The labor world., 1906-09-01
HOW JACK STEELE WON A STRIKE
Rohr OF Minnesota


"Gentlemen, the International Ex-
ecuttve Board has given It's unanimous
APPROVAL to the inauguration Of this
strike. The question before this body
Is: Shall we declare to walk out to-
morrow morning?"
AS the President ceased speaking
there were many voices lifted in the
one word. "Yes!" Before the chair
| could instruct the Sergeant at Arms
to prepare the ballot, a voice arose.
clear and distinct.
Mr.. President and fellow workmen:
while 1T is not my intention to delay
this matter Of a strike, yet l would
make SO bold as to suggest that l be
appointed committee Of one to again
plead the justice Of our cause to the
President Of the Universal Gun and
1901 company. AS everyone here
KNOWS. he has been a father to me,
and even suggested that l make appli-
cation to this union after arriving at
an age making it possible for me to
belong. You also know he has given
me nome since l was a mere infant
IN arms. and l honestly believe that
some good will come Of the Interview"
AS the speaker ceased speaking there
were many cries Of NO! Mo-" and
yes! Yes!" Like a flash one Of the
men who favored the speaker sprang
to his feet and made a motion Accord
ing to the desires expressed. 1t was
as quickly seconded, and the chair,
knowing the feeling Of the mon pres
ent, put the motion so rapidly that al
most before the Nos" were aware of
1t, the speaker was a committee Of one
to report back to the meeting in two
hours
short glance at the young man
who had made this eleventh hour plea
will not be amiss at this moment.
Apparently about twenty-six years Of
age, Of good height, athletic in build,
dark gray, well-set eyes, closely CROP
ped brown hair that clustered tightly
to we'll shaped head, he quickly gave
one the impression that he was not
one to idly undertake so stupendous a
task as he had assumed without fully
realizing the responsibility that rested
upon his shoulders. Early In life he
had suffered the loss Of father and
mother, and was taken into the family
Of the President of the Universal Gun
and Tool Company, through the friend
ship that has existed between the
young mans dead parents and the
President. He had grown to manhood's
estate In company with an only
daughter Of the man whom the union
was now about to declare war against.
1t would seem superfluous to state
that Jack Steele did not regard his
childhood playmate in a brotherly way.
Long, long ago he had discovered a
tenderer feeling. But insurmountable
barriers lay between them. While he
had good birth and a college education
he had not money. He had gone into
the large workshops as many another,
young. man, d! to begin at the very
bottom He had gone Into the unien<
as an apprentice, being: admitted. to:
full membership when his term had
expired. 80.
AS the President announced a recess
Of two hours, there broke forth storms
Of Kisses and cheers. Some there were
who called Jack Steele a sneak and
traitor no slight or epithet seemed too
approbrious to apply to him. Others
there wer who admired his action,
believeing that If settlement could
be dragged OUT of the fire at the last
moment, he was the one who could
do 1t. .''t
The members offhe- union broke up
into small parties sLoccupied their
time in talking over the situation.
Many Of the. membepk~ Of the allied
crafts were men Of ksfamily; men who:
had by dint of economy and frugality
purchased a small home, and were
looking forward to the time when they
would be able to call it their own.
But a strike! One that would last a
long time, and they live up to their
principles, taught and advocated by
them, meant the shattering Of their
ideals. It had been a severe trial, but
not a man among them-we were
about to say not one-but there were
some of the members who doubted
deep down in their hearts, that there
would be one or two who would fall
from their ranks when the tocsin of
battle sounded. If you had asked them
why they had this thought, there
would have been a mere uplifting of
the eyebrows and a turning away Of
the head. Some there were who open
ly stated (not in the presence of Jack
Steele), that he would be the first one
to throw down the union; for was
not it a fact that If he went out on
strike he would be striking against
home and shop. His foster father
had told him thaat he must choose
between the two. 1t the union went
on strike and he went with 1t, WHY
he could not and would not allow him
! to make his home with him any longer.
To Jack this had been severe trial.
He loved his foster father and he
loved his girl friend then, and he loved
her now woman grown, with all the
strength Of his manly character. With
him 1t was giving up home, sweet
heart and prospects. He had from the
first day Of his entrance into the man,
moth shops, loked forward to the time