davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

crayon drawings done while you wait
by these poor Bohemians. Some use
square pieces of board, instead Of the
stone, leaning these against the iron
ratings in order that they may be
better seen from the street.
One can buy almost anything in the
streets of this great city. Here is a
hawker of canes and feather busters,
there one with shoe laces and brushes
to sell. BY the door of the public
house is a man with his stock Of
counter cloths" over his arm. These
are used in bars for hopping up the
liquor which overflows from the GUS
toner's glass.
The baked potato trade is one of
the stand-bys of London street mer-
chants. In the potato rooster, with
its merry charcoal fire, blazing away,
are the luscious big potatoes, piping
hot, with their brown jackets crisp
and cackling to show the mealy
white inside, with an occasional black
blister showing where it has come
too closely in connection with the
hot iron.
The costermonger is always one Of
the first to appear of morning, and
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
George Bissert.

(When He was ReleasedO
alive. He whispered 1t savagely In
Bissert's ear while the men were in
line.
This was the first cruelty. Others
followed thick and fast.
At the end of Bissert's first week in
Sing Sing his father came to visit
him. The older man scarcely recog.
nized his boy, seven days of prison
life had changed him so.
The next day this wife murderer
waited till the guards back was
turned and then kicked Bissert saw.
agely in the groin.
Bissert cried out in pain, but the
guard, 1t is asserted, merely turned
around and ordered him to shut up"
The inventive genius Of the convict
gang exhausted itself in the inf1iction
of insult, indignity and bodily injury
upon the unfortunate convict ward.
man.
What those tortures were must to
some extent be imagined. Some Of
them cannot be told,
One method of visiting hatred upon
a fellow convict by the prison gang
is to accuse him of despicable actions
and then to pass the accusation along
until the victims are spurned and re.
viled by all the prisoners. Under this
and kindred systems of torture the
victims sometimes become insane.
First they are merely morose and
sullen. Later, if they succeed in get
ting opium into their cells by the
underground" and take enough of it.
they grow wild, violent and looney.
Then over they 60 to the dope house."
where many of them stay till they
go up the escape" and are buried.
Bissert was convicted of bribery
Aug. l, 1901.
1t was proved at his trial that he
took $3.50 from Lena Schmidt, Sept
20, 1900, promising to protect hei
place at No. ~ Stuyvesant street.
Josiah Flynt in New York World.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Hard on the Lawyer.

Congressman Moon Of Tennessee
was once Judge in that state. The
states attorney of his district was
lax in attention to duty, but endesv-
ored to make 1t up in talk and i'm
pressiveness of manner. One day the
district attorney arose to speak on a
collateral question. your honor"
said he, II should like careful atten-
ton, for am going to talk hard, COM
mon sense" Judge Moon turned to
the sheriff and said: mr. Sheriff,
please preserve the strictesr order so
the bar and the spectators may hear
everything the district attorney says,
for he promises to give US most
radical innovation"
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

who have grown up in the streets,
and are continuing to ply their
trade long after there is really any
need of their doing so, from love Of
the familiar haunts and the desire
to remain identified with them as
long as possible; and the poor people
who live from hand to mouth, and
often have not a roof to cover their
heads, and who depend solely upon
what they earn during the long hours
of exposure to all kinds of weather in
a city that is famed for having the
vilest climate in Inc world. Small
wonder that nine out of every ten
look consumptive.
One of the most familiar types is
the crossing sweeper. 1t may be
tiny, crippled boy, with a broom as
high as his tousled head, or it may be
an old dame of seventy. There are
hundreds of them welding brooms in
the streets, to whom a rainy day
means many copper, and at least
one good, square meal.
Another familiar type is the street
scurfer, whose business it is to keep
the streets clean with brush and
sheet-iron shovel-like dust pan. He
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
WHALERs AND THEIR PREY.
Responsibility DevoIving on Men Who
Handle the Gun.

