ted Association of Iron and Steel Workers of America?" The reply
of the company was, "No!" The struggle then was severe, but the strike
failed. The present issue was, "Will the company pay an increase of
wages?"

The committee of five of the employees soon entered the mayor's office.
They were much surprised to find that Colonel Harris had returned to the
city; it was believed that he had actually set sail for Europe. The
committee unfortunately was a radical one, and did not represent the
average thoughtful and conservative type of workingmen. Evidently the
committee had been selected for the purpose of intimidating capital, as
their manner did not indicate a conciliatory policy.

Mr. Burns, acting as spokesman, said, "Mr. Mayor, it is 3 o'clock, and we
are back again promptly, as you requested, and you see that our committee
is increased by several thousand workingmen on the street below who have
come to demand bread of a soulless corporation. Mayor Duty, what do you
advise us to do?"

The Mayor was nervous as he replied, "Mr. Burns and members of the
committee, I confess that so many thousands of honest and upturned faces
of workingmen move my heart. If I were able it would give me pleasure
first to ask you all to partake of a good meal, for more satisfactory
business is usually accomplished after people are well fed. You ask my
advice. Here, gentlemen of the committee, is Colonel Harris, your
employer, let him speak to you."

Memories of a wife and three babies at home, dependent for bread upon his
own earnings at the forge, flashing upon the mind of Colonel Harris,
sweetened his spirit and softened his voice, so that he spoke briefly and
kindly to the committee, repeating, however, what his manager had told
the committee at ten o'clock, viz., "that the present bad condition of
the steel market would not permit the company to grant the advance of
wages they asked."

The committee, aware of the large profits of former years, sullenly
retired, and after the company's decision had been communicated to the
anxious thousands below, the employees of the Harrisville Iron & Steel
Co. slowly returned to their homes. The mayor ordered his chief of
police to dispatch immediately in patrol wagons fifty men to the steel
works, to guard the property and keep the peace.

After the committee retired, the mayor said, "Well, Colonel Harris, what
will be the outcome?"

"Mr. Mayor, we cannot foretell anything. You never know wh