Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1909-02-18

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Then the competition started
anew. All were willing to do this TO
be put up first"
Auction Sale Begins.
No. IL was the man put up first
The auctioneer gave the descriptions:
Young man. twenty-four, out of
job for eight months; is a driver by
lrade; strong and willing to work. He
has tramped all over New York and
Brooklyn in search of work; has
seven little brothers and sisters at
home; father is sick. What am /
offered?"
At this point a man from the
audience called out that he offered
$40 week. This was greeted with
tremendous applause. The man was
A. c. Will, a baker, at G14 Coney
Island avenue. Mr.. Will also offered
three loaves of bread for the mans
family.
The next man to take the block
was No. 10. Again did the voice OF
the auctioneer rise:
NO. 10 is a young man. twenty
five years old; out of work for eight
months is an lronmolder; can do
hard work-ladies and gentlemen
what am l offered? Can you give
this man a job; have you a Job for
No. 10, ladies and gentlemen"
At this point Mr.. W. F. Copeland.
OF the Straightedge Industrial Set
tlement. said that If no one is ready
to buy No. 10. he will be allowed to
Join their settlement. They do not
offer any wages, but are ready to
take him in If the man can bring
with him the necessary tools. He
explained that their plan is to produce
the necessities of life. and working
on cooperative plan.
No. 10 was sent away with Cope
land to talk over matters, and No. Il
took the stand. He was a mechanic;
steam and electric filter; understood
steam heating; knew how to work
dynamos; was a tota abstainer;
fought in the Boer war. and served
the United States in the Philippine
Islands. He was twenty-seven years
old. He was knocked down for sS5
month.
But complications arose. His en-
gagement was not to start until the
first of March. and what was to be
done in the meantime? Mr.. Will
the baker who bought No. 10, offered
food and lodging until then.
While the arrangements were be-
ing made with No. 21, a man walked
oser TO No. II, and after few words,
took him away.
No. 90 was sold to a painter for
SO n week.
The One Exception.
The exception in the lot of young
and healthy men was No. IA. He was
old and the only one whose head was
gray. A shiver went through the
audience when this man took the
stand. A few moments OF silence
followed. and for time not even the
auctioneer found his tongue. Men
fR -
sobbcd at the grotesque sight, The
silence was intense. but of short du-
ration. Young man stepped up, and
after talk with the auctiono'r. led
the old man away.
Here the demand for men stopped.
No. 16 was put up. A man who.
according to the auctioneer. had an
education, was intelligent. I'm the
prime of life, well built, willing to
take anything. But no offer was
made.
Then 1t was that the people realized
the seriousness OF the moment. The
sight of twenty strong men facing n
large gathering and demanding work
was an embarrassing one. What was
to be done with them? Should
they bc sent home? There was no
home. Should they he turned over
to the streets? should they be
forced to crime, or ordered to commit
suicide? Never die the problem OF
Unemployment strike hcm" 50 rnrciply
and never was the right to work
proven more eloquent
Men wrigglcd and turned In their
seats, and women covered their faces
with their hands. II was like realiz-
ing n great common calamity. There
was the social enemy claiming VIC