judge Blole
had issued an injunction restraining
/ The strikers from assembling in
! groups of more than three, from adj
dressing the strike breakers either
upon the streets or at their boarding
houses, from paying strike benefits,
from meeting in their union halls,
| from holding religious services and
from walking the public streets
within sixty-seyen blocks of the fac
1 tory of Heza. SQueeza & Co.
! Then Mr.. BIN remembered what
Hardness had told him. This made
j Mr.. BIN think some more. Thinking
! was becoming quite familiar to Mr..
BIN by this time
4 The strike wore along for several
i weeks, but was finally lost by reason
of added injunctions and the influx of
4 strike breakers who appeared mys-
teriously and talkec as many Ian
guages as suddenly made appearance
at the tower Of Babel. Wages we're
lower than ever, but the price of
4 everything Mr.. BIN nae to buy were
mounting higher than the smOkestack
of the factory. He found himself un-
able to add anything to his bank ac-
count. Then he had to check out a
little. He couldn't add the back porch
that Mrs. BIN had wanted for SO long.
He had to sell the pony and phaeton.
Then he had to resign from the sub
| uIU CiuD 0cCduSc LuC uucS WClIlcu
him. Finally his bank account was
i gone and he found himself unable to
meet the butchers bill one month.
He asked Mr. Heza for an incr ease
in wages, but Mr. Heza shook his
head sadly and said he couldn't see
his way clear to grant the request.
i We're losing money every day
Bim,' he said. I'VE are only keeping
the factory going in order to give our
old employees work. We hope times
:, will grow better. soon"
But the papers say times are
good,' protested Mr.. BIN.
i "All bosh," said Mr.. Heza. 1--WE
know better"
But the books show larger profits
than ever, while the average expense
is thirty-three per cent lower than
: ever" said Mr.. BIN.
THAT may be the appearance on the
books said Heza. But in actual ex-
perience 1t is not So"
Mr.. BIN went back to work. He
had several more talks with IIark-
ness, who was doing odd jobs around
the suburb pending an opening.