Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-04-26
CHAPTER XIV


hshed its report Of the trou.
Y BILE at the shops. Oakley had
looked forward to the papers
appearance with considerable eager
ness. He hoped to CLEAN from 1t some
Idea Of the tactics the men would
adopt, and in this he was not disap-
pointed. Ryder served up his sensa-
tion, which was still a sensation. In
spite OF the fact that 1t was common
property and two days old before it
was accorded the dignity Of type and
Ink, In his most impressive style:
The situation at the car shops has as
sumed serious phase. and strike is i'm
minent Matters came to a focus day be-
fore yesterday and may now be said to
have reached an acute stage. II is ex.
pected that the carpenters of whom quite
a number age employed on repair work.
will be the first TO go out unless certain
demands which they are to make today
are promptly acceded to by General Cor
nishs local representative
Both sides maintain the strictest Sc
crecy, but from reliable sources the Her
aid gathers that the men will insist upon
Mr.. Branyon being taken back by the
company.
Another grievance of the men, and one
in which they should have the sympathy
OF the entire community, is their obJec-
tion to working with the managers IA
ther. who came here recently from the
east and has since been employed in the
shops 1t has been learned that he is an
ex-convict, who was sentenced for a long
term OF Imprisonment in June. 1875, for
the murder of Thomas Sharp at Burton.
Mass.
He was only recently set Mt liberty. and
the men are naturally incensed and in
dignant at having to work with him. Still
another grievance is the new schedule OF
wages.
committee representing every depart
ment in the shops and possessing the full
est authority met last night at the odd
Fellows hall on South Main street, but
their deliberations were secret. A we'll
authenticated rumor has It. however, that
the most complete harmony prevailed and
that the employees are pledged to drastic
measures unless they get fair treatment
from the company.
Ryder tackled moral to this, and the
moral was that labor required a cham
piOn to project it from the soulless
greed and grinding tyranny of the
great corporations which had sprung
Into existence under the fostering wing
OF corrupt legislation. OF course "the
over" was the Hercules who was pre-
pared to right these wrongs Of honest
industry and to curb the power of Cor
nish, whose vampire lusts fattened on
the sweat of the toiler, and especially
the toiler at Antioch.
a copy of the paper was evidently
sent the picturesque statesman" who
had just commenced his canvass,
for in its very next issue the Herald
was able to print "A telegram in which
he heartily indorsed the sentiments
embodied In the Herald's ringing ed
ltorial on the situation at Antioch" and
declared himself unit with his fellow
citizens Of whatever party I'm their he
rOic struggle for fair days wage for
n fair days work. He also expressed
himself as honored by their confidence,
as. indeed. he might well have been.
Dan dgestcd the !lerald's report
along with his breakfast Half an
hour later. when he reached the office.
he found McCllntock waiting for him.
The men want to SEQ you Mr.. Oak.
ley They were going TO send their
committee in here, but | told 'emyou'd
come ont TO them
IAN right. It's Just rs well you did"
And Oakley followed him from the Of
fee.
The men were clustered about the
great open door Of the works In tlrlr
ahirt sleeves From behind them In
the silence ald the shadow came the
pleasant, dronlng sound Of machinery
like the humming OF million bees
There was something dogged and reck
less In the very way they stood around
with folded arms or slouched nervous
ly TO and fro.
Dan singled out Bentick and Jot
Stokes and three or four others as the
committee and made straight towarc
them.
ITO be Continued