The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-20
Their United
Influence
A Story For Labor Day

4 /
I By ESTHER VANDEVEER I
*+****+*++++++<*++++++-s++*
John Bryan began to support himself
at twelve years Of age, doing odd
chores In the Pollard Manufacturing
company. Johnny was an ambitious
boy and a bright boy as well. He
knew that If he were ever to occupy
one Of the mahogany desks provided
for the chiefs Of departments he must
get some education. He had not re-
ceived much schooling as yet, for he
had been needed at home, and now
that he was at work during the day his
opportunity for study was not consid-
cradle. However, he made the most of
what there was. A couple Of hours
day was all he could afford for the
purpose, but he used those hours regu-
larly.
Johnny was fond of machinery, which
led him to study about machinery.
This led him into fields with which
machinery is connected The metals
and woods of which machinery is made
naturally interested him. and he stud
led about these and the locations where
they are found and the processes of OBJ.
tanning them and fitting them for use
The different steps by which Johnny
during twenty years assembled to the
position of general manager are not
pertinent to this story. When he was
twenty-five years old he was given one
Of the mahogany desks that he had re-
garded so long as the object Of his
ambition, but after he attained IT he
found the realization not what he had
expected. Indeed, he used 1t very lit
tie, preferring the more active work
Of experimenting the department he
managed. But as time passed and he
mounted higher in the scale of the
company's officers he found 1t neces-
sary to remain where he could be
readily reached and could communi-
cate with any and all who relied upon
him for instructions.
Bryan, on being transferred from
laborer to manager, was necessarily
q changed man. Not that he ceased
to sympathize with the workman, but
he was now in a position to see both
sides Of the labor question. He was
no longer grimy and greasy, but
dressed like man Of fashion. Oc-
casionally on meeting men beside
whom he had worked in overalls he
fancied they regarded him as one who
In becoming manager had become
also something of renegade. But this
was doubtless due to his own sensitive
ness. Any sensible laborer knows that
there are different requirements for
different duties, and with such Bryan
had an advantage in having been one
Of them
When John was placed in a position
to take sides in labor contentious
knowing as he did both sides, he al
ways placed himself in a judicial posi-
ton. determined upon what was prac
ticable-even if it did not coincide with
abstract justice-and once his mind
was made up he was immovable
Bryan had not been general manager
long before demand was made fol-
higher wages. There had been strikes
while he was manager of depart
ment, but at that time he had not been
Consulted by the officers as to the
stand they should take They had beer
forced to yield in every instance, and
now that new demand was made II
was suggested by one of them that
they try John as their representative
and place the whole matter in his
hands. He spent a week going owe,
the accounts of the company to learr
what it could afford to do and proved
conclusively to himself that If this
new demand were granted it would
cut Off the last remnant of funds fol
dividends, and the capital of the con
Germ. being unproductive, would seel
other means Of investment This would
take away from the operatives the op
portunity afforded to make living
When the committee were referred t.
Bryan they were pleased, supposint
that, having been one of them, h,
would grant their demands. Wha
was their surprise to meet with a fla
refusal. Upon their asking the caus,
Of this refusal he declined to give 4
to them, stating that 1t would be preju
dicial to the interests Of the compan,
to do so.
This unheard of action on the part o
one who had worked as they wer
working produced very bitter feeling
The operatives were at once called GU
and the works shut down.
Miss Adeline Withers, wealth,
maiden lady Of thirty. who had inter
ested herself in the welfare Of laborers
called one morning to see Bryan In be
half of the strikers.
"Mr. Bryan" she said, Il have calle
to see If something cannot be done t
end this dreadful strike. l have visite,
a number of your working people an
find them in distress. 1t is not onl
the fathers of families who are suffer
|, ing, but the wives and, what Is mos
. pitiful, the children"