Evening star., 1946-06-02
Fifty Years Ago
A paragraph in The Star OF May Is.
1895, announced that: "A jury in court

paragraph In The Star Of May Is.
lSee, announced that: "A jury in court
Of common pleas -
Powdesly at Philadelphia yes
Wins ct Low terday rendered
verdict for $4,22573
in favor Of Terrence v. Powderly, ex-
general master workman Of the knights
OF Labor in his suit against the order
for unpaid salary, amounting to $3,sls.l1
and interest. The verdict represents
the full amount claimed" Mr.. Powderly
had been 4 machinist in his youth
Appointed an organizer Of the indus
trial brotherhood in 1874, he rose to
be the leader Of the largest and most
powerful organizations Of their kind in
the United States. But, according to
the Dictionary Of American Biography,
he was mot aggressive" His concep-
ton Of the labor movement was educa-
tional. He laid little stress on I'M
mediate demands, such a higher wages
and shorter hours. and opposed strikes
aS an ,outmoded industrial weapon,
which should be superseded by arbi-
tration. His ultimate ideal was the
abolition OF the wage system, not
through producers co-operatives in
which every man would be his own
employer" The views thus summarized
long after his death lin 1920 indicate
why he was not as popular with the
rank and file rs the agitators who
carried on" when he retired and sued
for his back wages.
Under this title The Star for May
81, 1896, printed the following reference
to feminine bicyclers: Bicycling is the
fad Of the hour, but it is nevertheless
true that very few
"Groee women ride we'll.
On the Wheel" No woman is quite
CONNIE IL faut un-
less she owns 4 machine, and on every
street is seen the waving of skirts over
the alluring wheel. We always turn to
look at them, but it is more often from
curiosity than admiration. Only 4 very
small proportion ride with ease and
grace, and the observer has none of the
pleasure he would experience If he were
watching the same women dancing or
even walking. This is all the more in
excusable since bicycling is SO much
easier than 1t was few years ago. Then
the heavy machine, the small tires and
worst Of all the long skirts that con-
stantly became entangled in the pedals
or chain interfered seriously with the
pleasure Of riding" The article went
on to recommend short skirts. the
length to vary from the knee to the
shoe top.
The Star on May a, 1896, explained
that Miss Nellie g. Robinson, "the
cine In
Seeking Appointment natl lawyer"
As NotoY had arrived in
town ION
mission that affects an interesting
phase Of the new woman question"
Some time earlier, she had applied to
the then Governor Of Ohio. William
Mckinley, "for appointment as a notary
public" and the Governor "was de-
sirous Of making the appointment" but
feared that the constitution Of the State
would not permit such an innovation.
Denying the application, he advised the
modern Portia to apply to the supreme
court" Of Ohio "for . writ Of mandamus
to compel the appointment" Miss Rob-
inson did apply, and latter the usual
delay, judgment was rendered adverse
to her claim" She then decided to ap-
peal to the Supreme Court Of the United
States, and 1t was on that errand that
she came to Washington.
Halt century ago Neutrality-suspicious.
and tourists visiting the Capital were
invited to call at the
GSaphophone Columbia Phono-
Entertainment graph Parlors. 9ls
Pennsylvania ave-
nue, there to listen to I'll Miserere" from
II Trovatore" for S cents. This "beau-
tiful composition, full Of fire and feeling"
was a masterwork Of vast distinction,
worthy OF being heard twice, thrice,
even four times. But other attractions
also were available. For example, "Bet-
ter Than Gold," sung by Charles X.
Harris, was winning unbounded popu-
larity on all Sides" And the Graphic
phone emporium likewise offered the
murderer Harry Hayward's last words
on the gallows" at nickel. Indeed,
there was no reason in those days why
people should not be srandly enter