THE STRIKE.
"I do not see how we can do differently. It is simply a choice between
shutting down the mills altogether or reducing the wages of the help.
For the sake of the employés we have chosen the latter alternative. The
whole board of directors is agreed in this, so you will please see that
proper notice is given. Make the time August first." It was Mr. James
Lawton, the president of the Black Forge Mills corporation, who spoke,
and then he went slowly from the mill office to his waiting carriage.
"Yes; of course," replied Mr. Bacon, the superintendent of the mills,
following the first-named gentleman out on the sidewalk, "I do not
see what else can be done, but--" and he dropped his voice so that the
driver of the carriage should not hear him--"I fear there will be
serious trouble. Ever since there have been rumors of this reduction
things here have been in a state of ferment. Hyde, Blake, Willis, and
some of the other department overseers have been talking to the help,
and many of them have already gotten the notion that they are misused.
This reduction of their wages may prove to be the last straw, and the
help may go out in a bunch."
"Well, we shall know what to do then," remarked Mr. Lawton, dryly. "If
the help cannot see that a half loaf is better than no loaf, they must
go without any bread, so far as we are concerned. For myself, were it
not for the suffering it must bring to these families, I would prefer
to shut down at once." And entering the carriage he was driven rapidly
away.
It was early in the month of July. The great business depression which
had for some months been carrying havoc all over the land had now
reached Afton. Manufacturer after manufacturer had already failed, and
for several months the Black Forge Mills had been run at a heavy loss.
The directors, all of them kind-hearted, Christian men, had done their
best to stem the adverse tide, and, for the sake of their employés, to
keep the mills running on full time and at full pay. But the time had
at last come when one of two things must be done: the mills must be
shut down, or else the cost of running them must be reduced. Thinking
only of the help, who could ill afford to be without employment, they
had, the night previous to the opening of this chapter, decided upon
the reduction of wages which Mr. Lawton had just announced to Mr. Bacon.
The directors knew that their decision would create much
dissatisfaction, but they had hoped that a fair and candid statement
of the condition of the mills, and a direct appeal to the good sense of
the help to accept smaller wages, rather than no wages at all, would
prevent any serious trouble. But they overestimated the good judgment
of their employés, and forgot how easily a few hot-headed leaders could
transform a dissatisfied people into a frenzied mob.
A few days later, following out the instructions he had received, Mr.
Bacon caused the following notice to be conspicuously displayed about
the mill premises:
IMPORTANT NOTICE.
For six months the Black Forge Mills have been run at a serious
loss to the corporation, and at last the directors have been forced
to one of two issues: Closing the mills, or reducing the expenses.
For some time the board has hesitated as to which of these measures
it would be the wiser to adopt. So far as the interests of the
corporation are concerned, it would be better to shut down the
mills at once; for the employés, however, it is certainly better
that the mills should continue to run, even though they should
receive less compensation for their work. This latter consideration
has led the directors to finally decide to keep the mills running.
But in order to do so they are compelled to announce that on and
after August 1 there will be the following reductions on the
present wages:
A ten per cent. reduction on all wages of one dollar and under.
A fifteen per cent. reduction on all wages over one dollar and
under two dollars.
A twenty per cent. reduction on all wages of two dollars and over.
At the same time, they assure all who labor for the corporation
that, the moment the present financial depression is over, there
will be an immediate return to the present rate of wages.
Per order of THE DIRECTORS.
"That's all gammon--hey, George?" asked a great strapping fellow, named
Blake, of George Branford, as he passed him in the mill, pointing, as
he spoke, to one of the notices which was posted near them.
"I hardly think so," replied George, good-naturedly; "we all know that
the times are hard. Half of the up-town mills are already shut down,
and I have been fearing something of that kind might happen here. For
myself I am thankful it is nothing worse than this."
"Get out!" exclaimed the man, angrily; "any one but a fool can see
this is only done to hoodwink us into a complete submission to their
wishes. I for one am tired of being ground under the heel of a soulless
corporation."
