- The representatives of the “Pianomakers Union” and the entire “United Piano Manufacturers” meet.
- A union leader makes a speech: “Gentlemen bosses: we, the piano makers of New York, will now assume control of the piano business. You shall no longer be permitted either to engage or dismiss any workman without our consent. You must pay us full wages irrespective of bad or good times. You must all pay the same wages, must not undersell one another, and must every Saturday afternoon submit your books to us for inspection, so that we may satisfy ourselves that you have strictly carried out our instructions. Now, gentlemen bosses. what can we report to our union as your response?”
- Albert Weber, the owner of the Weber Piano Company, known for his verbal skills, replies: “Gentlemen employees, your demands are exceedinly moderate; but in your very modesty you have omitted your most important point […] that every Saturday afternoon, when you have looked over the manufacturers’ books, the employees shall go bowling, and that the bosses should be made to set up the tenpins for the workmen”.
- The “Pianomakers Union”, having withdrawn the demand for management participation, accepts the 15% wage increase offered by the “United Piano Manufacturers”, on the condition that the additional 10% be given in the future, should business situation permit that. The workers are satisfied, because they have achieved the highest reasonably possible increase and have been allowed to “save their face” with the promise of the further raise, and especially because the union doesn’t have the means to continue the strike any longer – and the bosses are happy because their orders are at the seasonal peak, and the workers are now ready to go back to work.