Western cyclone., 1886-05-27
The LATEST IN STRIKES.
Radical IDEAS that Have Ennanated
from Philadelphia and Louisville.

from Philadelphia and Lou1sv1lle.
The progress Of civilization is fun Of cheer
ful aspects None, however, are more striking
than the rapidity with which radical idea
spreads among the people. Emerson said that
every reform began as private opinion The
gentleman who first conceived the idea Of the
strike probably did not foresee the career OF the
child Of his brain. The boothlacks Of Louisville
are among those upon whom this noble thought
has recently dawned with oTermastering force.
They have decided that, although cents has
long been deemed sufficient pecuniary COM
pensation for q shine, they can get 10 by com
bining. They have therefore struck for one
dime for one shine, and have issued . mani
festo declaring that they ''wil black no man"
for nickel As unfortunately often happens,
these Knights of Labor have not taken the
trouble to see whether they can get what they
want without striking They never asked any
one to give 10 cents. They have not shown
any good reason why they should have 10 cents
We believe that this great strike viii in the
end fail. The gentlemen of Louisville are
abundantly able to black their own boots.
Those who are unable probably have footmen
or other servants who do not belong to the
oootblack organization, and who will consent
to oficiate with ''scabs'' for consideration of
bootblacks should have tried arbitration. They
may order general tie-up, but as the shoes Of
Louisville are probably accustomed to that,
the inhabitants regard the future with equa-
nimity.
Philadelphia, always ambitious to outstrip
the effete cities of the west, and always fore
most In the van of progress. has outdone
Louisville. A few DAYS ago $50 aged sailors in
the naval asylum in that city struck against
veal potpie. They declared that it was bad,
and, after marching into the dfning-hau and
sitting down to dinner, they simultaneously
arose and marched out again dinnerless- They
demand plum duff, loo scouse, dandy funk,
and salt horse; but they draw the line at veal
pOtpie. Lacking definite information. we can
not speak freely as to the merits OF this mo-
mentus strike. We are not informed as TO
whether the ancient mariners found fault with
the crust of the pie or the veal The crust
may have been of the kind which is manufac-
rured for trade purposes only, and in which
the public has unQuestionably lost confidence.
The veal may have been of that variety which
is familiarly called ''bob." But whatever the
merits of the strike may be, it opens up
future whose rOseate hue is. wholly delightful
TO the mental vision.
Hereafter when q clearinghouse keeper
insists upon giving her guests every day for
dinner roast beef over-done, they can strike.
Let them march into the dining hall, sit
down, rise up, and depart dinnerless. 1t Is
then, what merit is there in a striker who will
not go hungry rather than submit to eating
what he does not likes The landlady may re-
fuse to yield and may advertise for non-union
boarders to take the places of those out on
strike; but the union men can then march in
and smash the landlady'S plates and cups and
saucers. They can also, If necessary, smash
the heads of the rat" boarders. They will
probably be arrested and punished; but they
can be happy in the thought that they have
been martyrs to great cause, and have emu
lated the example set by illustrious freight
handlers and street-car drivers Of the days OF
yore.
There is also a chance for the paupers of
America to follow out this great idea. Charity
gives the paupers bread, but he tires Of it
sometimes Let him strike. Let him loudly
say ''We don't waht bread; we want pie" If
the charitable organization does not comply
with the demand let him refuse to take any
thing at all from it, and thus drive it out of
the business. We could make many other sug
gestions to the oppressed and downtrodden Of
this crushed and despot-ridden country, but it
is unnecessary. Our only regret in connection
with this matter is that Marcos BozZaris did
not live to see the outcome of the divine idea
TO which he gave utterance when he promul-
gated the doctrine, ''Strike, for your altars and
YOUR fires n-Neao York Times