The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-01
A Protest from the wOrIsingmen.

A meeting OF representatives from the
various Trades Unions in this city, was
held at the Nail City Boat Club house,
on Saturday afternoon, for the purpose
of protesting agains. the employment OF
convict labor in all cases where 1t comes
into competition with the usual mechan-
ical pursuits, and to make arrangements
| for a thorough organization OF working
men, and all others interested, through
out the State to petition the Governor
and Board of Public Works to use ali
means IN their power to attain the cnd
in view. The meeting was organized 10y
the election of MIR VIM. II. Travis
as president and Mr.. Albert Wells
as secretary. The discussion evidenced
very enthusiastic and earnest deter
minatlon Oh the part of the large con-
stituency represented, to keep the ball
rolling until convict labor shall be en1-
ploved only in those branches OF bust.
ness in which competition does not enter.
1t is stated that the workingmen have
the active sympathy OF nine-Lenths OF
the manufacturers and business men
of the CITY IN the movement. A mass
meeting will probably be called in the
course of few days in order to further
the object. A petition asking the aid OF
the Governor and Board OF Public
Works. as above referred to has already
received the signatures Of two hundred
of the solid men of South Wheeling.
The following address was adopted unan-
imously, and the Wheeling papers re-
uuested to publish the same:
To the CTirssns Of the State Of Vest Iir-
giuia:
LISA well known fact that through
out our land industry is deprived OF It's
lust reward and hundreds OF thousands
of honest, sturdy mechanics and iaoorers
are out Of employment, while other thou
sands only have work about halt
time, while all receive unremunerative
wages. One of the causes of this
unsatisfactory state of affairs IS the
hiring out OF the labor Of conyicts to an
scrupulous contractors, who get their
work done for little more than nothing;
and dispose of wares so manufactured TO
large dealers below the market price
thereby forcing legitimate manufacturers
to the necessity OF reducing the wages
of their employees in order TO compete
with these soulIess contractors and vile
outcasts. This is an outrage Of the very
worst form, and it is time it was stopped;
and we workingmen who have near and
dear ones depending on our labor tor
support and comfort, are the men 10 put
An end to it. a paragraph appeared in
the Wheeling papers OF a recent date TO
the effect that II. B. Miller Is making ar
engagements to hire the labor OF fifty con-
yicts in the MounGsville, West Virginia
penitentisry, TO work in the foundry
business. Thus, while plenty Of good
men walk our streets with their hands IN
their pockets, their right to labor denied
them, deprived Of the priv
Ilege of providing the comforts
and necessaries OF life, and for
what2 In order that the insatiato greed
for wealth by selfish capitalists whose
sole rule in life seems TO be, first, my
self, then nothing may be INDUCED In;
what care they how many sad, sunken-
eyed mothers drag out hopeless, half
starved existence or how many poor
ones are scantily clothed and want for
food.
This lust for wealth is fast running our
country. 1t has invaded and holds pos
session of our governments, our
legislatures, State and National,
and e1acts only such laws as
will still further enrich the rich and re-
duce the poor to the extreme Of poverty.
They are even now manipulating the
wires to deprive the workingmon Of the
ballot, for they know if We knew how to
use this peaceful but 81 powerful weapon
their days OF carnival would be ended
and the reign of equity begun.
1t should be the aim OF governments
to keep all the people employed, for
it seems TO be an admitted fsc.
that idleness is the parent Of
crime, if therefore, through class
legislation pampered few obtain posses
sion of all the wealth at the expense Of
the industries of the country, thereby
throwing the muscle and sinew Of the
lsnd into idleness, poverty and ci'Pslr.
Then criminal will increase, and Is these
criminals ara forced TO labor, the iney.
table logic of it 81 is that in order 10
obtain employment g workInEmsn vii.
have to become criminsl. Ia view o.
the proposed iniquity of hiring out con-
Wet labor, we appeal to alI who live or
would live by honest labor TO buy 10
wares that are manufactured by con-
victs and TO pstronize 10 dealers VINO
have such wares for sale, and We invite
the cooperation OF al persons to aid Us
IN putting al end to the evil.