The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-05

/ ctal condition of this company would
be to give our competitors points Of
/ which they might take advantage to
drive us out of business. Indeed. to
grant what the men ask or give rea-
son why it is refused would kill the
goose that lays their golden egg"
This was not satisfactory to Miss
Withers, and she told Bryan so, at the
same time reproaching him for refus-
ing to help his former fellow laborers.
Upon this he informed her that he had
nothing further to say on the subject,
which statement she could not but
consider dismissal.
The strike continued, the mills were
idle. the operatives suffered. One day
Mary Boyd, one Of the hands, a girl of
twenty, visited Bryan in his office and
said to him:
Mr.. Bryan, some Of the children
are literally starving. II the strike is
not soon ended there will be many
deaths among them"
III grant the demands" replied
the general manager, II shall be doing
the operatives an injury"
"Why soY'
| Il have refused to answer that ques-
ton to others, but will answer 1t to
/ you on your promise not to reveal it."
II promise"
| very well. We are barely making
the dividends. and so far as we can
look ahead will run behind on the
next seasons manufactures, and there
will be no dividends at ALL A trust
has been formed to produce our goods,
and their policy is to shut down half
OF the mills they can get into It, They
are now scheming to get possession Of
these works, and as soon as they do
Will discharge every operative Parties
| who hold the majority Of the stock
are debating whether to sell the con-
troll to the trust or hold on, hoping for
a change in the market for our manu-
features. If they sell the wages you
have all been getting will be lost to
you. Is 1t not better to keep what you
have than get little more for a time,
then lose the whole?"
| Il understand" said Mary, "but since
you have sealed my lips what am I
to DOR
"Only one thing is practicable. tell
the leaders that you have seen me,
that you have confidence I am doing
the best for the operatives as well as
fog the company"
| ''They will not believe me. At any
rate they will not withdraw their de.
mands."
"rhey will believe anything you say
to them; that is they will believe that
you have confidence in me-" L.
III you could tell them what you
have told me. they would withdraw
their demands for the present"
II 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
bluff and would not keep the secret"
Bryan went to the safe, opened It
and took out package of bank bills.
Take this" he said, land make 1t
go as far as you can In relieving dis.
tress, but do not tell that 1t comes
from me-"
II WISH" said Mary, that they knew
you as well as 1. They would do any.
thing you ask"
Il believe they will do anything you
ask"
"Why do you say that?"
Because they know you to be a
noble girl"
Whether there was something in the
tone of voice in which these words
were spoken or the look that accom-
panied them a slight color came to
Mary's cheek. She was child when
Bryan was passing from the work
mans bench to the mahogany desk but
she had known him In both spheres,
and he had been her idol. Without
another word she left him, resolved to
make a strong effort to utilize her per-
them to withdraw, for time ut least,
demands that would deprive them Of
ability to make living through the
Pollard Manufacturing company.
She began at once. ignoring the lead
ers Of the strike, making her appeal to
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 their
best interest She begged them to call
Off the strike and wait for a more
favorable opportunity to make another
demand, assuring them that when 1t
was best he would favor them.
The persons to whom she appealed
talked with others, and they with 9th
ers. Without their leaders sanction they
called a meeting. and Mary addressed
them, repeating to the many what she
had said to the few. When she had
finished there was a protracted talk,
the 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 q resolution was offered:
Whereas. we have implicit trust in our
former fellow workman, John Bryan. and
our companion, Mary Boyd, therefore re-