Page:William Ernst Trautmann - Industrial Unionism (1908).djvu/13

A victory for the corporation; the workers were defeated!

Next morning the same thousands stood at the gates, murmuring their demand: "Two dollars or no work." Again the amazed officials looked for help; but as suddenly did the workers again start up the mills.

Three days in succession the same spectacle! Finally the corporations realized that they had to deal with an organized mass, and they immediately got busy ordering the employment bureaus to secure strike-breakers. The worker's anticipated this move; and again one morning the officials were surprised to see all these men walk to their posts when the whistle blew. Several days thus passed; there was no need for strike-breakers; orders for them were canceled; the company thought the strikers were again defeated.

A week passed and again thousands stood at the factory gates, shouting aloud their demands: "Two dollars.per day, eight hours' work." The bosses were stunned; again they saw the crowd resume operations the same day, after a few hours' suspension; and the same methods were repeated next day. This was enough for the companies. No contract was signed, no union recognized; but the power of such well-conducted action and organized effort had to be recognized; and the men went to work next day with all demands acceded to.