Ricardo Quesada

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In July 1899, a youth-led campaign forced the hand of two powerful publishers in the United States. At the time, newsboys were essential for delivering newspapers. While morning editions went directly to subscribers, the afternoon editions relied on newsboys to sell them to the public at a markup, making a profit. In 1898, the Spanish-American War led to a surge in demand for newspapers. As sales increased, some publishers raised the cost of a newsboy's bundle of 100 newspapers from 50¢ to 60¢. However, the newsboys were not compensated for unsold papers. After the war, most publishers returned to the old prices, except for William Hearst's New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. This is when the newsboys felt the pinch and decided to take action. On July 18, 1899, a group of newsboys in Long Island overturned a distribution wagon and declared a strike against Pulitzer and Hearst. Soon, Manhattan and Brooklyn joined the strike as well. Surprisingly, the strike was highly successful. It was led by Kid Blink, an orphan who wore an eye patch. Initially, the methods were somewhat violent, with any boy found selling the papers being mobbed. The newspaper owners had to pay grown men to deliver the papers, but the newsboys also went after them when the cops were distracted. They organized a rally a week later at Irving Hall, which attracted 5,000 boys. As the days passed, the methods became less violent. At first, the Journal and World did not take the strike seriously, as their opponents were just children. However, when advertisers began requesting discounts on their bills, the publishers realized the gravity of the situation. The press run at the World decreased from 360,000 to 125,000. In the end, the sides compromised. The price would remain the same, but the World and Journal would take back unsold papers for full refunds. The strike ended on August 2.