Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-09-30

y OMhIHING untoward was hap
~ pening or impending at the ex-
~ tensive piers and docks Of the
Latin-Amercan Steamship com
pany on South street. Manhattan. This
had been evident from an early hour,
for when as whistle sounding time ap-
preached the workmen trooped toward
the docks and warehouses to begin
their daily toll they found groups of
policemen stationed about the an
proaches to the Latin-American lines
property. On the faces of the men
who entered its gates was an express
sion Of expectancy and determination.
The earliest man to arrive saw the
tail. gaunt form Of Mr.. Smith. the
superintendent. stihdlng at the door
OF the Office building. He had been
working hard while they slept. but
there was no evidence Of his all night
labor upon his cheerful visage, nor was
any sign Of anxiety or Of the knowl-
edge that any unusual situation had
arisen discernible in his phlegmatic
demeanor He appeared to be eniov-
Ing the morning air and his cigar
without a care IN the world. His
presence there at that hour was the
only indications that he expected iron.
Die lie had not allowed one police
man TO remain within the gates. Hard
" man passed in but saluted him
ferhaiiy or with o touch OF the hat.
and not a salute was given without
being acknowledged TO some he re.
sponded with a genial smile and a
Hello, Tomw or "Howdy. Bnlw
When they had started their work
which was to be stopped completelv
at 10 O'Clock. he vanished upstairs. nor
was he seen again until the hands OF
the clock approached that hour and
the strike leaders began to 20 among
the restless men. Then he sauntered
out. ordered work stopped. and. mount
ing crate Of merchandise, assembled
the men about him.
You boys" he said in his slow. dis
tinct voice, have made up your minds
TO quit at 10 o'clock because some.
body told you you ought to be getting
more pay and a raise was refused.
Well this is a free country. and every
mans right to sell his labor where
he likes and at what price he likes is
guaranteed him by the constitution.
If you want to walk out Of here Won
are free to do so, but if you take my
advice
-See here" interrupted one Of the
headers roughly. pushing to the front.
eve amt askin' no advice from Won
nor no one else. What we want IS
money. DO we get that raise or don't
WEI IL we do. all right: If we don't.
we quit here and now. and that's ali
there is to it."
A murmur Of approval greeted this
ultimatum.
No.' answered the superintendent
i amt going to leave you in doubt
about it for a minute. You don't get
it,
Then shut uplp ordered the man.
-Ne amt goin' to lose our time lls-
fenin' TO no cheap talk. We've voted /
to quit and an talk is or"
IAN right" retorted Smith. "Con-
slider you've an quit. Now. that being
The case. you have heaps Of time on
your hands and are iikeiy to nave for
an INDEFINITE period unless you have
provided jobs for yourselves In antic-
lDaiion Of this. I've got something
I'd Ike to say to you. Those who
don't want to hear me don't have to.
AS ! said. this is a free country"
"Go ahead. Jlmsyr' cried a voice In
the crowd. You're all right You've
always given us a square deal"
! hope So" he replied. "and one
square deal deserves another"
Aw. come on. fellowsw admonished
me leader. We're not kids. A strikes
q strike. This amt no debatin' bee.