Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-08
.RE STRIKES JUsrIEIABLE'
Tn. euestion Argued from tho
mems standpoint.

mems standpOint.
Correspondence of the Register.
The uncalled for expressions induigeu ~
by several of the merchants ana ouS'n'' !,
neople of this city towards the members VI
the Apnaleamation since the strike was IN
aueurated. is matter that should not DC
let passed unnoticed. Members OF ine
Amaleamation who are now on strike for
what they consider their just rights ana tue
rights of their fellowmen, are on trial De-
fore jury of biased sympathiDers OF capl-
talists who are only too willing to give tnei.
verdict against the strikers before the eyi-
dence on the strikers side is given at all.
This public Jury Of iHconsistents, who 90
not wish To know both sides OF the case,
giyes an informal verdict that all strikers
are irresponsible parties that do not know
what they are striking for, and that Is con-
trary to the wishes of the manufacturers
and the advanced thinking portion OF the
citizens for a body of worklngmen 70 as
sumo such preroSatiyes. Tue men on
strike differ considerably with their oPpo
ncnts in regard 10 the attitude the strikers
have taken in this lockout Some people
of a partisan nature. together with iron man.
ufacturers are under the impression that
workingmen have no right to ask an advance
in wages without the manufacturers would
condescend to do so without request.
What one sided display of liberality this
Is in words but not in action. The ques-
ton arises here: Are strikes justitiable?
Any honest or impartial thinking man Will
say yes, as it is very evident that all rights
are gained by strikes direct or indirect.
When capitalists invest their money IN
mills or factories they do not so with the in
tentiOn of making them benevolent insti-
buttons; and it is generally understood
that iron manufacturers are not accustom.
ed TO suggest 10 their employees the pro-
priety OF giving them an increased COM
pensation when they (the manufacturers)
declare dividend of 80 or 40 per cent. The
amount of capital members OF the Anal
samation have is their capacity to work:
and il should be thoroughly understood
that they have the inalienable right to hold
their labor at its highest valuation. There
can he no Just copartnership between
Amalgamated men and iron man ufacturers
Amalgamated men or iron workers get
from two to three dollars for a hard days
work of ten or twelve hours, as return OF
their investment Manufacturers on the
other hand receive from 30 TO 40 per cent
premium on their invested capital. This is
The point that requires the careful consider
alton OF some Of our open .mouthed citizens
who are so given to abuse and denuncia-
ton of the strikers, that they should dis
continue their epithets until they have
fully understood the situation as it is now
pending between men and employees.
Certainly the strikers have Strong OPP
position TO contend with in this contest.
They have the determined and combined
opposition of the manufacturers. They
have to stand the falsehood
and hypocritical prating of the
capitalistic press, and the silly absurdities
of disinterested parties. And after resort
ing to all this influence ID discourage the
strikers, still they stand united and deter
mined Some of our daily papers give an
account of the direful restitution among
the striking ironworkers of Pittsburgh.
This is falsehood of the broadcast dimen-
sion, and will give my reason for stating
so. The irOnworker OF Pittsburgh, when
working, makes more wages than the
Weeling ironworker does when they are
working. Then again, the Pittsburgh IRON
workers are no longer on strike than what
the Wheeling ironworkers are, and | can
assert positively that have to hear OF the
first striker in Wheeling to be in destitute
circumstances. There are several such re.
ports as the above appear in the pubic
press. and when traced up cannot stand in
NeSUgatlOn. some parties Will allow tucih-
selves to resort to infamous and con-
temptibe treachery in order to demoralize
the ranks of the strikers. This mean COW.
ardice so far has failed, aud it should not
be considered honorable or creditable in
individuals of prominence to hum LITE
themselves as TO deal in trivial schemes for
the sole purpose of beating hard-workiny.
industrious men ont of what in right and
Justice belong to them. Why not give the
strikers a fair and honorable battle in this
contesting struggle, and whoever shall be
the vctors to them shall belong the spoils.
If this thing is contested fairly 1t will
have a tendency to more harmonious fee
ing between strikers and manufacturers
when the strike is ended. As far as The
strikers are concerned, the course they
have pursued since the commencement o,
the strike is the course that will be pursued
until the strike is terminated, which is
honorable, indeed. If the strikers fail in
gaining their point they will not have
failed ANONYMOUSLY, as some people would
wish to see They will have gained an en-
viable reputation for their straight forward
and gentlemanly conduct during the
strike in obeying law and order, and if they
gain their point it will be more than a
double victory DISTINGUISHED malc0ntents
should be remembered by every striker
who is interested in this struggle, and es.
peciaIly some of our biased business people
who directly and indirectly receive a fair
share of patronage from mill men when
they are working. CONSISTENT