i8o The Pinkerton Labor Spy.
suited in a number of union employees being summarily discharged.
After a considerable number of union men had thus been let out, Manager Wright flattered himself that the rest of his employees would profit by the experience and give the Federation a wide berth. Safe in this thought Manager Wright left Keswick on a trip to Europe.
Directly the manager was gone, a reaction set in, and despite the reports of the operative, a strong union was soon organized, and a strike ordered on the Mountain Copper Company, for recognition of the union. As Mr. Wright's lieutenant was absolutely at sea, not knowing what to do, the strike dragged on for some time, without any prospect of a settlement.
However, on hearing of the trouble. Manager Wright hastened home, and on his arrival at Keswick the strike collapsed. He hired a large number of nonunion men, which brought most of the strikers to terms, and put an end to the conflict.
After the strike was over, all the leaders of the defunct union were compelled to leave Keswick, for, under no conditions, would Manager Wright agree to reinstate them. This decision also affected Operative Cochran, the latter having figured prominently during the trouble as an active leader among the strikers. If the company were to reinstate the operative, they would perforce be obliged to reinstate the other leaders of the strike in order not to reveal the identity of No. 31 by making such a notable exception in his behalf. Much as Manager Wright disliked to give up the services of Operative Cochran, the idea of re-employing the other union leaders was still more distasteful to him. He therefore told the operative to leave Keswick in company with the other leaders, and asked the San Francisco office to detail a new operative to take the place of No. 31.