The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1911-09-13

Their
Representative
A Story for Labor Day Showing q
New Way Of Ending a Strike
By F. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

d Copyright by American Press Assoc
1 1854 citation, 1911.
'I'm sorry. miss, to have to tell you
that I'm going to leave you"
A girl Of twenty, whose red and
white complexion bespoke Irish blood,
stood before her mistress, lingering her
apron with evident embarrassment
'"Why, Maggie, what have doneT'
Nothing, miss"
'"Then why are you going to leave
me2"
''Well, miss-the truth is-why, miss
I'm going to be married"
''Oh, I see. Who are you going to
marry, MaggieT
slim DOolan, that works In the Aims
worth factory"
''The Ainsworth factoryY
Eyes, miss"
Margaret Etheridge, the girls mis-
tress, was interested in the Ainsworth
company as a stakeholder and through
its president and manager. Richard
Ainsworth.
''Tm sorry to lose you, Maggie" said
Miss Etheridge, "but If you are going
to be married. you can depend upon
me to give you whatever you win need
In the way of clothes, household linen
and other things, to enable you to set
mp housekeeping"
THANK you, miss"
Maggie was married and went to
live with her husband in a small suit
of rooms. Jim's wages were not very
large, but the couple made them do
very well till the first child came,
when they were obliged to take. a
backward step financially by mourning
a considerable bill for medical attend
ance. Then Jim was taken sick, and
that increased the Indebtedness.
Meanwhile Richard Ainsworth had
been pressing an unsuccessful suit
with Miss Etheridge. He had greatly
increased the output Of the Ainsworth
company since he took the manage
ment, and to the book value OF the
stock so per cent had been added. In
deed. Richard Ainsworth had come to
be considered one OF the smartest
young business men In the state. But
there were differences between him
and Margaret Etheridge that prevent
ed her from accepting him. Those
business qualifications for which the
world applauded him did not appeal
to her. She did not understand the
methods by which that silent partner
capital, was made to absorb the lions
share of the profits Of a business She
saw the operatives-men, women and
children-going to the works early In
the morning and, having worked hard
all, day, return in the evening to theil
shabby homes to repeat the process
day after day. The were working to
nay dividends ON her stock, while she
who did nothing, lived In afauence. II
seemed to her that there was some
thing wrong. She appealed to Richard
| AinsWOrth for an explanation, but his
explanations were not satisfactory
His reasons convinced her, but heI
heart, her sense of justice, We're un
moved by them.
'sWhy can't you pay your operatives
enough to enable them to live more
comfortably she asked Mr.. Aims
worth.
because of competition"
explain"
"Other concerns would be able t
Iundersell and we would be forced on
Of business"
"Why not appropriate a portion o
the dividends, which are enormous, t
the operativesT'
Because of several reasons, tn
Imost pertinent Of which is that tn
stockholders would object"
81 am a stakeholder. You may Gu
my dividends in half, giving one hal
to the operatives"
''You are one among hundreds; IN
rest, instead Of being willing to Civ
IMP their profits, are bowling for more
my dear Margaret, you don't under
stand such things"
"Does anybody understand themY
eyes, one-Providence."
One day Maggie Doolan sent pit
full message to Margaret, scrawled |
pencil on a bit OF paper, saying tina
she was i'll, her husband was away 9
his work all day, the children had p
lone to take care of them, and Jina
Iwages were pledged for debts. B.
Isides this, there was nothing to eat
1.-THE house. Margaret Immediately 50
lied forth with q well filed purse ant
lstopping at the provision shops by th
way, carried comfort to the distresses
AS she was coming away, Jim came
with q rueful countenance and, throw
ling himself into a chair, dropped b
head in his arms on table. M
what is 1t. Jim?" asked his wife
a frightened tone.
''The strike is on" was the mournfV
reply.
"Oh, heavensv' cried Maggie in di
may.
"What are the hands striking for
asked Margaret Etheridge.
'Ten per cent advance all around"
"And do you mean that you wi
have no income whatever till the ma
ter is settled?"
; 81 do" -,
"How much do you earnY'
sTwenty-one dollars a week"
} 'Very well. Every weekly pay "a
I will send you check for th'
amount"
Margaret left, leaving relieved ar
thankful household behind her.
The strike proved to be prOlonge
one. One evening while 1t was
progress Richard AinswOrth and Ma
garet Etheridge were sitting in b
home discussing the matter.
: why do you not give the men VIII
they demand?" she asked.
For a number of reasons first, If
Q do within six months they will NAL
another demand, and so on until y
pay them so much that we can't ma
a ufacture at a profit. This will dri
us out of business and them out
. omnlOvment"