The gun, solid, cumbrous affair OF
about three-inch caliber. is swung
around 30 that the muzzle points in.
board, and then the chamber Is swab.
bed out by the skipper himself, who
plainly regards every step of this pre-.
liminary work as Of the greatest i'm.
portance. The number of times that
this man has missed his whale is so
small that he takes pride in his rec.
ord; and, in addition to his reputation,
there Is the value of the whale. A
good-sized whale means $1,000 or so to
himself, who, besides being skipper
and harpooner, is also owner of the
ship and of the trying-out plant
ashore. So, after inspecting the har.
poon and wadding brought from be-
low, he swabs out the gun a second
time, and then takes a pound of quick.
burning powder. in little white cot
ton bag, and rams it home. A big fist
full of rope ends is stuffed in after the
powder, and following the rope-ends a
thick rubber disk; after that another
batch of rope-ends.
Then ensues most critical exami-
nation of the comb lance, heavy
piece Of cast iron, perhaps eighteen
inches in length, sharp pointed for.
ward, but enlarged toward the rear,
where is enclosed grenade that Is
timed to explode few seconds after
it is shot into the whale and deal the
mortal wound.-Harper's Weekly.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Labor In the Philippines.

The executive council of the Ameri'
can Federation of Labor, at its recent
session in Washington, decided to
send a representative to the Philip
pines to investigate labor conditions
and raise a protest against the i'm
portation of Chinese into any OF our
insular possessions. The last con-
vention of the A. F. of l.. ordered the
investigation, and since then resolu-
lions have been sent to President
Gompers from the trades union OF
Honolulu asking organized labor here
to help the white laborers in Hawaii.
On this subject President Gompers
says: "The importation OF Chinese
is the scheme Of men who wish to
exploit cheap labor. Already there
are more white men there, to say
nothing of Filipinos, than can find
employment. There is large number
of discharged soldiers who elected to
remain on the islands and who are
competent and willing to work, many
of whom are without occupation. The
duulS6lOu VI OllCuJdl WOAhAhSA "-~
are abe to get along with lower wages
would GUST the present inhabitants
from their rightful positions
''In Hawaii the conditions are prac-
tically the same, with the exception, OF
course, of the soldiers. The natives
and Japanese there have applied to US
for protection, and we mean to give 1t
to them. We are going to take up all
sides of the subject, however. We
shall not go into the interior, but to
Hongkong and other centers OF emf
grafton. We shall also send to Japan,
for the Asiatic labor problem needs
thorough investigation.
"The inhabitants Of the Philippines
are already exhausted by war and
crushed by misfortune. They are in
no position to defend themselves. but
they are thder the protection of the
American flag, and we mean to do our
share to help them"
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
LIVE ON THE STREETS.
Many Amusing and Pathetic Sights to Be Seen London
observation-disclosures Of All Descriptions
Ply Their Trades.
Especial Correspondence.)

work." said one patient little fellow
with 3-year-old under his wing.
Hard enough to have to black boots.
without minding the baby, isn't It?
Euston road. near the Euston and
st. Pancras railway stations. is
favorite haunt Of the sidewalk artist.
It is, of course, less crowded than
other parts OF the city farther down
toward the Thames, and the side
walks are formed of large. smooth
blocks Of stone that make admirable
backgrounds for the gayly colored
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

sweeps busily, one eye on the brush,
and the other cooked up to see II any
buses or cabs are coming his way,
and very often he just escapes being
run over in the crowded streets "by
the skin Of me teet'." he says.
Close by the curb is his little two
wheeled cart, which he trundles along
from corner to corner, whistling mer-
rily all the while. The average scurf
er is merry lad, Notwithstanding his
back-breaking occupation.
There is the shoeblack, too, and
he is deserving of what little sym
pathy he may get, for his earnings are
precarious,. and his life is as hard
one as falls to the lot Of any street
laborer.
Occasionally one sees a bootblack
with a small brother or sister tug
ging at his coat-tails. II as to mind
i'm vile Inc mother goes out to
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
No incorporation for Unions.

