The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-11-09
Their United
Influence
A Story For Labor Day
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

chores In the Pollard ManuActnrin
company. Johnny was an ambition
boy and bright boy az well II,
knew that n he were ever TO occup.
one OF the mahogany desks provided
for the chiefs OF departments he mus
get some education. He had not re
ceived much schooling as yet. for b,
Ind been needed at home. and now
that he was at work during the day his
opportunity for study was not consid
cradle However. be 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 II 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 passctand he
mounted higher In the scale' of the
company's officers he found II neces-
sary to remain where he could he
readily reached and could communi
cate with any and all who relied upon
him for Instructions.
Bryan. on being transferred from
iaborer to manager. was necessarily
a changed man. Not that he ceased
TO sympathize with the workman, but
he was now In position to see both
sides OF the labor question. He was
no longer grimy and greasy, but
dressed like man OF fashion. Oc- |
''ft'f"ht VII intttluk men DtSlue |
whom he had worked IN overans he |
fancied they regarded him as one who |
In becoming manager had become |
llso something OF a renegade. But this
Was doubtless due to his own sensitive
ness. Any sensible laborer knows that
here are different requirements for
duties. and with such Bryan
had an advantage IN having been one
" them.
When John was placed In a position
o take sides In labor contentious.
moving as he did both sides. he al
Ways placed himself In 4 judicial posi-
Ion. determined upon what was prac-
cable-cven II It did not coincide with
bstrsct justice-and once his mind
Fss made up he was immovabie. II
Bryan had not been general manager
ing before demand was made for
igher wnges. There had been strikes 4
lille he was manager OF depart :
rent. but at that time he had not been a
by the officers as to the a
and they should take. They had been q
'rced to yield IN every instance. and $
ow that new demand was made It q
as suggested by one OF them that d
icy try John as their representative a
nd place the whole matter In his
snds- He spent week going over
10 accounts OF the company 10 learn q
hat 1t could afford 10 do and proved c,
'nclusively to himself that II this s.
w demand were granted 1t would 81
L en- the last remnant OF funds for b
and the capital OF the con Il
IN. being unproductive. would seek b,
her means OF investment. This would | OF
ke away from the operatives the op IA
rtuniry afforded 10 make living d,
hen the committee were referred to W
'yan they We're pleased. surprising
at having been one OF them. he Ia
'uld grant their demands What err
Is their surprise 10 meet with Nat ca
'usaL Upon their asking the cause tn
this refusal he declined To give II hn
them. stating that II would he preju. lr
'ial to the interests OF the company tn
do 80. de
his unbeard OF action on the part OF sp
? who had worked MS they We're re.
rking produced very bitter feeling. ms
e operatives were at once called out an
the works shut down. '
Hiss Adeline Wlthcrs. n wealthy for
iden lady of thirty. who had inter ou'
ed herself In the welfare OF laborers. inr
led one morning TO see Bryan IN be-
( OF the strikers. 90,
Mr.. Bryan" she said, II have called e,r
see IL something cannot be done TO res
this dreadful strike. have visited mo
lumber OF your working people and | be.
them In distress. II Il not only wo
fathers Of families who are suffer. IND
but the wives and. what Is most enc
full. the children" II
The mise asked for In this cnse.s p,o
} the reply. cannot be granted at con
time" Tot
VIII You tell me whyY' vii
TO-" and
Why nU7" IN,
When the Representatives Of the wn,
erican people ask for informa ton mo,
he president on any given matter bot
ch he declines 10 give. he says that for,
ould be Incompatible with the vel j,
Of the nation. My reply Is much con