Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-01-18

Author of paid In Full'' and 1.-THE
Easiest Way"
49,
rate of pay is governed. like every
thing else. by the law of supply and
demand. What is the situation today?
We have had rush work for several
weeks. and The docks here and all
along the water front are choked up
with freight But back of this, al
though you may not know it. the raj.
roads everywhere are laying off freight
cars. mills are laying off men, and
signs point to Il serious slump in bust
ness all over the country. which will
reach here soon. The indications are
that in the natural course of things
during the coming winter there won't
be work for more than half of you
and that you'll need badly all the
spare coin you can save now. Yet you
chose this very time to demand an in
crease from the company and give it
eighteen hours notice. including twelve
nonworking hours. in which to think it
over. | don't call that square deal.
whatever you may think about it.
Now. the country towns are full of
men anxious to get jobs. and the COM
pany. Notwithstanding the short no.
tice. is fully prepared for strike. In
that shed yonder are 5000 cots. put
there during last night. and provision
has been made to feed 5000 men for
several days Captain Williams
An outburst of curses and yels greet
ed this mention of the presidents name
with cries of I'VE know Williamsw
Captain Williams" went on the SUI
nerintendent calmly, says that any
man who goes out on strike now will
never enter the employ of the line
again in this or any other port. And
I'll see personally to it that lie doesn't
This man here said a strike had been
decided on. but anybody who wants tc
stay and work instead of making q
fool of himself by quitting will be
taken care of. I'll promise that. That's
all. It's up to you
Amid dead silence he got down from
the crate and returned to his office.
The t:len remained assembled fo
consultation, and in the crowd were
many doubtful faces. 1t was clea
that Smiths calm. drawled harangu,
had made Il profound impression. Jus
as in private life he attracted TIN
warmest friendships. so in business. t.
which he gave strict and intelligen
attention. he earned the respect Of al
with whom he had to deal
The strike leader mounted the craft
and. amid the applause of the no
headed and disconnected. delivere,
himself of Il fierce denunciation of til
company as greedy, grasping. oppres:
!, i've corporation and of its dock supe
intendent as a flour 6usher" and
by of words intended to deceive. Blu
, there were too many who knew tina
Smith was neither.
For my part one of the laborer
said. I've got wife and six kids, tn
eldest of which is nine. | move ths
we take another vote on this her
strike"
The motion was adopted with accl;
nation The result of the ballot wa
overwhelmingly in favor of remainin
at work
While delegates appointed to infor
the superintendent that there won
be no turnout were waiting upon hi
in his office. the other men passed II
shed indicated by Smith. pushed ope
the door and gaZed in. while othc
crowded up behind them. Arrange
all around the vast space We're nea
white cots. and in the center were lor
tables and benches.
Say" remarked one of the me
"Jimsy Smith amt no bluff. is HI
For slow speakin' and movin' m;
he's the liveliest hustler ever seem.
Half an hour later Smith once mo
lowered himself into the chair besit
| the presidents desk.
| We'll" said Captain Williams CRU
| ~. 81 understand the strikes off,"
H Yep" was the reply.
"How did you do it?"
| "rold 'em the truth"
| ue iSs5diNNA iiohi VI
| der his bushy eyebrows. brought t
| gether in his usual frown.
| ~ guess you don't often lie. Smith
| Not more than have to-"
j What preparations had you mac
D. for trouble"
" Three thousand hired army cots
No. = shed. with tables and benche
Then there's these"
He laid before the president a nuI
- Der of bids for supplying rations thr
. times a day to from 500 to 5000 M
- and kilograms from various tow
~ worded something to this effect:
~ On terms offered can ship 200 men wit
in forty-eight hours.
IN Williams read each paper CAREFUL.
"A strike at this time would ha
III meant heavy loss to the line" he q
~ served
- Smith nodded.
:. Then the captain gave utterance
=. the highest compliment he had ey
e' made to a man in his life.
:" II put It up to YOU" he said, "a