The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-07-28

30, when the men went to their an
ployer he was prepared for them. The
carpenter acted as spokesman. He
said. respectfully, I'VE can not work
hard and live one one meal q day;
rastlns may be god for dyspepsics; but
we need muscle and nourishment; with
the cost Of living 50 high, we must
have more pay, and ask two dollars a
day for our labor"
T-m-m, WELL" replied the banker.
L will think about 1t. There is an
over-production' on hand; I've a few
days supply--you all loaf to-day; I'll
see about an increase Of wagese to-
morrow"
SO. hungry and disconnected. the
men, not knowing what else to do,
hung around all day. Two of them
tried to kill time by throwing dice.
The banker saw them and missed the
ticker In his distant office. Only the
carpenter and the mason tried to think
and plan as they went around the
island exploring. When they returned
a council was held. The strike break
er's soup for his master and himself
aggravated the hunger Of the strikers
The two petty gamblers were almost
on the verge Of revolt. Finally, at
dark, committee waited upon their
employer. He agreed to compromise
on three bits or a dollar and a half
a day This settled the strike.
The next day (having slept under
the trees all night), the workers were
doled out a charity breakfast, and
they went to work in a mixed state
Of mind. Light was struggling to
dawn. At eventide, when, like the
first day, they all come in for supper,
once more the bag Of gold was opened
and each received his increased wage
even the strike-breaker benefited so
far.
Then came another surprise.
Fish and game were not quite so
plentiful to-day" said the paymaster,
the price of suppers is gone up-a
dollar and a quarter each, and may
as well add, now, that lodgings are
twenty-five cents a night
Then, although hungry and tired,
and darkness increased outside. yet
dawning light fickered in the workers
minds more steadily.
The banker had added almost insult
to injury. He was not aware Of being
unjust-it was simply business" from
capitalistic standpoint. But the car
penter and the mason, and also the
steward, had been exercising their
brains since the day of the strike, and
next morning they called another labor
meeting.
They made a ballot box, and, after
listening to a proposition from the
carpenter, all, even the former traitor
cast their votes, asserting to it.
The result of the elaboration OF
that suspicious dawn was for them all
| except the banker to move with their
tools to the other end of the island
| as fair spot in every respect as
around the moneymasters hut.
There they commenced to build a
home for themselves; the hunter and
| the fisherman went for their catch
| while the steward made ready for a
co-worker's feast
That evening, as they all sat within
! their own roomy house and relished
their own bountiful supper albeit they
AAcO III 6OAu"OAAt ActOOA CAcSh0, SOOI
for labor service-they heard a great
hullabaloot from the ridge that sepa
rated their home from the banker.
! and loh there stood the forsaken
! moneymaster, his gold bag in one hant
while waving the other, shouting
| Halo! hallo-o-a! Ill give three dol
lars day! Three dollars a day."
They f1nishedtheir supper, and final
| ly sent the fisherman with the message
that hereafter they would work TO,
themselves-each for all and all fol
each: but If he wantedto join them
why! there was g. bit O supper left
they would make place for him.
"On one condition." said the steward
| whats that?" asked the others
THAT Mr.. Money-Bags makes himself
useful and helps to wash the dishes
after supper" replied the steward. AL
laughed good naturally, and, sure
enough, the banker came, helped tn
steward, and even Joined In theil
evening song before returning to sleel
! in his own hut, which he decided ove1
to the Commonwealth next day.
| He last of all realized that the Gold
en- Rlue is sound social science.