Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-14

Margaret went out and saw crowd
of upturned faces, lighted only by a
street lamp.
Three cheers for the Teddy strike
sympathizerv cried the man who had
brought her out
The cheers were given with a will,
and when quiet was restored Mar
garet said:
81 can't say exactly that l am a
strike sympathizer, but 1 can say that
1 am a sympathizer with you and your
families. am a stakeholder in the
Ainsworth company. and if by throw
ing off all my dividends except what
1 need to keep body and soul together
1 could end this strike would do So"
Good for your LET the other
stockholders do the same-' For
Gods sake, end it,
How would you like to make me
your representative to confer in your
name with the management Of the
AinSworth company with a view to
compromise"
BULLY" go ahead!" "Do't"'
Margarets introducer held up his
hand for silence and said:
"AH in favor of Miss Etheridge rep
resenttng us say aye"
There was wild shout OF ayes. No
noes were called for or given.
VERY WELL said Margaret. "Tomor-
row morning at 10 o'clock L will be
ready to receive a committee of men
who are workers, men who have been
supporting their families by their Ia
Dor in the works of the AinswoTth
company Don't send any one else.
If you do 1 shall decline to act for
you
She withdrew, followed by wild
shouts from labOrers delighted with
the novel plan of endeavoring to secure
their demands through Il stakeholder
and a woman. In ten minutes more
the neighbOrhood was deserted
The next morning Richard Aims
worth was at Margarets home some
time before the appearance of the com
mittee and was shown into room by
himself ready to decide upon any
proposition that might be made. When
the committee arrived they were plac-
ed in the drawing room. Margaret en-
tered and said:
Make your demand"
"Our only demand" replied the
spokesman. lis for 10 per cent ad-
vance"
IF the raise is granted, how long
before a demand will be made for an
other raiseT"
The committee conferred and finally
agreed to pledge themselves that no
new demand should be made within
two years.
How is.the management of the com
pany to be assured that you viii keep
this pledge?"
After another consultation the spokes-
man said, Every operative will sign
a written pledge to you, and you can
give your word to the management"
VERY well. Wait here"
Withdrawing, Margaret went into
the room occupied by the manager and
made him the proposition.
Now Richard Ainsworth had
shrewd head in more ways than one.
He could see an opportunity when IL
presented itself, and he saw one now.
Margaret" he said, the terms are
accepted on one condition"
What is it,"
THAT you make an additional
pledge"
What pledge?"
''TO become my wife"
Margaret was not ready TO give a
definite answer. She tried to satisfy
him with an evasion. All to no pur-
pose. He stood firm as a rock. Either
the stipulation must be introduced
into the agreement or the strike must
go on. Finally she put out her hand
and turned away her face. Ainsworth
took the hand and sealed the contract
with q kiss.
That night there was n demonstra-
ton about Margaret Etheridge's home,
and nothing would satisfy the demon
stration except carrying their repre-
sentatives in a chair on their shout
ders around the factory and home
again.