|
|
(New York Daily Tribune,
About 300
newsboys decided not to sell “The Evening World” and “The Evening Journal,” and
went on strike yesterday morning against an increase in the price of the papers
from 50 cents a hundred copies to 70 cents. The boys say at the old price they
were only able to make about 25 cents a day, and that the increase in the price
to them would mean a loss of livelihood. Early in the morning half a dozen
small figures were grouped about their leader, “Jack” Sullivan. They comprised
the members of the Arbitration Committee who had gone as a last resort to the
papers to demand their rights. “Well, my brave men, what news?” The leader’s
voice was husky as he put the question.
“Its dis a way,” said Boots, the spokesman of the committee. “We
went to de bloke wot sells de papers and we tells him
dat its got to be two fer a cent or nuthin’. He says, ‘Wot are yer goin’
to do about it if yer don’t get ‘em?’
‘Strike,’ sez I, and Monix,
he puts in his oar and backs me up. The bloke sez ‘Go
ahead and strike,’ and here we is. Dat’s
all.” The recital brought a scowl to the leader’s face.
“They tink we’re cravens,” he said, “but we’ll show ‘em dat we aint. De time is
overripe fer action. De cops won’t
have not time fer us. What is de sense of de meetin’? Is it strike?”
“Sure,
Mike!” piped half a dozen voices.
“Well, den,
de strike is ordered. Der must be no half measures,
my men. If you sees any one sellin’
de ‘Woild’ or ‘Joinal,’
swat ‘em.” “You mean swipe de papes?”
“Sure tear ‘em up, trow ‘em
in de river any ole ting. If der’s
no furder bizness de mettin’s adjoined.”