Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-12-22

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. If the strike Is
not soon ended there will be many
deaths among them"
"If grant the demands" replied
the general manager, II shall be doing
the operatives an injury"
why SOP
II have refused to answer that Ques-
ton to others, but l will answer It 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
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 q time,
then lose tho whole7"
Il understand" said Mary, ''but since
you have sealed my lips what 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"
'They will not believe me. At any
rate they will not withdraw their de-
mands."
'"They will believe anything you say
to them; that is they will believe that
you have confidence In me-"
"If you could tell them what you
Ao'V toih hhSl WOulu WtluuTuW
their demands for tho 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
a blum 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 It
go as far as you can in relieving dis
tress, but do not tell that It comes
from me-"
Il WISH" said Mary, that they knew
you as well as /. They would do any
thing you ask"
II believe they will do anything you
ask"
"Why do you say thatT
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 slight color came to
Mary's cheek. She was a 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-
sonal influence over the men to induce
them to withdraw, for time at least,
demands that would deprive them Of
ability to make Il living through the
Pollard Manufacturing company.
She began at once, Ignoring tho 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
Off the strike and wait for a more
favorable opportunity TO make another
demand assuring them that when II
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 meeting. and Mary addressed
them. repeating 10 the. many what she
had said TO the few. When she had
finished there was protrncted talk,
tho 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 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
ing return TO work at once,
More than half the operatives OF the
company were present, and seven
eighths OF them voted to sustain tho
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-
ployocs 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 a 70.
quest for the readjustment Of all
wages was granted, resulting in a far
more satisfactory arrangement for
both sides than had ever existed be.
fore.
John Bryan IL now president Of the
company.