Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-26

IN manufactory
in a neighboring city. One OF the
foremen in this establishment, fins
manly young fellow, Joe Jameson by
name, was favorite in my uncle's
family, and always acknowledged
great Indebtedness TO my cousins Rob
ert and Edward for his start III life.
| had seen Jameson so often and
heard his name spoken with so much
consideration, that | was curious to
know the story OF his life Tonight,
in reply to my questions Cousin Ned
gave me this account OF it.
Five years ago this summer, we
had our great Elm Hollow strike. |
suppose you never saw a report OF
that in the papers,
'.No | replied, .What the world
could any one find to strike about IN
this out-of-the way place"
1T was a school strike, said Ned
eve had an excellent teacher that
summer. and as there We're no more
than thirty scholars, we had a chance
to do some pretty good work.
7 "Our teacher, Miss Ward, had
taught the school for q year and we
/ thought there was no one like her.
i She took a great deal OF pains, and
helped US in every way she could.
i Our class, the first one, was COM
posed OF five boys. We were doing
well in our studies, but We We're not
wise enough to appreciate 1t.
We were studying history and civil
government. and Miss Ward encour-
aged'us to read the newspapers and
keep informed about public events.
She would take few minutes occa-
sionally to ask US questions about
what we had read, and explain mat
tiers we did not understand. In this
way we learned great deal about
what was happening in the world.
THAT summer the papers were lult
OF accounts OF strikes IN one place,
and lockouts in another, with work
men combining against employers.
and employers against wOrkmen.
Zone day, after eating our lunch,
the boys OF our class were all lying on
the grass, discussing the latest news
about the strikes.
~ say, fellows said Harry Rog-
ers, here We are shut up BY ourselves
} in this little-out- ot-the-way place,
where nothing ever happens to 'liven
a fellow up. Let's do something the
way they do it in the rest OF the
world. Let s have a strike
what are you going to strike
about?" asked Fred Andrews
"Oh, we'll put in petition, said
Harry, and il it isn't granted, We'll
march out in body. That the way
they always do.
) "'What shall We petition for?"
, "'Oh, longer Incoming, for one
thing.
"'And to have school dismissed
earlier. said another boy
! And for shorter algebra lessons
t this warm weather, said anoth
q er.
THAT afternoon Jack Burns wrote
out the petition, and each one signed
: it. / don't remember all ourdemands
!. but we wanted the morning recess
heightened to half an hour, the noon
: ing to an hour and a half, and tn,
: days session shortened by half M
/. hour. We gave up the afternoon re
cess. So much for hours.
. lin regard to work, in warm wealth
: err tile lessons were to be shortened
n and algebra never to exceed five prob
lens: and we were to be allowed Il
study out OF doors when we wished.
? 1.-The paper closed with the state
n ment that if our requests were not al
Q granted by Thnrsday-that day wa
q Tuesday-we should leave school in
body. 1t was important that W
y should 20 out in body Tina
n phrase always occurred in the report
it OF strikes.
n I'VE knew that the trustees, as we
!, as our parents, were not allttleprou
OF their first class, and we though
K that, in their anxiety to keep us j
ID the school, they would do almost any
Al thing we might ask. 1t was the refor'
!, with a good deal OF confidence, that
" after school, we handed the paper t
ID Miss Ward. She merely bowed, an
ID laid 1T on her desk without looking q
y. Nothing remained for MS but t
Ii out.
I'd .'All the next day we were in q feyt
is of excitement, but Miss Ward sal
n nothing, though when we had our 'hii
tory talk she spoke OF a strike tina
10 had been especially disastrous to I'll
ut strikers. Their employers had refuse
e to take them back, and their famiit
le were in iyant.
= Thursday morning just befoi
= school was called, we asked Miss War
OF il our demands were to be granite,
d. She replied that, having no authorit
e. herself to change the hours, she ha
4. sen: our petition to the trustees. an
as she had heard nothing from then
80 the school would go on as usual.
" perhaps the trustees might con
no during the morning. We gave thei
ed the benefit of the doubt and decide
a to stay until recess.
ld "Reeess came. but no trustees, "
O. went to Miss Ward and told her thu
en- while SIC had nothing against her. y
We must leave the school, ny the trustee
q had not acceded to our demands. 81
OF talked to Us. tried 20 convince us thu
IN we were taking very foolish ste
le but when the bell rang. We did not T.