The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-10
BOWSER BUTTS IN.
And the Way He Butted Out Was
Another Thing.

For all of half an hour as Mr.. Bow
ser sat and pretended to read his
paper he was listening for the door
bell to ring.
There are times when Mr.. Bowser
is a foxy grandpa, or thinks he is,
which is almost the same thing.
He felt that it was up to him to say
something to break the long silence,
and he had his lips open to remark
that he thought a change of weather
was coming when the sound of the bell
jumped him out of his chair.
Good lands" exclaimed Mr.. Bow
ser as he trotted down the hall to open
the door. He stepped outside and held
some sort of discussion with two or
three men on the doorstep and at the
end of ten minutes re-entered the
house to say to Mrs. Bowser.
81 find I shall have to go out for an
hour or so this evening"
Some club matter ?" she queried.
mo. Those gentlemen who just
called were a committee, or, rather,
two committees, appointed to secure
my services as arbitrator between two
unions. 1 am to meet them at head
quarters. 1 was selected over scores
of others mentioned, and 1 feel a bit
proud of the honor done me-
''But what do you want to mix up
in quarrel for?" she asked.
I'm the first place there is no quar-
rel, but only a disagreement; in the
next, 1 shall hear the statements of
both sides and smooth over the little
trouble"
|'What is it about?'
''Why, as I understand it, the Nov
ing Van union and the Moving Van
employers are at loggerheads as to
what constitutes backload for a man
to carry up three flights of stairs. The
union holds to it that when a man is
loaded down with a sideboard or a
bureau that's enough, while the en-
p1oyers hold that a mattress or an
iron bedStead ought to be added. I
at headquarters. 1t has been agreed
to leave the decision to me, and L feel
somewhat flattered over it.
81 wouldn't if L were you," quietly
observed Mrs. Bowser.
"Hey? What do you mean?"
ct mean that you had better let
them fight it out among themselves"
Woman, what in thunder ails
you?"
81 simply ask you to keep out of
trouble. What is it to you whether
moving van man carries six bed
steads or only a hat box at a load?"
do you understand that this mat
ter may become a great national issue
within a month"; he asked, as he
hung on to himself.
mo, I don't"
eventually spread to the remotest parts
of the earth ?'
"Nonsensel 1 understand that if
you mix up with it you'll come home
hatless and with your coat torn off
your back"
THAT is enough, woman-that is
enough!'' said Mr. Bowser as he waved
her aside. Don't sit up for me. I
shall come home when 1 get ready.
What in blazes-
He referred to the cat, which was sit
ting up and grinning at him with her
left eye half closed. He jumped at her
with fell intention, but she sought
safety under the piano and chuckled as
passed out of the house. After a walk
of 10 minutes he reached the place
designated. 1t was a wagon shop. 1t
was next door to a saloon. There were
two men in the wagon shop and "a in
the saloon and as the "a refused to join
the two, the two finally decided to join
the "a. Mr.. Bowser didn't look upon
this as exactly parliamentary, but he
was not there to split straws- He was
expected. He was greeted as 'old man."
''boss,'' "Bowser," "pard" and so forth,
and the president of the Moving Van
union took him aside and said:
Say, now, but you'd better set 'em
up for the boys before We begin bust
ness. They done you proud, and they'll
want to see that you appreciate it."
Mr. Bowser hesitated, but only for
1t was crisis, and he never
shirked a crisis. The 81 glasses had
scarcely been emptied when the presi-
dent of the Moving Van Employers
winked him into a corner and whis-
pered;
Repeat the dose, old man. That was
a treat for the union. You must now
treat the employers"
Mr.. Bowser treated. 1t was another
crisis and he met it. Then the meeting
was called to order, and the president
of the NJ. V. E. proceeded to state his
side of the case. When he hired a man
on one of his wagons he expected that
man to do his duty. If that man was
broad enough in the back and was
strong enough in the legs to carry a