The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-13

wAEILlNO, W va, ArKll 49, 1856


For more than ten months Inc lNIhLLp
eRNcxR confined ito treatment oil the
nailers' strike to printing the news which
related to it. Its reporters endeavored TO
gather promptly each new feature and
the columns OF the paper were open to
both sides, The ain was to be absolutely
fair in the presentation OF facts, leaving the
public to draw its own conclusions We
iorbore TO express opinions, fearing that
anything resembling interference might
prejudice the common interest and stand
ia the way OF an early and amicabIe set
Element.
As the weary months dragged on, add
ing to the loss which this community had
already sustained aud ioreboding darker
DAYS for the future, the lSTELLdENcgR
thought it might DO y public service by
suggesting a conference and showing u
way to bring it about without either side
hlylnyto make the advance which neither
s.emed willing to make. The sugSesti( n
was made, inCurring suspicion and resent
ment from both sides, each being disposed
to think that the idea OF the conference
had been advanced at the instigatlon Of
the other.
Formor6 long months the ISTELLIdEN-
CIR went on giving the news, with no edi'
toral comment beyond the expression oil
tie hope that the difficulty might be soon
settled by conference, Finally it appear
ed, so clearly that nobody could be de-
ceiyed, that the day Of conference was
over, that the manuisctureFs would
make no concessions, and that they in
tended 10 continue their policy OF filling
up with new men. These facts were re-
cognized by tho naIers themselves, as
they showed in their address to the pub
lie closing the question for their side
After this Interpretation there could be
no two opinions. In the interest Of this
Community and Of the men whose occu'
patton Mas surely and steadily slipping
away from them, the INrELLIGESoEE felt
that It ought to act the friendly part and
present the situation sQuarely as 1t was
and is.
In doing this the ISrELLIGENcEn did not
think it was sayinsthe thing that would
be most acceptable to the striking nailers,
but 1t did believe that time would con-
vince them that tho picture presented to
them vas drawn by no uniriendly hand.
In this confident belief the lNrELLlGENcER
abides, trusting to that sober second
thought which comes to all intelligent
men when judgment has resumed the
mastery over feeling.
The INrELMGRSCER values the industry,
the thrift and the good citizenship Of these
men who have helped to make Wheeling
what she Ia. We do not wish them to be
forced to look elsewhere for employment
to break up their homes, sever the ties
which bind them to old friends and scenes,
and seek now relations in new fields. We
should have been better pleased II they
had been given an advance in compenss.
ton Instead Of being asked to accept re-
duCtion. But after their long and remark.
able struggle they are sternly confronted
with situation which means acceptance
OF reduction or loss Of employment. A
thousand machines running the number
increasing every week. tells the whole
story.
The INrELudEScRR has hoped that the
unemployed nailers would see their way
clear to reBume their work, maintain and
perfect their organization, and, with assist
ance from the manufacturers, organize the
mailing labor OF tho East so as to establish
between the two sections such relations as
would pave the way for better wages in
the West. Under existing conditions the
realization Of this hope is not possible.
We are well aware that the nailers can.
not be forced to accept advice, or even to
believe that it is well.meant, Yet there
come times when newspaper owes 1t to
the public to speak word offriendly eau.
ton, and that newspaper Is not worthy Of
the public confidence which refrains from
saying what II believes tho public interests
demand shall be said.