The leaders from all the various organizations have had meetings, and consulted as to the scale of wages to be demanded from the contractors, and the terms on which the strikers will return to work.

It is hoped that they will be able to hold out until the end of June, when the busy season for making winter clothes begins, and when the wholesale houses will be obliged to consent to pay higher prices for the garments or lose their winter business.

A great deal of sympathy is felt for the strikers.  The President of the Police Board actually went to one of their meetings and addressed them.

He told them that he believed their cause was a proper one, but warned them that they would ruin themselves if they used any violence.

He said that he had been told that some of their number had begun to get restless and grumble, so he had dropped in on them in a friendly way, to ask them to be careful, and not do anything to bring them in contact with the police.

So far there has been no rioting or violence.

The contractors have offered to take the men back and pay them the wages they ask, on the “piece” system, which means that they will give a certain sum for each garment they make.

The leaders of the strike will not consent to this.  They think that paying by the piece will make it possible for the sweating system to come into use again, and this they say is a much worse evil than the one they are now trying to cure.

* * * * *

A surprising discovery was made at West Point the other day.

The quartermaster suddenly discovered that four of the cannon captured in the Mexican war by General Scott’s army had been stolen.

These guns had been lying for years in Fort Clinton, which is an earthwork overlooking the Hudson River, and only about four hundred feet from the row of brick houses occupied by the officers of the post.

One of these guns was particularly valued by the War Department, as it had been captured at Monterey.

The cannon had been in the fort for many years, and as it was never supposed that they would be stolen, there had been no special guard placed over them.

No one had the slightest idea how the guns had been stolen.  Every attempt was made to discover the thieves, and at last Colonel Ernst, who is the commander of the post, obtained a clue which may lead to the discovery of the miscreants.

It seems that a carter, who has been going back and forth to West Point for a very long time, carrying packages and supplies, is the suspected person.

He has lately taken to lingering around the post until after dark.

The sentries have stated that on several occasions it was quite late when he drove past them.

He always gave a good excuse for his delay, and being a well-known character at the Point, he was allowed to pass.