The Walking Delegate.

Southland Times, Issue 19185, 24 October 1903, Page 7 (Supplement)

The Walking Delegate.

Recent cable messages reawaken interest in regard to the subject of the walking delegate, as he is known in the United States. The circumstances under which he operates arc really simple. A contractor is putting up a building. He has carpenters, stonecutters, bricklayers, plasterers, housesmiths, etc., at work. Each of these trades is organised. Each has its walking delegate.

Tlie walking delegate walks into the oilice of the contractor, and says:

— " I must have a thousand dollars" — or ten thousand dollars, as the case

may be

The impulse of the contractor is to say, " I'm hanged if I'll give it tc you." tie generally says it— the first time.

" All right," the walking deloga-to replies. He walks out and calls his men off the job. They have no voice in the matter. They have* elected this man ap their business representative, and they must do as he tells them or be " scabs."

In a day or two the walking delegate calls again. "What will you settle this for?" asks the contractor.

" Well," replies the walking delegate, "40 men have been out for three days now. That's a loss of 5320, say. which we must have back. Suppose we call it §10,500."

" I'll be 'dashed if I do." shouts the contractor, and the walking delegate goes out.

Within a day or two the contractor is being (founded on all sides. Tho man who is putting up the building is after him, the architects are after him, tho surety company that is on his bond is after him, and, in addition, he has the labour men after him.

He knows if he puts a sing-le nonunion man on the job in th© place of any oL-the strikers, every other union man in the place will lay down his tools. Sometimes he holds out, but not generally. The pocket-book nerve is getting frizzled. He is losing money. Morally, it is wrong to give in, but what can he do ? He asks this question of himself 50 times a day.

The walking delegate bides his time. " Well," he asks, '* how about it?" The contractor says, weakly, " I'll give j'.ou S5000."

" Can't think of it !" the walking delegate storms. " The price has gone upito $lu,ooo. We've been out more than a week now."

There is a parley. The walking delegate comes down to §10,000. Then the contractor bids. " Make it $7500."

" All right !" the walking delegate says. Next morning the men go back, to work.