Evening star., 1900-06-14

1.-THE municipal authorities Of ST. Louis
have come In for a great deal Of merciless
criticism from all sides on account of the
manner In which they have handled the
striking street car employees" said Mr.. p
II. Burns of that city at the Arlington las
night. "It should be taken into considera-
ton that the street car system is factor
in politics and that there is to be an cleo
ton there in the near future. Few people
realize the extent of the car system of our
town. Almost every street has its line, and
they run far into the suburbs. St. Louis
was the pioneer in cable roads, and 1t was
said at one time that there were more
street cars propelled by cable than in any
other city of the world. The men have
never given much trouble. probably be-
cause of the disposition of the powers that
be to conciliate them | had always thought
the strike was comparatively modern in
sttution. the product of an age of labor
unions and walking delegates. l find l was
mistaken, however. The strike is one of the
Oldest institutions we have.
Il read in some paper the other day that
the first strike on record took place about
1000 years ago when one of the great kings
of Egypt was engaged in the construction
of temple. 1t appears that the contractor
who employed the men was in the habit of
dealing out months rationS to each Of
the workmen at a time. This had been the
custom In the country for some time, ac-
cording to the report / read. On one occa-
sion. when the .rations were issued, 1t ap-
pears that the men were dissatisfied with
the amount and complained about it to the
commissary. He paid no attention to their
complaints. however and said nothing to
his employer. Before the month was half
gone the rations were altogether gone. The
men sent a committee to the contractor and
acquainted him with their predicament He
told them to return to work and he would
al matters More ratiOnS iSSuad
and the men were comfortable for another
month.
THE same thing happened again, how
ever, and this time the contractor refused
to do anything for the men. They then call
ed all the workmen and squatted them
selves before the contractors door, refus-
ing to go to work until they should be sup
piled with food. The governor of the place
happened to be visiting the new works
that day and he was surprised to see the
men idle. He inquired as to the cause. and
as result orders were issued on the pub
lie granaries for the necessary amount OF
supplies. The contractor received a severe
censure and thereafter there was no trouble
with the la aboring men. Thus ended the first
strike Of which history gives record.
ut looks now very much as though the
governor of the province will have to take
a hand In the St. Louis matter. He has al
ready rebuked the mayor"
Before leaving the city several days ago
Senator Sewell Of New Jersey said he had
received more applications for tickets to the
Philadelphia convention than he could at
tend to. He said there would probably be
a larger attendance at the convention this
year than ever before at a similar gather
ing Of the party. Senator Seweil is chair
man of the New Jersey state committee
and Is said to be the tom Platt" Of his
state. He will take q prominent part In the
convention.
washington Is way behind many other
cities in the matter OF cemetery facilities. +"
Nr. T. C. Lane Of New York told s1oup