Recently Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
In debate before the Economic club
in Boston, showed that unions did not
desire to incorporate. and that as
constituted now they observe con-
tracts as religiously as do the EN-.
ployers, and more So. One of the
BEST articles written on the subject as
showing what endless litigation the
unions would be involved in should
they do the bidding of the employers
and incorporate, appears in the Feb
ruary issue of the American Fedora
Zionist, by Clarence s. barrow. Mr..
barrow has the double advantage of
knowing the legal workings of the law
courts, and at the same time under
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Demand Higher Wages.

Advances of over $3,000,O00 in wages
for the coming year are asked from
their employers by twelve unions in
the building trades of Chicago. Eight
other unions are now preparing new
wage schedules to present to the con-
tractors for approval, and all twenty
schedules are under discussion. The
present agreements expire March l or
April l. Indications point to good
season in the building industry, and
the workers think themselves entitled
to higher pay. A number of the
unions have already asked for meet.
ings of the joint arbitration commit.
tee to discuss the situation.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Too Weary to Work.

Afack FOR the lay OF the indolent man.
He's built on an unsatisfactory plan;
Weary OF rising when morn IL aglow.
Weary of hearing the Ice water go
Into the bath tub with ominous now,
Weary OF fried eggs and weary OF ham,
YEARLY alike of the oyster and clam.
Weary Of water and weary OF bread,
Weary OF drinks that ascend to the head,
Weary of reading the old paragraphs.
Weary of news items, weary of laughs
Weary of novels and weary Of plays,
Weary Of nights and weary of days.
Weary Of smiles and weary Of frowns,
Weary Of mountains, and weary OF
towns;
IT'S useless to chide when he chooses to
shirk.
Can you blame him for being too weary
to work?
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Organization Of Photographers.


A plan to amalgamate the two ma
tional organizations of commercial
telegraphers is under way, which
promises to be successful. Negotia-
lions between the two national presi'
dents have been going on for some
time, and yesterday 1t was agreed to
submit the entire matter to commit
tee of FIVE, two chosen by each organi.
zation, and the four thus chosen to
select the fifth member. This commit
tee will meet in Washington March 10
and decide upon plan for uniting all
the commercial telegraphers into one
internationanal union.
When the commercial telegraphers
began to organize in Chicago last June
the movement was taken up in a
number of the larger cities throughout
the country. Soon enough local unions
were formed to start national, but
instead Of allowing the officers OF the
American Federation Of Labor to call
a convention the leaders of the move
ment in Chicago did SO themselves.
The convention was held there In
September, and the International
Union of Commercial Telegraphers
was formed, with I. ]. Mcdonald OF
that city as president.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Draw Up New Agreements.

The Amalgamated Wood Workers
Council is after an increase in wages
for about 5000 of it's members, more
thorough organization of the wood.
working plants in Chicago and COM
plete recognition Of their unions and
accredited representatives. New
agreements covering wages and work.
ing rules and conditions have been
drawn up by officers of the council,
and will be presented to the employers
this week. The increase in wages
asked is to go into effect March 1. Not
alone are the employers asked to in
crease wages of the wood workers, but
also that union engineers, firemen and
painters be employed.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Congress Gets curious Claim.

Representative Grosvenor has pre-,
scented in congress a very curious
claim preferred by Jacob Rittersbach,
who wants pay for kit of carpenters
tools lost or stolen in 1865, The claim
ant says he was stage carpenter at
Ford's theater, Washington. on the
night when Lincoln was shot, and
that he was arrested as witness
and held thirty days, during which
time his tools disappeared.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
@AseBi@esa

standing the aims and aspirations OF
the workers as voiced through the
trade union. He says the incorpora'
ton Of trade unions is the last trench
Of those who oppose organized labor.
He declares that, should trade unions
ever consent to incorporate, 1t would
mean their absolute destruction. EN-
ployers have learned, he says, that
unions cannot be destroyed directly,
and they seek this method Of destroy
ing them indirectly.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
French MiIIiners on Strike.

