Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-28
THE YICIOUSBOYCOTT.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT BECOMING AROUSED
AGAINST ITS APPLICATION.
Ths Conservative and Respectable Portion Of the Con-
mmity Unanimous In COndemning the
Edies Of the Secret TRIBUNAL.

As n Jay SucceeuS anObnSli pun"
sentiment in opposition to the vicious and
brutal boycott now attempted to be
waged against the two English morning
papers, and sundry merchants and manu-
facturers of this city, is becoming more
and more marked. Each twenty-four
hours brings forth expressions of eondem-
nation from conservative and fair-minded
men, who have heretofore remained silent,
and it will not be long, from present indi-
cations. until the lines will be sharply
drawn upon the nefarious business, and the
issue set forth clearly and Enthusiastically.
There can be no middle course for the
enlightened people of this community, II
the prosperity of our city is to continue.
The hideous Thing brought among
US by a few misguided
men, who have for the most
mart laid aside their legitimate duties at
the workbench of the mechanic or the case
of the printer to take up the lighter but
less manly occupation of professional agl-
tators, living upon the labor of Others, has,
through the indifference of our people,
grown into dangerous proportions, and I'M
less it is promptly trod under foot by
law-abiding citizens, threatens IN the near
future 10 grasp the business element by
the throat and stfe all enterprise Of
whatever description. The present Is put
a hint of what the future holds, unless
prompt action is taken. Buta few business
enterprises are threatened to-day, but To-
morrow someone else may be put under
the ban, and no man car tell how
soon he may be singled out as o
victim by the unseen tribunal which,
usurping Law and defying Justice, seeks
to rule Omnipotent over the property, the
conscience and the freedom Of any n
who ventures an objection to any demand,
however outrageous, which may be made
upon him.
This situation is fast presenting itself In
all its hideOus reality to the thinking and
enlightened men of our city, and on all
sides are to be heard the muttered protests
ola public opinion, not yet fully aroused,
but which when it once asserts itself, Will
sweep from u midst the foreign born
idea, conceived in sin and brought forth
in %iniouity, with which 4 coterie OF con-
s~piratOrs are ~endeayOring to enforce their
most unreasonable demands.
A gentleman, whose money, acquired
by a third Of acentury Of hard work, IS
invested in a number Of manufacturing
establishments, said yesterday: The
times are ont o fjoint, indeed, when any
body of men can publicly proclaim their
intention to ruin a mans business unless
he does thus and so. Let this principal
obtain, and every employer, in whatever
line he may be engaged, will sooner or
later find the knife at his throat, and he
must yield or be ruined. Let once q
merchant succumb to the boycott and he
will find himself at the mercy OF a halt
a dozen men, whose mereSt nod or faint
est wink he must comply with ever after.
Let once the workingman bind himself to
the chariot wheels of these leaders, and
he will find before him a life OF slavery
more ~unsupDOrtable by far than the some
time Injustice OF his employer.
The success of the boycott means the n
of freedom, of right, of honor, and of
equality, and the people cannot speak too
plainly or too sOon."
Said Il retail merchant: Il have done
business in this city for q dozen years, and
have always bore an honorable name. both
my fellow trldesmen and with the
general public. A week ago a committee OF
printers, among whom, by the way, are
half-a-dOzen who owe me money, sent me
a notice to withdraw my patronage from
the morning papers. As feel competent
to conduct my own affL irS, | OF course
paid no attention to the notice. 4 day
or two ago, while standing
in my door, three of these printers
passed me and one Of them called ont, in
Il tone loud enough to be heard II dozen
wards: There's q - who adj
~vertiscs in the rat papers. - him to
- Is that honorable contention for a
right? Is that the language Of a gentle
man? Isn't it rather the talk one would
look for froma brutal, cOwardly, blatant
~rufian? Believe ME, the business men,
the intelligent men, the men of gentle
manly instincts and sense of right, will
never lend their aid TO secure the triumph
of a cause in which profanity and billings
gate are the chief arguments"
II am glad the present attack IS being
made upon the newspapers" said another
business man, ''for they have the best
possible facilities for ending for
ever the career of the boy
cotter in Wheeling. No other bust
ness man or manufacturer can fight the
boycott as the newspapers can for the rea-
son that the morning journals of the city
command the confidence and respect of
the people, and through them the public
can be kept informed of the situation. |
hope every citizen whose stand is on the
side of Justice will lend all possible aid TO
the newspapers, supporting them as they
were never supported before, until they
have won o clear and substantial victory.
The InteIHgegcer and REGISTER are not
fighting for themselves alone, but for every
business ma and employer in the city.
Let this boycott be triumphant-let the
newspapers be compelled to surrender, and
no man will longer be safe. God help the
next victim who falls into their clutches,
for they will squeeze him dry; and with
every victory the boycott will increase in
power, until we will find the edicts of the
committee swaying the fortunes and deS-
tines of all, and the city will be Stunned
by the outside world as though it were the
abiding place of the plague. will stand
by the newspapers, and hope my friends
will do the same"
did you ever think OF the i~nconsis-
tcncy Of these boycotters?" said another
citizen. Take the case of the nail mills,
as an example. The Trades Assembly
placed q boycott upon the product Of the
mills, after advising the feeder nailers to
go to work in them, and then, to cap the
climax, the Trades Assembly people went
to work in the mills themselves, beneath
the shadow of their own boycott. It's
funny"
Said a retail merchant: "A man came
into my store yesterday and said he wanted
to secure my ad IertiSement. i said all
right; what's your scheme?:' He replied
that he wanted me to put my card in the
Pittsburg Labor Herald. Why said l,
4 can't do that Why not?' he replied.
Because, my dear sir, { am boycotted, and
| don't think ] will advertise In Q work
ingman's paper, when the workingmen
won't buy my gOodsr The fellow went
away. l shall stand BY the newspapers,
and hope they will succeed, for l know
from experience what the boycott will
mean, should it be successful.
a.