davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-02-21
LONGER DAY
In Shops to Hasten
Railroad Repairs
Is Being Considered by Federal Rail
road Commission-No Surplus Sup
ply Of Mechanics-Women Used in
Railroad Work

Washington. Feb. 2O.-Advantages of
the eight hour day as described to the
Railroad Wage Commission by repre-
sentatives of the employees were ques-
at the same time disclosed that rep
resentatives of the Federal Railroad
Commission were considering the ad-
visibility of lengthening the work day
in the shops, in order 10 hasten re-
pairs.
w. J. Tollerton, general superintend-
ent of motive power for the Chicago,
Rock Island apd Pacific. read a tele-
gram from r. II. Ashton, western re-
gional director, which asked:
DO you not believe we are justified
in working locomotive roundhouses as
many hours as possible?"
No Surplus of Mechanics
Mr.. Tollerton said he had replied,
recommending a 10-hour day provided
the unions would accept time and u
Hail pay IcE Tie lUlI HOui DIS Is uOW
paid for the 9Th, instead OF eXacting
penalty Of ve-hours pay for the 10th
hour, according to existing agreements.
He declared that there was no sur
plus supply Of mechanics and that he
believed mechanics very shortly would
be used exclusively in "essential' pro-
duction to carry the country through
the present crisis.
Dr. McBain of the New York Cen
trail lines west said the nine hour and
ten-hour shifts of workers had been
the salvation" of his road during the
winter, in enabling all the motive pow
er to be kept in commission.
do you not believe that a man does
as much work in eight hours as in 1O?"
Secretary Lane, chairman of the CON
mission, asked both witnesses, recalling
the contention of union leaders that
the eight hour day resulted in as much
work per man as the longer shift be-
cause of increased efficiency.
That has not been our experience"
Mr.. Tollerton said.
I'VE get as much work. out of the
last hour on the piece basis as the
first hour" Mr.. McBain replied. That's
what pulled us through
Commissioner McChord said the In
terstate Commerce Commission has in
formation that some shops are not
working as much as eight hours
Reasons for congested traffic were
sought by the commission in discus
sion of shop wages and conditions
The operating officials said the wealth
er was responsible
Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-02-21

,,,., m r. Hurley return
wednesday from a short visit ~ Pa
land.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

took a slip Of paper handed him and
raised his hand for silence,
''The shipowners announce that
because Of the removal Of this very
serious charge against you, they are
willing to grant the demands Of the
longshoremenI"
It was as though a whirlwind had
struck a forest The mass Of men
went wild. Shouts resounded while
men tossed their hats into the air,
slapped each other on the back.
wrung each others hands. Grant
watched them for q few moments,
smiling. another blow BY Germany
had been ayerted II was worth the
horror and danger Of the last hour.
His work for the night was over. He
turned to go.
With thoughts free from the long
shoremen and their difficulties set
tied, his mind reverted to the subject
nearest his heart, and one which
even in moments OF greatest danger
and suspense, or widest excitement,
he was ever conscious of. Dixie
Mason's dark eyes seemed to look
Wistfully at him from the darkness.
Dixie's little jaunt to the Ten-Mile
House with Won Lertz had almost
proved highly worth the necessity Of
enduring his attentions for several
hours. They had danced and dined
and danced again, and Won Lertz had
ordered many drinks. AS he tmbibed
drink after drink he became with
each one a little less careful q shade
more loquacious. But he dropped no
word Of proceedings that she recog-
nized as Of any importance. Dixie
grew a little discouraged and tired
as the time passed. She was about
to suggest the necessity Of returning
to the city when a door slammed
noisely In q state Of nervous ten
sion, Dixie started upsetting the
small glass Of cordial that had been
served to her. The bright colored
liquid ran in a quick stream Inward
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
The Spy
Squeals.

