Opinion

Sit-down strike wins new dress

Friday, May 4, 2012

100 YEARS AGO

(1912)

It pays to shop in Fort Scott. A special inducement is made to out-of-town trade during Fort Scott's Cooperative Sale. The following locations include one-way fare with $5 purchase; both ways with $10 purchase:

Arcadia, Blue Mound, Bronson, Clayton, Clarksburg, Drywood, Deerfield, Devon, Ellis, Englevale, Fulton, Farlington, Girard, Garland, Godfrey, Hammond, Harding, Hepler, Hume, Hiattville, Liberal, Moran, Marmaton, Mapleton, Mulberry, Metz, Pleasanton, Picton, Prescott, Rich Hill, Rhinehart, St. Paul, Stotesbury, Uniontown, Walnut.

Persons coming to Fort Scott from any of the above named places to trade during the Big Cooperative Sale will get their fares refunded providing their purchases amount to the sums listed in the schedule. Refund cards will be furnished to all merchants. The card will be retained by the purchaser for verification.

Notice to all who qualify:

Before you leave for home the card is to be taken to Secretary Jackson's office, Harbison Building, where your fare will be refunded in cash.

75 YEARS AGO

(1937)

A story is being told by one of Fort Scott's rural mail carriers of how a young girl, a daughter of a well-known farmer on his route, staged a sit-down strike one day last week to make her father buy her a new dress.

Approaching the farm yard one morning, the rural carrier noticed the young lady sitting on the ground, seemingly unperturbed. He asked the father what was going on and the latter replied that the girl had started a sit-down strike the afternoon before and had sat on the ground throughout the night.

When the mail carrier returned the second morning the young lady was absent. She had won the dress!

At the meeting of the City Commission yesterday, 24 out of 27 applications for beer retailers' licenses were granted. The grand total collected was $875.

50 YEARS AGO

(1962)

(May 5) -- Nixon M. Blair, 72, of Route 2, died yesterday at the farm home eight miles northwest of Fort Scott in the Devon neighborhood. He served as Bourbon County assessor for eight consecutive years. The well-known farmer had lived on the same farm 42 years. He was born on a nearby farm Aug. 4, 1899, the son of James Ira and Lou Johnson Blair. He married Eula Hutcherson Dec. 25, 1911, in Fort Scott. A master of banjo, Mr. Blair frequently gave of his talent for barn dances and various gatherings. Konantz Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Don Long and Bob Holman set three new conference track records at Wentworth in leading the juco Greyhounds to the loop championship. Fort Scott won eight firsts and tied for a ninth in overwhelming five remaining interstate foes. The canines amassed a total of 76 1/2 points to 58 1/2 for Joplin, their nearest rival.

25 YEARS AGO

(1987)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Postal Service took the first step toward raising the price of a first-class stamp to 25 cents. But the request by the postal Board of Governors, which must be approved by the independent Postal Rate Commission, would not take effect for a year or more. The first class rate has been 22 cents since Feb. 17, 1985.

The USD 234 Board of Education approved the employment of Jane Anderson as middle school and high school orchestra teacher; approved the retirement of Ruth McFall, secretary-treasurer at the middle school.

Fort Scott City Commission took the following action:

Granted a quit-claim deed to R.C. Campbell and Sharon L. Campbell for a Lake Fort Scott lot.

Approved five regattas to be held at Lake Fort Scott by the Fort Scott Sailing Club.