The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-12-04
WHEN HE'S FLUSH .BUTT0N!SA JOKE, :
HE'S GLAD TO SEE It WHEN HE'S BROKE

Several years ago I was sitting in
the. office of certain union, dis
cussing the contract system with
three or four other visitors. At that
time several shafts were being sunk
by contract and naturally the effects
Of the contract system were appar-
ent everywhere in company work. We
were discussing several contractors
personally when someone came
laundering up the stairs and dashed
into the office: like a Sonora bull en-
tering the arena Of a bull-ring.
whats that you were saying about
contractors?" he demanded
''Well, Mr. Roosevelt I replied,
I'VE didn't keep any minutes of the
discussion but you are welcome to sit
down and listen if you will behave -
Some irrepressible youth snickered
audibly and our visitor wheeled
abruptly pulled out his card, and said
to the secretary, Here! stamp this
up to the end of the year."
The secretary took the card and
went to work fixing up the strenu-
Gus members account We quietly
sat and sized up the man. Brand new
prosperity showed all over him. he
was a big muscular six-footer and
wore a brand new tailor-made suit of
clothes and high topped "expert's"
boots, and an enormous watch chain
high collar encircled his big,
freckled bull neck and he wore gloves
and carried a cane.
AS the secretary affixed the due
stamps to his card he drew box
of Federation buttons from a pigeon
hole and said, Better buy button
Mr.: NJ, to take down south with
you. Wear button and show your
colors.'
NaW!' Numbered the prosperous
one, "Feller wears, button and every
bum he meets strikes him for meal,
never wear a BUTTON" and with
parting glare of defiance and snort
OF contempt in our direction he left.
AS he charged down stairs T asked
the secretary, who in the name of
the Lord is that human tornado :?
Roosevelt or Kaiser Wilhelm %
He is the contractor who had the
B. shaft" replied the secretary. "TIe
cleaned up three thousand or so on
1t and is going down to California for
the winter
j.. Three years had passed and the
late panic found me travelling through
northern Nevada, ION the: hog and
hunting ~work. n we'll dressed
stranger stood on the street corner
in Caslin and although his appear
ance INDICATED the wealthy cattleman
yet the recognition in his eyes as he
saw my button told me that he was
once Federation man.
Hello, lad" he said, "wheSe are
you from" I told him.
Know so-and-so?". YES" "Look-
ing for work" Yes Care for job
shoveling alfalfa % YES" told him
How are you fixed 2" he asked,
oh" I replied, II have a few nick
els left.'' :: = = -
Very WELL" he said, there's a five
spot. That is. our wagon over there.
Be ready tomorrow morning.
l" thanked him and went off up
the street to get breakfast. AS I
turned to go into a restaurant another
party accosted me. He, too, had seen
the button and there was joy in his
! eye. He. gave me the high sign,
1lashed his card and unbosomed his
+ tale OF woe at the same time. Hadn't
eaten since the moiaing before and
was tickled to death, to see one Of
MS own people. I finally managed to
recognize him as my friend, the siren
:uous contractor, but oh! what a diff
terence. He was as shabby as I was
and that was saying q lot. Illness had
emaciated his powerful frame and the
pIrlstling Nelrus mustache had q de-
pond md en 'l droop: Gone were the bulky
watch /. chain cha and the 5cocky expert
snoes and 9 Q toe speeped from his worn