pointed
There"
Halfway down the hall the huge
form of the dock foreman rose and
started with a rush toward the door.
But his path vas blocked. Hands
shot out to seize mis- and pinion
them, struggling, to his sides.
Fighting and cursing. they carried
him to the platform and faced him
toward the spy.
Ten minutes Of excited talking,
followed hot with deRials and aecu-
sations banded between the fore
man and the spy. Suddenly the dock
foreman turned to his audience.
"He's right! l told him to cut the
hawsers to sink the vessel"
The president Of the longshore-
mems union broke into the silence
that followed the confession.
Phone the shipowners at once!
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

who had leaped to his feet and was
striding up and down the aisle in
defiance Of the gavel beating for
orSer. One after another the long
shoremen joined in his cry, hypno-
tized by his apparent earnestness,
eager to follow his evident leader
ship.
"Strike! Strike Well bring these
shipowners to their senses. What
have they done for us"
In the overturned hulk Of the Ar
sulus, still fighting the death that
seemed imminent, the members of
the Criminology Club racked their
brains for a means Of escape from
the waters threatening to engulf
them.
Grant reached out a hand in the
darkness and encountered a clenched
fist. "Cavanaugh, is that yOu?"
@Yes," the reply bordered on =
"SOme kind of Grating here. I've
got a bale hook picked up some
where"
"a bale hook? Give it to me-"
Csvanaugh handed the implement
to Grant, who dragged himself to
the pinnacle Of the debris and began
a systematic tapping on the steel
hull Of the vessel with the handle
Of the heavy hook.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
CdmiBOIOEy
Club At Meeting.

hlrrFying ranks and wedged them
selves into the hall where the union
meetings were held, amid a crowd
of perspiring, cursing. excited long
Eheremen.
The chairman Of the shipowners'
COMMITTEES was speaking. As his
voice was raised 3 silence fell upon
the crowd.
e "Aen; We EAHt 70 be fair. You
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
How the Kaiser's Secret Agents Tried To
Weaken America Through Plots Against
Labor Unions Attempted to Tie Up
l~i Whole East Seaboard

the edge Of the table, toward her.
Dixie drew back.
There Was -
lzT.T. waiter near. Won
oa Hs.'1 - Lertz whipped
His Booklet. mt 4 eloan hsr5.
kerehief from his
pocket Unmotieed by him . small
ieather-eolored booklst slipped from
his pocket with che handkerchief and
dropped to the floor. Dixie's quick
ewes saW-t- and while she thanked
Won Leftz with q gratitude that, IN
der different circumstances. he would
have thought somewhat profuse for
the service rendered, Dixie slipped
her foot over the little book
The slamming door had admitted
two newcomers, q man and = girl
The girl Dixie recognized q once
as a member Of the Secret Service
and catching her eye, she signalod
to her to come over.
Won Lertz, ever on the alert foe
new eonquests, lost no time in ask
ing the girl to dance with HIM.
Dixie had known this would happen.
As the girl and Won Lertz eircled
away from the table she excused her
self to the girls escort, leaned over,
picked up the little notebook and
left the room. A moment later in
the dressing room she stared vide
eyed and with quiekening breath e
a report in which were jotted down
items, all planning death and do
struction and horror Of 3 yaSt1ea9
beyond comprehension!
IcovyriEht. 1Ils. by the whssisr syaaiaasA.
Incl
Next Sundays article-No. T-the Dloe
Of Lieut. Robert Fay, sent ~ 80
ciaI emissary to Ameriea by the IN
perial German government 70 destroy
shipping through a newly inVento4
5iabolIcaI bomb and "rid the ocean
Of ships within six months.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

Grant, Cava-
nsugh, Sisso n
and Steward. of
the Criminology
Club, joined the
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
Quizzing
the Prisoner.

gentlemen in distress?"
Yes, Mr.. Grant And do you feel
like answering any questions"
"If they are necessary"
They're necessary all right II
you'll just come over here on the
dock, please. MuldOon's got a prison
er. Saw him running away from the
the dock here and tripped him up.
He'll confess, all right"
Grant followed the patTolman into
the warehouse. Muldoon clutched q
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
Union Hears
of Sinking.

