Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-03
THE WAGE WORKERS.
The Industrial Intelligence OF the
Past Week
IN THIS VICINITY AND At LARGE.
Notes Concerning the Iron Men, Goal
Miners. Cigar Makere. Glass
Blowers, Railroad Men,
ETC., ETC.
THE NEW MOVE.
An Interesting Talk with "eh'
known workman.

known workman.
For several days past suppressed eA-
element has been running through
the working men in this city aud i'm
mediate vicinity, just what it was d
REGISTER reporter was unable to fLd
out until yesterday.
The cause of the sudden starting into
active lives of the idle workmen was
the report that the mill owners We're
seriously contemplating a still further
stoppsge of the mills, until the lst oil
March. The work men commenced put
ting their heads together to see If it was
not practicable for them to adopt line
of action by which they could protest
in the interest of themselves and their
wives and families.
The readers of the industrial news I'D
tie SUNDAY REGISTER are familiar
with The project talked of some months
ago lay the nailers to adopt law COM
pelling all nailers TO cease work on the
first of every June and not resume work
again, until the first of September, this
PROJECT was talked off, but finally died
away, that is, il ceased to attract gener-
al interest.
Now, however, it has again been
brought forward with much more Tlgor
than before, for in reality it had never
died in the minds OF the workmen, but
bad been quietly perfected by them; so
that wi EN- the issue did come up before
the ledge, it would be paced IN just
such a light that 1t would be unalnin-
Ously adopted and become law ana
fact.
A wOrkmen said:
We are row determined to make this
law in our association, not for any spite
work or anything of that nature, but
purely and simply as a matter OF pro-
lection, or, better still, bread and butter.
Now take the present stop OF our mills,
What kind of \ condition do you sup.
pose the majority of the worklngmen's
Isrder's are in? can tell you. Very
scant, or if they have plenty Of provls-
ions they owe big grocery and IN al
oil which will have to be paid out OF
tie first money they make, thus, you
see, the workiugmau's nose ls coatin-
ualIy held to the grind stone and that
is The reason they never get ahead.
Mil business is not like merchantile
business for this reason, in the formsr
We never make full year, or three
Quarters oil year, while i'll the latter
tuil year is always made, hence though
some ct us make more money IN one
II a. an n nj Al IN
general public does not look at. A man
who makes so per week, now that man
Will naturally set a better table anu
dress little better than man VINO
only makes 80 per week. Now, Tor an
illustration, suppose We take the iormer
for wUrklDgmen III mill ana the lat
ter y clerk IN 4 store The former Will
not have made as much money at the
end Of a year as the latter, Tor this rea-
son, he making larger salary will
naturally live better and not working
over half the year viii be in debt at the
commencement of the new year, while
the clerk with his family, knowing he
had Just 80 much money to go on, Will
husband il, and consequently a. the
commencement OF the new year have
small sum laid up, or, at least, be square
with the world. The public might ask,
"Why is il that the wOrkmen does not
save his money like the clerk? Simple
this: he goes to work the first OF the
year and everything looks as If the mill
will run steadily three-quarters OF thu
wear, hut instead of that, in sometimes,
less than three weeks notice, the mills
close Tor six weeks or two months, that
is how it is, and if any person with au
urpreiudiced mind will set down and
study over the matter for Il few mo-
ments they will see clearly how 1t Is
that the workmen are always Kept
down.
Now we propose to have the stoppage
of the mills take place in the summer
season, from LIST of June until the lst OF
II ptenlber, period of three mouths
then we will run steadily nearly the re-
msinder of the year. The prospects at
pr, se mt look as if the nail trade will be
very brisk all this coming summer, but
You can just bet, we are not going to
work during June, July AMI August
and loaf during the cold months. No,
slr: this winter settles il, we have the
Experience and are going to profit by
IT.
II understood, however, said the re-
porter that portion of the wOrkmen
would not agree TO this"
"Oh, that is done to throw you of the
scent. We have thoroughly convas 'ed
the subject and are now nearly a unit
OIL il. One thing is certain, we have got
to do something or the manufacturers
will run their factories during the sum
N months and during the cold wealth
er We would be idle