A union of all the millinery work.
ers, men and women, of Paris, France,
says the official journal of the piano.
makers, has been formed, and 1900
skilled milliners are out on strike,
demanding higher prices for piece
work and the exclusion Of Belgians
and other foreigners from the Paris
ateliers. The employers refuse to
accede to these demands, and this is
the second time this year that the
milliners have struck. The employers
declare that further advance is i'm
possible, while the milliners say they
only get 1.-THE of the profits made
by sales to wealthy women Of Amer
lea. The milliners of the fashionable
shops earn from. eighty to 100 francs
q week during the busy season.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Strength Of American Federation.

~ The phenomenal growth of the
American Federation of Labor is
shown by the statement that during
1902 eight national unions were form
ed and charters were issued to four
teen national and international unions,
six state branches, 1877 central labor
unions. SIT local trade and federal
labor unions. 1t Is also reported that
at the end of the fiscal year. Sept. 80,
1902, there were affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, nation
al and international unions, with ap-
proximately $4,000 local unions under
their direct jurisdiction, ninety-seven;
state declarations, twenty-six; city CEN
trail bodies, 424; local trade and fed
eral labor unions directly affiliated
with the American Federation of
Labor by charter, 1,4S3. During the
eleven months ending Oct. 1, 1902,
there were organized and chartered by
the affiliated national unions and by
the American Federation of Labor
direct, $500 local unions, with mem.
bership of 100000.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Too Many Children at Work.

Factory inspectors report children
at work in round numbers, as follows:
Massachusetts. 5000; New York, 49,
900; Illinois, 10000 and Pennsylvania
$4,000. The astonishing figures for
Pennsylvania do not include the
breaker boys in the mining regions,
but merely the children engaged in
manufacture and commerce. In ILL
nois the number Of working children
has more than doubled in the five
years between 1897 and 1901. These
figures afford thought for serious re-
Election. Whittier is the nation drift
ing?
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Health of the Coal Miner.

Three physicians who have practic-
|I<he stand for the miners before the
Goal Arbitration Commission and in
substance testified that the occupation
of mine worker was very unhealth-
full" and shortened his life. One
physician, DR.. Frank P. Lennahan, Of
Wilkesbarre, who says he has had a
long experience among mine workers,
testified that fully 80 per cent of the
men who work in the mines are amaze
mic. The health is impoverished, and
their general condition is below par,
thus decreasing their earning powers.
The principal illustration offered by
the miners, the physicians said, were
the miners asthma. rheumatism, lum-
bago and sciatica. The miners
asthma comes from coal dust, pow
dered smoke and vitiated air. DR..
John O'Balley of Scranton, said that
at post-mortems he had seen miners
lungs as black as anthracite itself,
and Dr. Lennahan testified that he
had personal knowledge of a man
coughing up coal dust nine years after
he had left the mines. He said he had
information that man had coughed
up coal dust fifteen years after he had
left the mines. 1t was also asserted
that 80 per cent Of miners who reach
the age of fifty years are afflicted with
some form of rheumatism.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
HORRORS OF SING SING.
E1Prisoner Declares He viii Kill Himself Before He VIII
Go Fax There-Torures Inflicted on Him by
His Fellow>Convicts,

When Bissert reached Sing Sing the
professionals" and others. among
them some men whom Bissert had
helped to imprison, Immediately be-
gan to carry out their program OF
hatred and revenge.
The first day wife murderer, q man
whom Bissert is reported to have
given the third degree" told him
that he would never leave the prison
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Sue Municipality Of Paris.

