Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-22
the BOYCOTT.
The Chamber of Commerce Adopts
Resolutions Regarding II.
Vigorous Action Taken Relative to Convict
Labor at the Penitentiary---Mer-
chants Urged to Exhibit at
the State Fair.

nerce, lhot eEenIDSi "oS
|. full and free interchange OF opinion on
matters of vital interest to every
,itizen Of this community, and the taking
# appropriate action thereon By the body
after the members had given vent to indi-
vidual views upon the subjects coming up.
A full report of the business Of the evening
will be found appended:
Under the head of committee reports,
Mr.. Hulhhen Quarter, from the Commit.
on Statistics, said his committee bad
determined to defer action on the matter
submitted to it by the Chamber.
Mr.. Oglebsy, from the Committee on
Trade Interests, to which was referred Ger
tain matters in relation to the subject OF
boycotting, reported as follows:
To The Chamber Of COmmercs:
GENrLENEN:-Your Committee on Trade
Interests, to which was referred certain
papers in regard to the subject OF boycott
ing, respectfully report the following:
Resolved BY the Chamber Of Commerce
of the city of Wheeling, That We believe
the boycott to be wrong in principle, PERM
cious in practice, and in direct conflict
with American ideas and institutions. We
believe it's practice, as pursued in most In
stances, is not only in violation oflsw, out
it utterly destructive of that confidence
and respect which should exist between
members Of the same community. The
boycott has been characterized BY a
prominent representative of labor as "a
species of blsckmail." Thers may have
been no intention, in many instances, 10
make it such, but the fact remains, that II
has been largely used to crafty personal
malice, and that it invites directly TO the
destruction of business and property
through the mesnest motives, which inspire
men to ipiure their n~eighbors. We have
reason to believe that 1t has been
90 employed in this city, aud that 1t has
worked great injustice to some Of our busr
ness men, who, from the force OF crrcum
stances, have been unable to comply with
the demands made upon them. without
making sacrifices, not only OF valuable bus
mess interests, but of honor and selt're
spect as well. We further believe that the
boycott will greatly iIjure the prosperity
of this or any other community in which
it may be introduced, in preventing the In
vestment Of money and energy in manu-
featuring and commercial enterprises
Merchants and others, who have beretotors
been willing TO invest their surplus earn
irgs in manufacturing or other enterprises
thereby increasing industries and populs
ton, will not continue to do so, II a system
is to prevail which exposes them TO the
penalties OF q secret and irresponsible tribu
nal, whose judgments are necessarily ex
parte, and therefore liable to be bott
unreasonable and unjust. For the reasons
already given, and for others OF equal
force, which we might assign, VT
feel compelled to express our ear
nest condemnation OF the boycott. At the
same time we desire to express the hope
and desire that those who have supported
it will carefully examine their relations tc
il, and be enabled to recognize the fac
that it cannot be a permanent or etfectuaI
remedy for any evils which may exist, thai
it tends to revolution, destruction and
alienation. and not to order, prosperity and
harmony; that while it may for a Time serl
ously injure those at whom it is directed
it will in the end injure far more those who
support and encourage it. We respectful
ly, kindly but most earnestly urg an ex
haustive uae Of the arts of peace before
resorting to the bitterness aud waste Of
war. +. w. OGLEBAY,
Chairman.
Quite q long and interesting discussion
ensued, which ended By Mr.. Smyth offering
the following substitute:
WHEREAS, The vicious boycott has taken
root in this community; and,
WHEREAS, 1t is beyond dispute that the
system of ~boycotting is injurious to oil
classes, and if allowed to go unchecked
will destroy all freedom in business, and
force the merchant and his patrons to sins
their manhood OF the behest of the ire
sponsible Boycott Committee or sacrifice
his business; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we denounce this vile
plant of foreign birth as satanic in it's con-
ceptiou, diabolicsli in its workings and nee
essarily Obstructive of pescs and prosperity;
and we pledge ourselves TO use all lawful
mesns to stamp out this blot on civiliza'
ton BY aiding those under its bane and
by prosecuting its promoters to the utmost
extent of the law.
The discussion was renewed and con-
tinued for some time. Finally the
question was put on the substitute, aud
it was declared adopted. Mr.. w. B. Simp-
son then moved to reconsider the action Of
the Chamber, and the motion prevailing,
the discussion was renewed, there being o
decided difference of opinion as to the wis
dom OF adopting the substitute. Mr.. A
J. Sweeney, Mr.. G. B. Hart, and President
Logan took the stand that the substitute
was not couched in proper form aud that
it was not based upon the best
means of dealing with the subject
of. Finally, Mr.. Smyth withdrew
the substitute and the report of the COM
mittee vas unanimously adopted.
The Chamber then took up the question
Of the manufacture of cigars BY convict la.
Dor, the secretary reading the letter from
the committee of cigar manufacturers,
attention to the recent letting OF a
contract BY the Penitentiary Directors,
and praying that the Chamber take some
action looking to the sbrogstion Of such
contract
Mr.. O'Brien moved to refer the letter to
the Committee on Trade Interests, but
action By the Chamber. Mr.. C. B..
Hart took the floor. He said that in view
If the meeting of the Board OF Directors Of
he Penirenuary at M~oundsVille, to-day,
md in the hope that the final consumma.
ion of the cigar contract might be pre-
Ia sould offer a resolution, which
vas read IS follows, (Mr. O'Bsisn withdraw
ng his m~otion):--
Resolved, That the Secretary be in.
to forward at once TO the Direc-
ors of the Penitentisry the following COM
n~unication:
10 tie Board Of Director Of the West Virginia Pen
iteRiiaTy:
GENTLEMES:-The Chamber of Com
nerce of the city of Wheeling respectfully
ubmits to your honorable body:
That the sense of this community is
against the employment Of con-
let labor in competition with free labor.
M