The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-06-17

5000 o&c>c>c% 10000
: contradictory and confusing. 1 believe
that some of the unions have got their
national organizers n here. -
Hum, said the old man slowly,
: tapping on the table with his eyeglasses
in a way he had when pulling propo-
sition was presented, 81 guess II go
out and take ride. -
Half an hour later Fergus, the treas
urer, came over to Rixton's office.
''Didn't | hear the bugle just now9'
he asked, grinning
Rixton laughed derisively. "Naw,'
he answered.
But Just before noon there came a
blast from the old brass horn which set
the men laughing all through the fac
tory 1t was a blast of defiance sound
ed in the very faces of the conspirators,
but they saw only its absurd side. Out
in the foundry Bob Johnson reused a
storm of derisive merriment by declar-
ing that "The old man II be comm ont
of the small end of that in a couple of
weeks
! Thomas Tabb walked into his private
/ office.
john he ordered his private sec
rotary, send a gang of carpenters
right away to build a platform six feet
| high and twenty feet square under the
big elm on the river bank. And have
placard printed and posted in every de-
partment, reading: The whistle will
blow at four 'clock this afternoon to
knock off work All employees are re-
quested to meet at that time about the
platform under the elm tree on the
river bank Business of great import
ance to everybody will be discussed.
Fergus, - he called, as the treasurer
passed through the hail. 81 want you
and all the members of the executive
committee to be at this meeting sure.
Bring your check-l.ook and fountain
pen with you, too
"Huh!' grunted Fergus, deep in his
throat, as he heard the astonishing pro-
gram. 81 wonder what he's going to
do now9''
Shortly after four O'Clock. Thomas
Tabb, at the head of the executive COM
mittee, climbed up on the hurriedly
built platform and sat down facing a
good solid acre of half-amused and
half-puzzled workmen. The old man
wasted no time in preliminaries.
'Things aren't going right in the
Shops he began. HI know that the
company isn't treating you right in
some ways and / don It think that some
of you are treating the company right
we been in Europe, opening up the
foreign market, so that we sha n t have
to shut down during the summer, and I
know mighty little about what's been
going on here for the last three months.
Now, I can't make things right until I
know just what IS wrong I want YOU
men to tell me. If you want more
wages, get up and say so. If your hours
are wrong, get up and tell us so. Here's
your chance. Who S the first man?'
Bob Johnson, the iron moulder beard ,
ed and burly and still black with CRIME,
rose in the center of that packed acre
of workmen ~nd walked to the table on
the platform.
1--WE want some baths put in,'' he :
began eve We got to have better +
We aren't willing to pour i
more than two heats day. And you we i
got to stop putting spoilers on us, too" 8
For five minutes he went on, denounc- .
ing the policy of the company roundly. +
When he had finished, most of the men :,
stood silent, with open mouths, wait i,
ng for the lightning to strike. But
round of applause broke out +,
md Thomas Tabb himself led in the :,
lapping -
4HdI > the way 10 Udlk! ne cf1eu
when he could make himself heard .
That s fine! That s just the kind of 6,
hing we want TO know! What's your
ame?'' he called out, and the moulder g
answered: :,
Bob Johnson q,
q Mr.. Fergus the old man went on,
peaking so that everybody could hear, Ct
that talk is worth a hundred dollars -.
o the Wireless Motor Company. Make f.
ut check for hundred and give it ~
0 Mr.. johnson. Come over here, John a,
on, and get your money. Now who's
he next man to tell US what we want =,
D know?' -
After moment s hesitation another q;
ian got up. The temptation to show he
ne s power an orator and to get -
ell paid for it at the same time was
20 great to be resisted. Half a dozen To
1eeches were made in quick succession, I,e
IL pointing out the manifold delin- G.
nencies of the company. And each of -,
lese orators, in his turn, was called to
lie platform and given check for fifty nj
ollars. 80
johnson got more because he was -,
rave enough to break the ice,' the old -
an explained. -;
Finally there We're no further re- -
'onses and Thomas Tabb declared the
Getting adjourned. The executive com
ittee went straight back to its room. !
Here are the names of the labor
gitators you've been trying to To- no
tie, - the old man said, laying the list
orators on the table Discharge INC
cry one of them tomorrow morning Br
Rixton picked up the list and looked NJ
over.
- You We forgotten Bob Johnson, the
st speaker, Mr.. Tabb,'' he said. iei
No, answered the old man with
ter gravity; Il promised him a per- of
anent job for getting up and starting da
e procession Al
THE GREEN AND THE RED. ole
A Philadelphia man says that he not %
1g ago CHANGED to enter his drawing ia!