The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-08

winch tney might take advantage 10
| 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 a dismissal.
The strike continued, the mills were
idle. the operatives suffered. One day
Mary Boyd, one of the hands, 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 l grant the demands" replied
the general manager, 81 shall be doing
the operatives an injury"
"Why SOP
II have refused to answer that ques-
ton to others, but l will answer 1t to
you on your promise not to reveal it."
II promise"
| VERY we'll 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 1t. 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 hoh 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 time,
then lose the whole?
az 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 l am doing
the best for the operatives as we'll 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
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 1t,
and took out package Of bank bills.
"Take this" he said, land make II
60 as far as you can in relieving dis.
tress, but do not tell that 1t comes
from me-"
J II wish," said Mary, "that they knew
|, you as well as l. They would do any
, thing you ask"
II believe they will do anything you
ask"
"Why do you say that?"
Because they know you to be q
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 t6
r Mary's cheek. She was child wher
r 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 t.
! make q strong effort to utilize her per
I sonal influence over the men to induce
t them to withdraw. for time at least
t demands that would deprive them OF
e ability to make living through the
> Pollard Manufacturing company.
r She began at once, ignoring the lead
a ers of the strike, king her appeal tt
I certain conservative persons whom
3 she knew to be friendly to the genera
] superintendent. She told them that HI
r had convinced her that In refusing
: their demands he was acting in thei
( best interest. She begged them to cal
] off the strike and wait for a more
= favorable opportunity to make anothe
. demand. assuring them that when !
D was best he would favor them.
2 The persons to whom she appealed
e talked with others, and they with 9th
t ers. Without their leaders sanction the!
( called meeting, and Mary addressed
e them. repeating to the many what sh'
{ had said to the few. When she hat
+ finished there was a protracted talk
= the operatives gathering In groups ant
debating whether. first, to trust thu
( speaker, and, second, the man she rep
e resented. Before the final adjourn
!, ment the meeting was called to orde
{ and resolution was offered:
Whereas, we have implicit trust in gu
= former fellow workman. John Bryan. an'
our companion, Mary Boyd, therefore re
| solved that we who constitute this meet