The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-08
Their United
Influence
A Story For Labor Day
By ESTHER VANDEVEER
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

at twelve years Of age, doing odd
chores in the Pollard Manufacturing
company. Johnny was an ambitious
boy and 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 a
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 it 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
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 a 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 a 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.
II 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 a depart
ment, but at that time he had not beer
consulted by the officers as to the
stand they should take. They had beer
forced to yield In every instance. ant
now that a new demand was made 4
was suggested by one of them tha
they try John as their Representative,
and place the whole matter in hi.
hands. He spent week going owe
the accounts Of the company to learr
what It could afford to do and proved
conclusively to himself that If thi.
new demand were granted it would
cut off the last remnant Of funds TO
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 a living
When the committee were referred t,
Bryan they We're pleased, supposinJ
that, having been one of them, h,
would grant their demands. VIVA
was their surprise to meet with a fla
refusal Upon their asking the caus,
Of this refusal he declined to give 1
to them, stating that 1t would be preju
l 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,
I working produced very bitter feeling
\ The operatives were at once called on
and the works shut down.
II Miss Adeline Withers, a wealth,
maiden lady of thirty. who had inter
ested herself in the welfare of laborers
called one morning to see Bryan In be
n half of the strikers.
II "Mr. Bryan" she said, II have callet
to see If something cannot be done {,
end this dreadful strike. have visited
a number of your working people ant
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"
II "The raise asked for in this case,
was the reply. cannot be granted a
this time"
"Will you tell me whyT"
II "No."
"Why not?"
"When the representatives of th,