Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-29
TIE SMOKY CITY.
williamsOn's Ways Work and
Wages Politics and Prosper
ity.

Correspondence Of the Register
PIrTsBURdH, Pa, March %.
Pittsburgh does not easily get over
the shock il received when told that one
of the iavorites Of its best society had
been arrested as the blackmailer OF the
Rev. DIR. Morgan Dix, of Trinity Church,
New York. The arrest in Baltimore OF
Eugene +. Williamson for this otfense,
so soon after the fine figure he cut as
master Of ceremonies at one OF the most
fashionable weddings here, struck the
susceptible upper ten thousand dumb
with amazement And yet there was
not much reason for the amaZemenL
A man who has no profession, no trade,
no income from property or rich rela'
tives, and who puts on style like lord,
must get money one way or another,
and why not by his wits, after the man
ner Of most free lances in the field ofgay
lfr2 A man NAV live on the east wind,
but he cannot dress fastidlously on 1t.
society should have thought OF this
while petting its fayorlte. But society
did not. Society WAS content with hls
winning WAYS, with his charming talk,
with hIs poetry, and above all with hls
middle name, the aristoCratic and his
toric old Virginia name Of Fairfax.
While society wonders how II could
have been deceived So, Williamson re-
clines in cell aud recalls how he de
ceived society In Switzerland apd In
England, and perhaps compares his
present cell with the one he spent a
wear i'm while an inmate OF the famous
Newgate prison OF London, for cutting
Just such caper as he did when tor
menting the Rev. Morgan Dix.
A glance At the streets OF this city at
any hour of the day shows that business
of every kind is rushing. Energy and
activity appear on all sides. There Is
nothing t0 remind one Of the deyasta-
ton wrought few years ago by the
pane. and the more rulncus and dis
heart.ning July riots Thrift has Gov
cred up the wrecks of those disasters or
removed them entirely. But the busl-
ness revival SO far has been somewhat
one-sided here. Capital has protited by
IL more than labor, Il you except from
this labor the iron workers, whose slid
ing scale unites their fortunes with those
oi the iron masters, and compels III
vision Oi the good things which came
with the good times.
In spite of the real progress OF busl-
ness and oi the actual growth at wealth,
there is not little dlscOntent, and much
Of il iustitiable. Large classes OF men
receive about the same wages as when
the price Of living VAS greatly lower
than now. This discontent Is culmi-
mating in imperative demands for all
vance in paw. The carpenters . few
days since resolved 10 work not longer
than the first of April at the average
wages Of sl.TSa day, which, IN view OF
the Increased cost of food and clothing
and rent IL little better than 81 .2o was
wear or two ago. The contractors com
plain that they cannot pay more because
the rise in the prices of building mate
rals Is against them. Sull the news ai
this writing is that the Carpenters
Union will obtain what II has resolved
10 ask for. III men want houses they
must he willing TO give carpenters living
wages to build them.
The journsymen tailors sho have been
grumbling and threatening for iong
time have screwed their courage up and
struck Tor more pay. DAbtless they,
too, will get it They have grievance
against the women, who, IL Is said, with
some knowledge OF the trade, are forever
cutting wages. A large part OF the ordi-
nary tailor's trade any woman With deft
fingers san do alter little practice. The
vile of q mechanic whs can spare sous
hssn sash Day frsn ~ hAily ssnss.