The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-08-25
Their United
Influence
A Story For Labor Day
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

John Bryan began to support himself
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 n
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 1t 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 II neces-
sary to remain where he could be
cate with any and all who relied upon
him for instructions.
Bryan, on being transferred from
laborer to manager. was necessarily
a changed man. Not that he ceased
to sympathiZe with the workman, but
he was now In q position to see both
sides Of the labor question. He was
no longer grimy and greasy, but
dressed like man Of fashion. DC.
casionally on meeting men beside
whom he had worked In overalls he
fancicd they regarded him as one who
In becoming q manager had become
also something Of renegade. But this
was doubtless due 20 his own sensitive.
ness. ANY sensible laborer knows thar
Il
different duties. and with such Bryan
had an advantage in having been one
Oe them.
When John was placed in n position
10 take sides In labor contentious.
knowing as he did both sides, he al
ways placed himself In 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 a demand was made for
higher wages. There had been strikes
while he was manager OF depart
ment, but at that time he had not been
consulted by the officers as to the
stand they should take. They had been
forced to yield in every instance, and
now that new demand was made 1t
was suggested by one Of them that
they try John as their representative
and place the whole matter In his
hands He spent week going over
the accounts of the company to learn
what 1t could afford to do and proved
conclusively to himself that If this
new demand were granted It would
cut off the last remnant OF funds for
dividends, and the capital Of the con-
Germ. being unproductive. would seek
other means Of investment. This would
take away from the operatives the op-
portunity afforded to make living
When the committee were referred to
Bryan they were pleased, supposing
that. having been one Of them. he
would grant their demands. What
was their surprise 10 meet with II fat
refusal. Upon their asking the cause
of this refusal he declined to give II
to them. stating that it would be preju-
dicial to the interests Of the company
to do so.
This unheard Of action on the part OF
one who had worked as they were
working produced very bitter feeling
The operatives were at once called out
and the works shut down.
Miss Adeline Withers. wealthy
maiden lady of thirty, who had inter
ested herself in the welfare of laborers,
called one morning to see Bryan in be
half of the strikers.
"Mr. Bryan" she said, II have called
TO see IL something cannot be done to
end this dreadful strike. have visited
n number Of your working people and
find them In distress. 1t Is net only
the fathers Of families who are suffer
ing but the wives and. what Is most
pitiful, the children"
"The raise asked for I'm this case"
was the reply. cannot be granted at
this time
"yyfll vou tell me why!'