One result of the underground rail-
way lines already in operation in the
city of Paris is that several omnibus
and tramway lines have been given
up for want Of traffic, and that the.
companies have instituted an action
against the municipality for allowing
the breaking UP Of monopoly for
watch they pay considerable sum.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

the Brussels sprouts for dinner are
most likely to have been culled from
the stock in his cart, while the tur-
nips and cabbages heaped high in
this vehicle, drawn sometimes by q
donkey, sometimes by man, and
often by one who combines the two,
make charming bit of verdure in the
otherwise dingy street.
Thus the thousands of people in the
London streets ply their various trades
from one years end to another; the
tireless army, strenuous and daunt-
less, of all ages and all nations, ekes
out livelihood, copper by copper,
in the fair way of trade from the
countless simple needs Of the thou
sands of brothers and sisters in this,
the most wonderful city in the world
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

kill myself"
What is the secret Of this desperate
determination? Why should a man
every word, that he would rather en-
dure the tortures of the internal re-
gions than to be reimprisoned in the
New York State Penitentiary?
Because know the truth of the mat
ter can answer these questions. One
morning several years ago awoke to
find myself arrested. The experience
which afterward had with my fellow
prisoners taught me bitter lesson.
George Bissert has been to Sing
Sing-that is the basis Of his desper.
ate resolve. He has suffered from the
cruelties which have been permitted
there. He would rather fly to any and
all ills that the Imagination can con-
ceive than to face the real horrors of
relncarceration in that prison.
Wardman Bissert has been the vic
tim not so much of the active enmity
of the prison officials as of the vindic-
tive and heartless hatred of ring of
prison convicts who have taken ad-
vantage Of official negligence or ac-
quiescence to wreak their vengeance
upon him.
AS rule, convicts hate policemen,
detectives and "squealers." The pro-
fessional thief hates them in particu-
lar. He believes that the majority OF
them are quite as corrupt as he is, and
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

CAT the time of his trial.)
he asserts that they are too cowardly
to take the chances that men of his
stamp have to take. An old bank bur
glar once said to chief Of police:
You're thief. and so am I. but
wouldn't be the thief that you are for
all the money in this town."
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Say Captains Union Must Go.


The Masters and Pilots association,
the union of the captains and mates,
is said to be on the verge Of collapse.
Many members around the lakes are
Withdrawing on account Of the refusal
of vessel owners to deal with 1t.
''The organization is entirely out OF
the question:" said a Chicago vessel
owner. 1.-THE captain of ship is on
an entirely different basis from any
other employee. He is the agent OF
the owner.
81 know that it has come about on
account of unions that some engin'
GERS get more wages than the captains
of their ships. They say it is because
the engineers have a union. The fault
is with the vessel owner not paying
his captain more money. l would
never think of paying captain less
wages than l paid any man under
him."
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

HERE Is always a
ludicrous side to the
industries Of the Lon
don street. but a pitiful
side as well, that
makes any one with an
atom of sympathy dive
down into his purse,
buy things he doesn't
really need. and stop
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27
Child Labor In New York.

From facts gathered in the last
six months the remarkable condition
is revealed of the existence Of more
child labor in New York city than in
all Of the states of the south COM
bined.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

ARDMAN BISSERT,
formerly Of the New
York police force,
makes this declaration:
II will never go back
to Sing Sing. I would
rather go to hell itself.
II the courts should de-
eide that I must return
to prison I think I'd
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

to listen to the various tales Of woe.
The class of street merchants in
London may be divided into those
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-02-27

Caesars death was doubtless the
result Of too many Roman punches.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-10
ESTIMATE OF REVENUE
EXPENSES SUBMITTED
Washington District of Georgetown
Costs Uncle Sam Over Thirteen
Thousand Dollars Annually.

An estimate of expenses for collecting
the revenue from customs for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1904. showing thq
number of employees and the salaries
required for each collection district, has
been transmitted o Congress by the Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury.
According 10 the report there are {. $50
regular employees engaged in collecting
revenues in the United States at total
expense of IS, So, 55S.2g. The detailed
estimate for the District Of Columbia,
which is known as the port of Washing
ton. district Of Georgetown. is as fol
lows.
One collector. salary S4,100.47: one dep
uty collector, S1sSo0; one deputy. 81 200.
another deputy. 1900, one inspector
$1,000; one deputy inspector, 81 .09S; a
second deputy Inspector at $500 per
year; and one Waterman at 1920, a total
of $13,118-4T-