The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-05-03
A PEACEFUL VICTORY
a GREAT MO DEMONSTRATION
or Joy at Bnnlshmept Ofths Italian Labor
err, Iustsnd OF An IudIgsAtIou Meeting
to D0uOuRGO thSir Employment,
Future Contracts Must BRr Thsm,

change oil plans, many people supposed
Saturday nights meeting, called TO protest
against the employment OF the Italians
and to demand their removal, would be
abandoned. This course was not pursued
however, though necessarily the assembly
took radically different form from the
tirst intention. Instead ot demanding
that the Italians be sent away, the large
crowd which assembled at the south front
OF the City Hall in responseto the call gave
expression to rejoicing and a feeling ol
triumph that thsy had been sent away.
The numerous references to Contractor
Kimberly were largely OF a humorous
or sarcastic character and were loudly
applauded.
The meeting was called to order by
Hon, Ell. R0bertaon, on behalf Of the Com
mittee on Legislation ot the Ohio Valley
Trades and Labor Assembly, which com.
mittee called the meeting, Mr.. Robertson
named the following officers:
President-W. s.. Meek.
Vice Presidents-M. J. Finley, John w.
Armstrong, Michael Gilligan, Patrick But.
Ter, Abe Stamm aud Henry Foster.
FhUTeporters Of the city press were re-
quested to act as secretaries.
CHAIRMAN MERK's sPRECH.
Mr.. Meek, upon assuming the duties OF
his position, made a very neat little ad.
dress. He said that after reading the de.
velopments in regard 10 the employment
VI Italians ChroniCled In the morning pa
pers, he was constrained to exClaim,
Peace hath her victories. no less re.
nowned than war;" Applause,] Wher
a few days before the public read thai
cheap ltaIian labor had been employed tc
work on the contract OF Philo Kimberly
in digging the ditch for the pipe Of tht
West Virginia Natural Gas Company, ;
feeling OF the deepest disappointment wat
toit, not only by The iiIo laborsrs Of The
iity, but by the community at largs. Tht
matter was talked over IN the different
labor organizations, and the proper steps
70 be taken under the circumstances wert
discussed. 1t WIS decided that 1t would
Oe good idea TO got tho people OF the
city together and secure an expression Of
opinion concerning the matter Accord
ugly III was issued for thiI meeting,
md he congratulated those present that
:his call had already accomplished good
result Tho meeting, instead Of being an
Indignation meeting had become jollih,
tatOn over the peaceful and elleCtua
manner in which the end aimed at had
been accomplished.
The 0uestion OF imported labor is moi
new one TO the country, nor to tho peo.
| Ii. ~ NVhnniton nhn houa haorH Iha
echoes OF the n0ise II had created else
Fhere But ito introduction In our midst
gavs It new interest and q new signiIi'
cance here. All can remember when the
yar closed and thousands OF the soldier
Boys came home out Of employment, helds
ior labor opened to all OF them in tho in.
,reased activity Of the county In the arts
| Il peace. Not only were the soldiers civ.
N employment, but thousands aud thou.
sands Of immigrants from foreign shores
found work ready and waiting for them to
10. For time tho supply Of labor was
| lot adequate to the demand. The impetus
. ointernalimprovemOnts consequent upon
he close Of the war made wages high
But in an evil hour, some employer greedy
for cheaper labor than lie could find al
lome, began TO bring Chinese cheap
abor 10 these shores, and flood OE thit
slave lsbor WAS turned In upon the states
and territories bordering upon the Pacific
still there was employment enough for all
md no trouble arose. A little later, an
,ther employer, moved by his Unsuitable
Ireed for grain, attempted TO introduce
| Chinese labor into tho shops and factories
1f the East. The history Of this attempt
1t North Adams, Mas, where large
lumber Of Cinnamon wero introduced Il
akc tho place Of workmen In cutlery
establishments, was remembered by all
or the struggle there attracted wide al
entton, After that the subject In meas
ire was lost sight Of, bat tho labor marke
gradually became Clogged, and tho oVi
trew worse until It eliminated in the anti
Chinese riots in California In 1871. Al
chat time tho expression imported labor
originated, and II has remained in oul
vocabulary ever since.
| CoNGEESs MOVED.
Aaa result Of the agitation oil the queS
tion Congress finally passed bill restrict
ing Ohinese immigration, but no soonei
| iid itpo into effect than avariciorS en-
OIOyefB DegHu W lulVSIb plNN" '"SOi 'AVL
Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Hungary ant
other countries OIL thu continent o
Europe. Finally mine operators In Penn
ylyania introduced HungarianS into theil
mines 10 take the place Of free American
abor, Gradually the eyil had grown
The sneaker said he would not weary hi
hearers by rcCounting the recent steps O
IA progress. They wero familiar to the
onbliC, Now, we arc brought face to lact
sith The evil by the Importation Of ltalian'
into this section.
Mr. Meek referred to the fact that Itsl
| ian labor had been employed on the. con
,trnctIon OF the Ohio River railroad, bu
iald these men were not br0ughtin into con
tact with Wheeling laborng men, nor haC
,hey been used on work for which loca
ab5r wac n competitor OF oi which II wal
In need. Neither we're the men who EN-
ployed them within reach q the local sen
timetlt against imported labor. Now thu
caso Ia different. The company upot
whose work these men were to be. EN-
nioyed had received special priyilegeI
rom the people, and expected the people
In nattonizs them. twas high time whet
italian labor WaD brought here unde
snch circumstances 10 publicly enter
solemn and emphatic protest The fright
hi result OF the mere announcement 0
the purpose to do 90 justlhss the belle
thst ihis wsB The right course 70 pursue
I'VE have reason 10 reIoirs at the result
and many poor lRb6Ter WHO bag hat
little or no work for many months Pas
has ppecial reason to rejoice with Us. Th,
West Virginia Natural Gas Company .evet
| has reason 10 rejoice, and haye no doub
does rejoice at the turn BlIairs have taken
The developments last night make a tegii
lar boom for the Company, the beet I'D
yertisemenL they could have. We ar
assured by the Natural Gas Company Q
West Virginia that oil who apply tot etl
ployment on their pipe line vii receive
, until the full quota Of lAbOterB desired be
been obtained. What more could sYs ask
. In closing, the Chairman said The com
, mittae under whose auspices the tneetin
. ySS held had sent representative 4
y sneak for II, and lie had the pleasure O
Introducing Hon. j. II. Durtt.
RY.bELEaATR BURT,