Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-19
ALL OF A KIND.
Wheeling Operators Belong to the
Brotherhood
And Are Consequently Knights Of Labor
Wheeling is in With the Rest in
Case Of a Strike To-day.

Say, look here" said q we'll known and
generally we'll informed gentleman to q re-
porter last evening, "what kind of q stand
of are the Wheeling telegraph operators
giving you newspaper men about not be-
longing to the Brotherhood, now on the
eve Of q strike all over the country"
The reporter didn't know; several local
operators had assured him that they were
merely spectators of the struggle for less
work and more wages, and that there
would be no strike as far as the wheeling
men were concerned.
Now" said the gentleman, that's all
bosb. They appear to have completely
closed YOUR eve. To begin with, the Wheel.
ing operators are one and all members OK
District Assembly No. As, X. OF L.. to which
about IL, 300 operators in the principal
cities and towns belong. This District AS
sembly, soon after its constitution "
years ego, obtained special permission
from the Grand Assembly to form the ex-
isting Brotherhood, and to the new organ
ization, all the Knights gave their aliegl-
ance, maintaining ut the same time their
full standing as Knights Of Labor. Of
course, the members Of Wheeling Assem-.
bly went with the rest, all denials to the
contrary Notwithstanding"
Then they belong TO a dual organiza-
tion,' said the scribe.
"That's lust it. It's a wheel within a
wheel. The Brotherhood alone IS proba-
bly, the most stable and best managed labor
organization in the country and is fully
capable Of taking IRE OF itself, but, IN add
ton TO this, every member Of the Brother.
hood is a knight of Labor in good stand
ing, and as such, is entitled to the backing
of that already powerful and fast growing
organization"
"Then that must be the secret Of their
confidence in the result of the strike"
Several things result from their connec'
ton with the Knights. 1t accounts for
the SPLENDID organization they have; they
know that, backed up by that great Order
they will secure almost unlimited financial
aid if they require it; and it explains the
deep interest with which the result OF the
issue now at hand is watched by working
men of all trades, and the many express
sions of sympathy and approval OF the
strike heard on all sides among workmen.
They regard the telegrsphers as members
of their own order, through their holding
X. Of L.. charters in addition to the
Brotherhood organization, and will regard
their triumph with as much satisfaction as
though the victory had been achieved by
Assemblies of bricklayers or carpenters"
Then the Wheeling men stand in with
the others" said the reporter, as his friend
ceased speaking.
YES, and don't forget it; aud more than
that, the Bel!aire, Martins Ferry and
Bridgeport operators are in too. They all
belong TO the Wheeling Assembly, and
consequently to the Brotherhood. Con
found il, do You think tine men who are a,
the head of the telegrsphers' organization,
sharp and careful as tney nave ShD5d
themselves to be. would let as large a town
as this go by without taking the men here
into the fold? II the men leave their
! Seys at Pittsburgh and COlumbusa n otAeF
cities on a general strike, you can bet they
will do likewise here. Secrecy &c s.ruug
card with the operators, and of course i
the Wheeling men can convince everybody
that they are innocent of any completely
in the strike they have no objection, but
hundreds of X. of l.. men in Wheeling
know ell about it, and the facts are just as
| tell them"
After leaving this gentleman, the REG.
| IsTER man sought an operator and asked
him how the strike would affect Wheeling.
Not at all, " he said, further than it will
have no connection"
will the strike extend here?"
NO, | think not"
Are you a member Of the Brotherhood
Wouldn't like to say" and that was ali
he would say.