In 1899 Ballatt took the role as leader of the Newsboys Strike. He often made charismatic speeches in his heavy Brooklyn accent. The strike was semi-successful under his leadership; the paper companies bought back their unsold papers. Later on movies and musicals would come to be based on Kid Blink, such as Disney's 1992 film Newsies.
Thomas Edison
Edison is a very important part of this decade. He contributed to many of the inventions and the revolutionizing of this period.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt has an extensive public service history, even before his presidency in 1901. He is definitely an influential person of the decade. Roosevelt was a Civil Service Commissioner, the president of the New York City Police Commissioner board, and the Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy. In 1898 he was elected governor of New York.