his greeting, and then another
silence, while the voice Of the speak
er at the other end of the line came
to their ears in squeaky accents.
As they watched him, the chair
mans face hardened.
Here, say that over again. No!
Well they've reached the limit. This
means the end" The receiver
banged into its socket and the chair
man faced the group of tense men at
the table.
Gentlemen, the Arsulus has just
been sunk at its dock. You were
warned that if another depreciation
occurred we would lock you out
whether you struck or not" His fist
crashed to the table. THAT ship was
Loaded so it would capsize. A mil
lion dollars worth of property has
been destroyed. We will fight you
now to the finish. l must bid you
good evening" Calmly and coldly
he threaded his way through the
crowds of longshoremen into whose
minds of the greatness of this new
blow, just struck, was beginning to
penetrate.
There was a sudden burst OF sound
as men tried to make themselves
heard, seeking for recognition, yell
ing, shouting. Again and again the
gavel crashed to the table for order.
Finally, reluctantly it came.
The president of the Longshore-
-
turned faces of his men.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

cringing form. That's no one !
know, Muldoon- He is probably 8
confederate"
HE said he did it all, Mr.. Grant"
"A favorite take with these Ger
man spies, Muldoon. Here you!" He
grasped the spy suddenly. 81 want
you to tell the truth and tell It quick.
Where's the foreman of this dOckf
The spy swallowed with evident ef-
fort, and then gasped out
Gone to a labor meeting"
"He gave you orders to cut those
hawsers DIDN'T he?"
The spy's eyes wayered, and then,
held by Grants glance camel back.
"Yes."
"Why?"
The spy shrugged his shoulders.
HE had orders to sink the ship"
From whom"
q don't know. He. wanted them
to think the longshoremen did it."
"And bring about a strike? Very
simple Now we'll go over to the
labor meeting and you can tell the
people you see there this same little
story"
The spy, with a sudden jerk tried
to free himself, but Muldoon's bnrly
fist clenched on his shoulder.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

There Il . WORK fer every PeEssl
ts Dc in this WaF-fOod q aM1unitsa
-are you wasting hid. c. Fed A.
uiuiHtratsr. st-..sss.l
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

Men, we must
declare ourselves.
This man has
confessed that an
effort has been
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
Calling the
Strike

ME k0k W AAlu gAk LUZ CAAA anu
put stop to it today"
Billy stared at him hopelessly,
What you going to do? Ger
many is behind this, but she is hid
ing 50 tight we can't find her. "
The CriminolOgy Club could see hid
den N this wild maze Of misunder-
standing the hands Of Won Rintelen,
Bernstorf, Albert, Won Papen, Boy
, Ed, and Won Lertz as the longshore-
men could not. They could see the
hands, but could not shackle them.
The German dock foreman, upon
whom Won Rintelen had called the
night before. was rushing his mex
perienced crew. The work Of load
ing the Arsulus had gone forward
With rush. Burly laborers, ignO-
. rant Of the crime in which they were
being used as tools, loaded crates
and boxes Of produce into the hold Of
the ArsuIuS. Reinforced here and
there BY men with whom the fore
: man was familiar, and who were we'll
. aware Of their share in the crime,
: driven AMI roared and cursed at by
the foreman, the laborers bent to
their task. And the cargo Of the
Arsulus piled high against the hold
on the water side of the vessel. Her
hawsers were pulling at their moor
ings She creaked and ratified with
the wash OF the current, and listed
slightly Ia her slip. But in the seeth-
ing mselstrom Of activity these
things passed unnodced.
Toward the end of the afternoon,
Grant picked up the word that the
men at Union headquarters had
taken up the question of a strike
With the shipowners once more. That
they were seeking to convince them
that there should be one more con-
ference before the strike was called.
And at last the word came that the
Ehipow1ers had consented to their
pleas ind would confer with them
that there should be one more con-
ference before the strike was called
The quitting bell changed and the
men of the day shift dropped their
trucks. For a brief space compare.
tive quite reigned where all had been
noise, clatter, ear-splitting crashes
combined with shouts Of men In q
fever heat Of excitement.
NA
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
The Turn Of
the Tide.

made to make us allies Of Germany
in an attempt to tie up shipping and
paralyze American industries. Do
you. consent to be tools Of Imperial
Germany or do you prefer to be free
Americans"
In a moment the hall resounded
with shouts
"Americansi Americans"
The president turned as his secre-
tary touched him on the elbow. He
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
The Dock
Men Enraged

