The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-26
The workinS.nen I'm Wheeling Occupy
the Same Platform with thOse IN
Ricliln0nlI.
\ PUBLIC MEETING THERE SHOWS HOW THEY

I
From the Wheeling Iniel!igenccr. 24th.I
The meeting at the courthouse last night
was the largest yet held in our midst since
the present railroad troubles began. In the
main it was an orderly and well-disposeC
asscmblace. There were, rs matter oil
course. Il few turbulent spirits who seemed
bent or some spc"cs..oi ultraism, and who
were not disposed to acquiesce in the gen
cral expression OF the speeches in favor OF
law and order
Il was perfectly evident last night that The
real workingmen in our midSt-those who
are known to all classes Of our citizens Is
such--are not aiderS or abettors OF violence
and disorder. This was notably true OF
those who spoke for the railroad interest
Their utterances were consistently and
firmly on the side Of peace and order. One
OF the railroad speakers struck the common
sense OF the whole situation when he re-
marked that 10 destroy railroad property
was simply to cut off the resources OF the
company for the employment OF labor when
! the present difficulties are settled. 1t would
he the same, he remarked, as destroying 4
mill in Wheeling the night before confer
cnce and compromise, and then expecting
the owners, after compromise had been
made. to furnish employment to those who
burned the mill. How could they do it?
If would be impossible. The case is not
different because the present difficulty is
between Il railroad company and its en-
| plovGs, but precisely parallel. just in
proportion as Il railroad company Is dis
abpd, fiu>t in that proportion VIII II
be unable hereafter to afford employ
| ment TO those who look to 1t
for situations. 1t is, therefore, "a the
speaker iorcibly put it, simply cutting on
our noses to spite our faces to think OF tie
strovng railroad property. Somebody very
appropriatcly remarked, in compliment to
| this uttcrance, "That fellows head is level"
| The salutation WAS well timed and well de-
served. 1t was q plain, common-sense re-
mark that everybody could see the force OF.
| One OF the best speeches OF the evening
was made by Mr.. Frank Kline, The we'll
known boilGrmakcr in the Belmont Mill.
| Mr.. Kline il a representative Worklngman.
| lie made some very iorcible remarks, and
in such commanding voice, too, that every
body could hear him. He expressed his
sympathieS as being fully and entirely
with the employees OF the Balti-
more and Ohio road. He said that the men
deserved and received the public sym
psthy because OF the inadequacy OF their
pay. AS long as their conduct was cha
racterized by abstinence from violence
they would continue to deserve and receive
this allimportant support from puDhc
! opinios. As for these demonstrations and
meetings on the part OF others than the en-
| moves OF that company, he did not see the
necessity for them. Everybody under
| stands that this fight is an issue between the
railroad company and their employees. we
! all understand the real nature OF the diff
| Guilty. 1t is not 4 matter to be made an en-
cuse for outside public excitement. 1t is
not legitimate to drag into it anything that
does not belong to it.
Mr.. Kline's remarks were well received
bv the large audience, and at times were
greeted with cheers. He is evidently 4
popular speaker, albeit he makes no preten-
sions to oratory.
We feel bound to commend the good
spirit shown by the railroad men here in
Wheeling and elsewhere. and those who
speak for them. \ special dis atch from
Grafton in this mornings paper shows that
they do not encourage destruction OF rail-
road property. They are not Wiling 10
tarni,h their record for patience and for
bearance by any such deeds. They believe
themselves strong in their present position,
and correctly estimate the value OF public
opinion by abstaining from all deeds calcli-
1
In this connection it is proper to note the
| fact that both at Pittsburgh and Baltimore
it has been discovered that the number OF
railroad men who took part in deeds OF YiO-
lence were very few indeed-so few that
the discovery has excited general attention,
and has awakened the public to the knowl
edge that the real perpetrators Of these
deeds OF carnage are professional despe-
radoes, dead-beats, bummers, and thieves.
They seek an occasion out OF the present
| troubles to excite spirit OF incendlarism in
order to profit by tumult. A number OF
such suspicious characters were seen IN
this city Yesterday. Their presence was
| freely spoken Of among citizens. 1hcy
| are known to be here for no good. ana IT
becomes all good citizens to refuse all atllil'-
| tion with them. In our review OF the stu
alton along the line Of the Baltimore and
| Ohio road in this mornings paper, on ba-
| sis of observations by correspondent who
has reconnoitereu the road extensively
within the last few days, the mysterious
presence of these birds Of prey at various
points, and their equally mysterious de-
parture, is alluded to. We are not, there
fore, astonished to hea" OF some OF them in
our own midst. They are professionals" /"
and we trust that every railroad man, or
workingman OF any occupation whatever,
will follow the example OF the railroadmen
out along the line OF the road, and refuse
any and all cooperation or atiiliation with
them.
What IL Martinsburss Paper Says of the
Strike There.
From the Martinsburg Statesman.l
1t may surprise the Ledger, but it is nev-
crthclcss true, that nothing approaching 4
riot has taken place, unless the unwise and
h,ctv oofinr, Of (.nvnrpn notb.ypc in