"You have a right to leave any time, I believe," George quietly
answered. "No one compels you to work here. The corporation tells you
what they can afford to give for your work; you may take it or not as
you choose. I have faith in the statement of the directors. They are
all Christian men, and I don't believe they intend to grind us under
their heels. Rather, I believe, did we know the whole truth, we should
find that they, even with this reduction in our wages, will sacrifice
somewhat to keep us in work."
"Oh, yes; I remember now, we are a Christian, too," said his companion,
with a sneer; "and, of course, we must stand up for our brother
Christians, even when they grind us to death."
"I have not been ground to death as yet," went on George, ignoring
the thrust at his religious faith, "nor do I believe the corporation
intends to bring me to that tragic fate. If we refuse to accept this
reduction, the mills will stop, and we shall be worse off than we would
be on the small pay."
"No, we won't," replied Blake, eagerly. "Don't you see if we all agree
in this thing, we shall force the corporation to keep right on at the
present rate of wages? All we want to do is just to stand by each
other, and we can have our own way in this thing."
"No, I don't see it," answered George, shortly, "and you can count me
out of any such arrangement." Then he resumed his work.
He and a few others in the mill who thought as he did about the
proposed reduction soon found themselves, however, entirely ignored by
the rest of their associates; and it was speedily evident that some
movement was being agitated of which they could only conjecture. Knots
of men gathered here and there at the close of each day's work, and
talked earnestly, often excitedly together. Men lingered longer at the
saloons, and drank oftener from their cups, while faces grew dark and
sullen at each new view of the notices posted so conspicuously around
them.
Mr. Bacon quickly discerned these changes, and felt sure that trouble
was coming. As rapidly as possible, but quietly, lest his purpose
be suspected, and the open rupture between himself and the help be
hastened, he brought the affairs of the mills into a condition for an
immediate closing.
This came, as he had anticipated, on the first morning of August. Going
down to his office at an earlier hour than usual, he found the mills
deserted. The great engine was motionless; not a piece of machinery
manifested life; it was like a Sunday in the vast shops and yards;
while on the street corners and about the neighboring saloons were
groups of noisy, insolent men, who were evidently waiting for his
coming.
Taking in the situation at a glance, Mr. Bacon entered his office, to
find his bookkeepers and about a dozen of non-striking men, anxiously
watching the outside throng.
"I want some one to help close and fasten up the buildings and yards,"
he said, promptly and resolutely. "Those of you who may fear to
compromise yourselves with your companions are at liberty to retire.
On the other hand, those of you who are willing to assist me, shall be
well paid for your trouble. Who now will volunteer?"
Every man stepped forward.
Rapidly Mr. Bacon issued his orders. "Go out of the back door of the
office, and swing to the gates, and bar them in place. Then scatter
among the buildings, fastening down the windows, lowering the shutters,
and locking the doors. While you are doing that, I will hold the angry
crowd at bay in front of the office. As soon as you have finished your
work come back here, for I may need you." And as the men hastened away
to do his bidding, he fearlessly threw open the front door of the
office, and stepped calmly out to meet the crowd of excited men, who
were moving down toward him.
They grew less turbulent as they drew near, and found the yard gates
closed, and the superintendent on the office steps, picking his teeth
with the utmost unconcern, and looking down unflinchingly into their
excited faces. He certainly was not afraid of them, and their oaths,
and shouts, as they came on, had failed to intimidate him in the least.
His coolness and bravery had a visible effect upon them, and they
became silent as he pleasantly remarked:
"You seem unduly excited this morning, my friends; may I inquire what
your trouble is?"
Hyde, the leader of the crowd, a man of almost giant size, stepped out
from the others a few paces, and insolently answered:
"We've come to demand what is our right, and we propose to have it
peaceably if we can, but forcibly if we must."
"What is your right?" asked Mr. Bacon, calmly.
"That there be no reduction in our wages whatever," answered the
fellow, boldly; "that we be allowed to return to our work at old
rates."
"And suppose we refuse, what then?" inquired Mr. Bacon, with some show
of interest in his tones.
The silence that followed was prolonged and oppressive in its
intensity. Hyde evidently was nonplussed at the way he and his
followers were received. Mr. Bacon had, however, asked a fair question,
and he was waiting patiently for an answer.