We must remember, however, IN our
excitement and resentment, that in
the past the shipowners have treated
US with a large measure Of fairness.
Now we must face these new prob
lens. The chairman of the ship
owners committee has just an
nounced to US that they will refuse
to treat with US
"Then let's strike. Give them their
answer. Strike!
1t was the German dock foreman
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

As the day wore on, members Of
Ehe Criminology Club, in their as
glmed capacity of dock hands,
heard with irritating frequency the
announcement of the strike meeting
ea5led for that night. The sudden
ehanRe Of attitude Of the ship own
I@1 toward the longshoremen was
lrREiing and puZZling. Harrison
rInt confessed his bewilderment
> himself even as he tried to dis
~ it by joining the small groups
lat gathered here and there, lis
ming for the meager information
hair conversation contained. The
ak was mostly Of an argumenta-
live nature, discussion rising mag
ally ever the soaring cost of liv-
ne, their long hours, and the
rngE, faneied or otherwise, heap
~ mon them by the shipowners.
In eSch little group Grant noticed,
when excitement Jagged or one more
cool headed than the rest counseled
less haste and more caution, less
hOt-headed talk and more cool
thOught that at least one OF the
kLOWN N81 EC14g W oSAA NAGAL AE
into argument again. But in these
troublesome agitatOrs neither Grant
nor his ccnfreres could recognize
any Of the paid agents of the Ger
man government known to them.
The sinking of the lighter had
become the main topic Of conversa-
ten. During the noon hour excite
Rent and agitation ran high. The
lonRshoremen resented being ac-
cused Of sinking the lighter. We
hemently group after group dis
claimed, any such guilt. And while
enc group, hot in its denials, still
seemed 70 believe that the shipown-
ers would listen to their denials Of
guilt, tine and again Grant heard
references to the sinking Of the
HkhteP rs though it had been the
work Of the longshoremen, and such
was q eommendable act in view Of
the wrongs done them, These agi-
tators hsrlDew were foreign ele-
zaent.
The air was permeated with the
hgtrike fever, and the fever was fed
by remarks, actions, hints, constant
Ily, passing among the wokmen, but
none Of them traceable to men Of
known German leanings. Passing
Billy Cavanaugh, Grant signaled to
him to stop a moment and, while he
lnopped bis perspiring forehead,
Seonfded his doubts to him
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

lie aryi S o
you're the one
who does the Des-
perate Desmond
act and rescues
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

Boys, thi s
meeting is not of
our holce.
Strange things
have happened.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

Grant and his men inside the hatch
way were beating at the door in an
effort to break it open. Suddenly
they felt the movement Of the YES
sci as it listed sharply. They heard
the gathering and crashing Of trucks,
benches and tools falling from their
places sliding over the floor of the
hold. The vessel trembled as the
last hawser parted and, with a sud-
den lurch, the Arsulus capsized,
carrying with her to what seemed
certain death the four members of
the Criminoiogy Club.
Perhaps to death, but a death they
would fight to the last! Boxes and
bales tumbled and crashed about. A
portfolio on the underside burst un-
der the pressure of water and a
geyserlike stream spouted up. The
men knew that the water was flow
ing in, that it was only a matter of
a short time before the vessel would
be submerged and that to the chill
shadow of the hold would be added
the shadow of death! Scrambling
from one box to another they eluded
the ever-rising wave of water. At
last they had reached the highest
point of vantage they could find.
And, for a short time at least. the
waters seemed at a standstill.
Above them was the cold steel side
Of the vessel Below them the
churn and rush of water.
While Harrison Grant and his
friends fought for their lives in the
hold of the wrecked Arsulus, the
conference at the headquarters of
the union proceeded. Order was be-
ing formulated out of chaos, the
longshoremen's demands were being
gathered into shape, and it seemed
that a settlement agreeable to all
was about to be reached. Suddenly
the telephone on the table tangled.
One of the union officials answered
1t, then turned it over to the chair
man of the shipowners' committee.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

In . moment
the operatives
deciphered the
message he was
sending in Morse
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

"Strike meeting
tonight, and they
don't know the
real reason for
their strike! And
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

He saw the
three men leap
forward TO the
ships side. He
hattened himself
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
An ImprOmptu
Help Call.

