Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-09-05

,,,u discharge every operative Parties
who hold the majority Of the stocA
are debating whether to sell tne con-
troll to the trust or hold On. hoping TOT
a change In the market for our manu-
features. II they sell the wages you
have all been getting viii be iost 60
you. Is It not better to keep what you
have than get little more for q time.
then lose the wholer
II understand" said Mary, but since
you have sealed my lips whaf am
to dor
.only one thing is practicable. tell
the leaders that you have seen me-
that you have confidence ! am doing
the best for the operatives as well as
for the company"
aThey will not believe me- At any
rate they win not withdraw their de-
mands."
~They will believe anything you say
to them; that is they will believe tnai
you have confidence in me-.
"If you could tell them what you
have told me, they would withdraw
their demands for the present.
81 could not tell them all, and those
who have engineered this matter DO
not happen to have my confidence
They would consider what ] told them
a bluff and would not keep the secret
Bryan went to the safe. opened II
and took out package Of bank bills
Take this" he said. "and make II
60 as far as you can in relieving OILS
tress. but do not tell that 1t comes
from me-"
" wish" said Mary, that they knew
vou as vel, as I. They would do any
thing you ask"
T believe they will do anything you
ask
why do you say thatT
Because they know you to %
noble :drL"
Whether there was something In the
tone Of voice in which these words
were spoken or the look that accom-
nan,ed them q slight color came to
Mary's check. She was a child when
BRYAN was passing from the work
mans bench to the mahogany desk. but
she hid known him in both spheres.
and he had l,een her idol Without
unot,;er word she left him, resolved 10
make strong effort to utilize her per-
sonal influence over the men to induce
them 10 withdraw, for time at least.
demands that would deprive them OF
ubility to make a living through the
Pollard Manufacturing company.
She began at once, ignoring the lead
ers Of the strike. making her appear 10
| certain conservative persons whom
she knew to be friendly to the general
superintendent. She told them that he
had convinced her that in refusing
their demands he was acting In ther
lest interest. She begged them to cal
off the strike and wait for more
favorable opportunity to make another
demand, assuring them that when 1t
vas best he would favor them.
The persons to whom she appealed
alked with others, and they with 9th
-. Without their leaders sanction they
allied meeting. and Mary addressed
hem. repeating to the many what sne
Ind said to the few. When she had
.nIshed there was q protracted talk.
he operatives gathering In groups and
debating whether. first, to trust the
speaker and, second, the man she rep
| resented. Before the final adjourn
ment the meeting was called to order
and a resolution was offered:
| Whereas, we have implicit trust In our
| former fellow workman. John Bryan. and
| our companion. Mary Boyd, therefore re-
| solved that we who constitute this meet
| ag return to work at once
More than half the operatives Of the
ompany were present, and seven.
cighths Of them voted to sustain the
resolution. 1t was carried, and the
meeting adjourned with cheers for the
best man and the best woman In the
world. The action Of these operatives
influenced the rest, and the strike was
ended.
That was the last strike Of the en-
ployees Of the Pollard Manufacturing
company. One year from that time
John Bryan increased his influence
with them by marrying Mary Boyd.
and on the day Of the wedding re-
quest for the readjustment Of all
wages was granted. resulting in far
more satisfactory arrangement fos
both sides than had ever existed be-
fore.
John Bryan Is now president Of tn
company.