Hyde was too keen-witted to make any threat, and thus render himself
liable to an immediate arrest.
"We claim this as our right, and intend to maintain it to the end," he
finally replied. "We shall refuse to go to work until our demand is
granted." And a murmur of approval could be heard among his followers.
"My good fellows," said Mr. Bacon, in clear, ringing tones, "you
have entirely misunderstood the attitude of the Black Forge Mills
corporation toward you. The reduction in your wages which was to go
into effect to-day was made not because we desired to make it, but
because we could not prevent it. For six months the corporation has
gone behind at the rate of four thousand dollars a month. The reduction
we propose would save us but three thousand; but that you might have
work, the corporation was willing to loose the one thousand each month.
They much prefer to close the mills, but for your sakes took this way
to keep them open. Your persistency in your demand will only force upon
them the other alternative. From this hour, unless you yield, the
Black Forge Mills will be closed; when they will open again, I cannot
say. Think well, then, before you persist in your unreasonable demand.
If, however, this should be your decision, we shall to-morrow be ready
to pay the wages due you in full. I am also instructed by the directors
to announce that you may occupy your homes, free of rent, until October
1st. This is the best we can do for you under the circumstances."
There was a resoluteness about Mr. Bacon that carried conviction with
his utterances, and the leaders of the strike consulted together as to
their next move. While they were in consultation, Mr. Bacon stepped
back into the office, to which his small band of helpers had already
returned. They announced everything as secure, and gave him the keys to
the buildings and yards. "Please wait until I can dismiss my visitors,"
he remarked, somewhat dryly, "then I have further work for some of you."
He was now loudly called for by the crowd, and went boldly out to meet
it.
"Mr. Bacon," said the leader, more respectfully than he had yet spoken,
"we have no doubt of your sincerity, and we know that you are simply
acting in accordance with your instructions, but we have decided to
make our appeal directly to Mr. Lawton himself."
"That is your privilege," replied Mr. Bacon, kindly; "but let me
suggest that you send a committee to wait upon him, instead of going
with your present numbers."
But the crowd refused his advice, and moved off in a body toward Mr.
Lawton's residence. There was telegraphic communication between the
office and town, and Mr. Bacon, with characteristic promptness, sent a
message to both Mr. Lawton and the captain of the police. When, then,
the strikers reached Prospect Avenue, on which Mr. Lawton resided, they
found their progress checked by a squad of armed policemen, and only
a delegation from the throng was permitted to pass on to an interview
with the gentleman they sought. A half hour later, completely baffled
in securing any concessions from the president of the corporation until
he had consulted with his directors, they returned to their waiting
companions, and, angry and sullen, the mob slowly dispersed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Bacon had placed his faithful allies in charge of
the mill property, and driven off up town. A directors' meeting had
been called at ten o'clock that morning in anticipation of this very
trouble with the help. The meeting was a long one, for the problem the
directors tried to solve was how to still conciliate the employés, and
arrange for their best interests. The decision finally was to attempt a
compromise with the strikers by lessening the per cent. of reduction.
An extra force of police was, however, secured as a precautionary
measure, and sent down to the Forge to protect the mill property, and
to keep the peace until the compromise was effected.
All attempts at a compromise on the part of the directors during
the long weeks that followed, were, however, unsuccessful. The help,
inspired by a few hot-headed leaders, who pointed out to them that
these concessions on the part of the corporation were a sign of its
yielding, strenuously demanded full pay before they would return to
work. It now seemed probable that the mills would remain shut down for
an indefinite period.
But when October came, Hyde, and Blake, and Willis, and some of the
other instigators of the strike suddenly left the Forge, apparently for
new places of labor. The mill corporation, therefore, ventured to put
its property into a condition for starting, and placards announced that
on the first of November work would be given all who were willing to
accept the reduced wages. No sooner were these notices out, however,
than Hyde and Blake re-appeared at the Forge, and a few days later
huge posters were stuck up on every side, threatening all who accepted
the offer of the mill corporation. It became evident, therefore,
that the mills could not be re-started on the plan proposed, without
great risk to both property and life; but as the work of putting the
mills in readiness went steadily forward, it seemed probable that the
corporation would take that risk.