code.
"Send help! Send help!" he sig
nailed over and over, and when his
arm was about to fail Cavanaugh
scrambled to his side and took up
the tapping. How long they waited
they could not tell Time dragged
and the waters began to rise again
while the splashing about Of floating
boxes, drifting among the debris
drowned out the outside noises.
Grant, reaching up with the bale
hook to begin his signaling once
more was startled to see a tiny spot
of red glowing above his head in the
darkness. A moment more and the
spot changed to white, and he lurch-
ed sideways as a kissing drop Of
molten steel sung past his ear and
dropped into the water with a burst
Of steam.
A greenish fame showed through
the steel, the fame Of an acetylene
torch, lighting the watery, floating
hold like a CLINT Of summer light
ming. And as they watched it the
hole grew and grew. At last a mass
Of steel dropped into the water and
through the widened hole, Grant
CAUGHT glimpse Of the stars twin
King in the Nsl5y. A shadow fell
across the opening and they heard
a voice believing to them above the
sound Of the water.
Who's there? ?"
Harrison Grant, Cavanaugh, Stew
ard, Sissoni" Four masculine voices
shouted the necessary information.
"oh, all right, gentlemen! Hold
tight until the edges have cooled.
Just minute now
Five minutes later the four mem
bers OF the Criminology Club, bruised
and battered, wet and ragged, stood
upright on the hull of the capsized
vessel, under the bright stars, with
the cool breath Of the river blowing
into their grateful nostrils. The light
from the docks glinted on the buttons
and stars which adorned the coats of
their rescuers. Grant leaned forward
and peered into the face Of one Of
the patrolmen.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

Its for you. "
There was a
moments silence
while he fumbled
with the receiver, ,
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

he called to his secretary.
The dock foreman was talking
again.
at was the intention to fasten the
blame for the depreciation on the
longshoremen. We knew if that
ship was turned over nothing could
stop a strike. And we want a
strike"
"Who hired you?" Grant cut in
sharply
A man named Gates"
@First name?"
Il don't, know"
Address ?"
81 don't know"
'fNo, don't suppose So" Harri-
son Grant smiled sarcastically. 1t
was not the first time that he had
questioned a German spy-only to
find out that he knew nothing and
that he was willing to confess and
accept blame, that the higher powers
Of imperial Germany might continue
their work of devastation and strife.
"All right You've told enough.
Now Mr.. President, you, undoubted-
ly, have some action to take" Grant
bowed to the President Of the Union
and stepped down from the platform.
The President took the floor. Relief
was written large on his smiling
countenance.
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

i h e prisoner
glanced over the
audience fe ar
fully. He lifted
a limp nand and
The Washington times., 1918-05-26
In the Strike
Meeting.

en-. Human nature cannot keep
itself at high pitch Of excitement
indefinitely. The reaction had come.
Silence reigned as Grant and his
companions, and the two policemen,
leading the ashy-faeed prisoner, en-
tered the hall. The voice of the
clerk was raised as they took places
against the back wall Of the room.
"And now that the speeches have
been finished, it is moved and sec
onded that a vote shall be taken to
determine whether a general strike
be called by the longshoremen
against the shipowners Of"
A shout from Grant brushed the
droning voice of the clerk aside.
"Stop! No vote must be taken
until this man tells his story"
AS though stirred by a giant hand
the assemblage recoiled. Men rose
from their seats to see the person
whose temerity thus interrupted the
vote of their union. Down the aisle
the German dock foreman, whose
vociferousness of a short time before
had helped to keep the evening in
An uproar. passed a hand over his
face and slid into his seat again.
With dragging feet she spy was
roughly showed down the aisle by
the two policemen, followed by
Grant. They climbed to the platform
and faced the listening mass of men.
For a moment Grant looked down
on them in silence. Then he spoke.
"You men are laboring under
delusion. I am here to prove it to
you. and this, gentlemen"-he iron
ically waved a hand toward the
spy-"will help me-" He turned to
the spy. "Where is the man who
gave you orders to turn the boat
over? Remember, l know who he
is. want you to tell them"
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

Endor.ed By Our Leading Merchant,
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

The longshore-
mems meeting
had reached its
climax, and now
a quiet had fall
The Washington times., 1918-05-26

the edge of the table. toward her.
Dixie drew back.