The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-06

 had he given out a contract for an ad- dition to the factory than one of those clouds that come across the business ho- rizon now and then developed. Or ders were withdrawn. Collections were slow and he had to use so much money for the addition to the factory that the banker suggested he be rather care- ful, as money was getting tight.
 Overton did not have much appetite for dinner when he reached home. As us- ual he talked over the affairs of the day with his wife She tried to cheer him, but it was no use. He went to bed early, but he couldn't sleep Hour after hour he tossed about thinking and thinking. It was almost daybreak when at last he slumbered. At o'clock he was at the factory. The men came in and went to their machines, but there was a spirit of unrest and suppressed ex- citement about the whole establishment. No factory in the country turned out better work than the Overton plant He picked his men with care and never let tool go out of his shop unless 1t was first class. His men were the most skillful in the trade and he paid them above the regular wage scale on that &C., count, but they never did such poor work as on that Friday.
 When he reached home that night Mrs Overton met him with beaming face
 "John," she said. i've been studying all day and I studied all last night for way out of the difficulty. I don't know If I have found it, but sit down and while you are eating I'll explain it to you"
 began. He did not think much of her idea at first, but as she talked he caught little of her enthusiasm.
 ''It is worth trying,'' he said at last, and then they discussed her plan in detail.
 There was no sign of depression about Overton when he went to his office on Saturday morning. He didn't go into the -actory or look at the men at the ma chimes. Instead he set the office force to working as they hadn't worked since the visit of the delegation. Typewriters clicked, pens were kept busy, and before noon dozen messengers were sent out with bundles of letters all addressed to women. The letters were directed to the wives, sisters and mothers of the men who worked in the plant--to whoever of the women folk were concerned most iirectly in the welfare of the men, If man was single and lived in a boarding house the message went to his landlady. If he supported widowed parent it went to his mother. Inclosed with each of the missives was a silver quarter. Each letter requested the person receiving it to come to the factory at p. m. or send some of the women folk of the family. The quarter was for carfare. for the factory was quite way out of town.
 The women began to arrive soon after O clock. They never had received such summons before. and they could not un- derstand what it portended. Some of them brought their children. By o'clock the office was packed. Mrs. Overton never had seen the women, but her husband in troduced her. He knew most of them. From the office the party adjourned to the restaurant. That establishment never had held such a gathering before. Tea had been brewed, and there were sand- wiches and cakes. For the children there was supply of candy. Most of the women-there were 250 or more present had to stand while they slipped their tea, for there were not chairs enough to seat them.
 When they all had been served Mir. Overton arose.
 My friends,'' he said, T have invited you here this afternoon to tell you some things about this factory. and to ask you to aid me in solving problem that is of great importance to me and of consider able importance to you. I am going to start at the beginning and tell the whole story so simply, so plainly, that there can be no misunderstanding
 This factory is my life's work. Your husbands, sons and brothers are parts of the establishment. Some of you may not know what years of struggle this plant represents. I worked for long time at a machine and at a forge, just as your men folk do today. I was care less, happy -go-lucky and improvident. ctr lo in cb