Sentence:  It was the custom for the disaffected of those days to make known their grievances by distributing papers on doors of public buildings, and even <WSD>strawing</WSD> them in the high way, for the benefit of the chance passenger. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To sell straws on the streets in order to cover the giving to the purchaser of things usually banned, such as pornography.