Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-04-17
When BILL MAHON Recognized
an ULTIMATUM!
By CHESTER M. WRIGHT

Perhaps the story about Bill wv.
d. Mahon and the famous ultimatum
has been told once for every day on
the calendar, but be that as it may,
the story is worth telling the thous-
andth time. It brings out the re-
sourcefulness that shone forth SO
brilliantly in the early days Of the
American trade union movement.
Many a great battle was won by wits,
the quickness and astuteness of good,
strong minds. What a wonderful
volume could be compiled If the stor-
les could be gathered togetherl
There was a street car company
against which the men had a griev-
ance. Wages were in dispute. Con-
ferences had been to no avail. The
men wanted more than the company
was willing to pay and the men were
unwilling to accept what the COM
pany wanted to pay. This is as Bill
himself told it on a train coming
across the great desert out of Mex
leo.
Bill Attends Conference y
Finally the company officials called
q conference. Mahon came, with his
committee. The committee was pres
ent, but Bill did the talxing-and the
thinking.
The company officials laid a paper
on the table. "That is our ultimatum
to you," they said to Bill Mahon and
his committee.
Bill picked up the paper, straight
faced as a Observation-Disclosures, but
un-worried. It set forth the schedule
of wages which the company was will
ing to pay for the various kinds of
work Bill scanned it, top to bottom.
Then he began.
Pointing, as he does, with long
finger, at the first schedule, Bill said:
'Now, this first one is all right. We
accept that. This next one is too low.
We can't accept that. The next one
we accept. The fourth one"
"Wait a minute" said the spokes-
man for the employers. That's an
ultimatum. You can't do that. Don't
you understand? That's an ultima
tum."
Bill Continues to Talk
Eyes," said Mahon. GAS / was say
ing, we accept the first, reject the
second, we accept the third, we"
"But that's an ultimatum," broke in
the leading opponent. Don't you
know what an ultimatum isl"
eyes," said Bill, blandly, II know
what an ultimatum is. I've had lots
of 'em. Now, let's start again. We
accept the first. We can't accept the
second, but the third is all right and
we accept that. The fourth is"
But" and the employer spokesman
almost shouted, II thought you knew
what an ultimatum was. That's an
ultimatum. You must take it or leave
IT,"
eyes, l know it's an ultimatum,"
Bill rejOined smoothly. "We accept
the first, reject the second, accept"
"Don't you know what an ultimatum
is ?" doomed the other side once more.
Knows What Ultimatum Is
eyes," Bill proceeded patiently, Wis
IDLY panied at the repeated interrupt
tions. eyes, know what an ulti-
matum is. We accept the first, We
reject the second, we accept the
third" and then the humor Of the
situation dawned on the employers.
They forgot their frozen faces end
their frozen determination to lay
down a paper that had to be taken or
left. They got around the table and
negotiated an agreement with Bill
Mahon and his committee.
Bill knew what an ultimatum was
and he was general and Judge of men
enough to know when to bet on the
ace in the hole.