The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-16
WHEELING PRINTERS
.TRIKE FOR MORE MoNEY,
Their Demand and tho. CircumStantIal An,
swsF of the PFopristors-Good Reasons
Why the Increase wilI Not be Grant
sd-Already out of Proportion.

Yesterday the printers employed on the
daily newspapers Of Wheeling, and in the
job offices connected Herewith, laid down
their sticks and walked out. They are
still out, and there is no probability Of
their returning, They have taken their
stand and the proprletors are obliged to
make other arrangements, Hoping that
the men would sec the wisdom Of another
course, no provision was made to supply
their places, The late employees Of the
several offices having gone, the newspa,
psrs are suddenly confronted with the
necessity Of doing the best they can un-
til they fll up all the vacancies, The
Holksblatl, German evening paper, appear
ed yesterday as usual, and the Register
and INTELLIdENcRR appear this morning,
The demand Of the printers was for an
advance from S5 to 40 cents per thousand
ems, also an increase for hands working
for weekly wages. The new scale con-
tanned other minor features, II was to 90
into effect September l5. The propretors
returned the following response;
ANSWER or PRoPRIEToRs,
To The Executive Committee, Wheeling Typo
graphical Union No. 10.
1t is respectfully submitted In answer to
the circular OF prices fixed by Wheeling
Typographical Union No, 70, that the de-
mand for IN inCEsase-of wages comes at q
most inopportuae time to the newspapers,
for the reason, as Is well known, that the
past protracted period Of general depres.
sion in business in our midst has been
very seriously felt by them, and this de-
preston still exists, particularly as respects
said papers. They have made very con-
siderable Losses from the inability otmany
patrons to pay. A large class Of these
patrons were in arrears when the dOpres.
sion set in, and these arrearages were
carried, and many Of them are still carried,
and in addition they have been decidedly
Increased, 60 thatthe burden Of deliuquents
Is now excessive and heavy. To cut of
oil this delinquency is to ieopardlBe circula.
ton, for the reason that 1t not only ofends
and assures large loss, but in many cases
makes active opponents out Of the persons
10 longer indulged, 1t has therefore been
the policy Of the papers to nurse their
delinquents and accept, whenever they
could get it, small installments on &C.
count, in the hope that ultimately their
list would not only be preserved but q
large measure Of good will assured.
In order to do this the proprietors have
put themselves TO the risk, Inconvenience
and expense Of the necessary outlays
called for to carry this large amount Of
delinquency. 1t Is yet a problem how far
their hopes will be realized. Up to this
time there Is decided disproportion be-
tween receipts and continued delinquen-
cies.
In addition to this burden, thus car
ried, patronage in all other departments
has suffered. Advertising has fallen otTand
Job work has been cut under and cut down
until the margin for profit has boen reduced
to tho most slender character. This has
resulted not only from the general depres-
sion prevailing, but likewise from the es-
tablishment Of numerous small printing
Offices in the city, whose owners make 1t
a business to canvass and solicit work at
any price that will cover cost Of material
used, and none Of which give work to
union printers. The newspaper job Offices
have had the alternative presented in
many instances Of either losing customers
or meeting these desd-low prices, and as
defensive policy for the future have felt
obliged to meet them. The result is
very poor showing indeed on their work.
In addition, the representatives Of job
printing and photographic establishments
i in other cities are continually in our midst
offering such prices as are diSheartenlng
to the regular business Of job printing In
Wheeling.
Without enlarging on these features Of
the business which have made 1t unre.
numerative for some years past, we may
refer TO tho fact that the wages which we
have paid, and never omitted TO pay at
any Inconvenience to ourselves, have had
constantly increasing purchasing power
In the necessities OF life. Prices ol all
kinds have been on tho gradual decline.
While this decline has invaded our own
business, as every other, yet to those in
receipt Of regular weekly wages cnployed
by Us II has brought only advantage.
Their wages 20 further by very decided
percent than they did tho day they were
dxed. II the wages were fair during oil
these years they are much more go now,
All wsgo.oarncrs have had their advau'
tage over those who have paid them the
same wages while their Own PRICES were
steadily declining. SO far as the propris'
tors are concerned, counting these de.
clines aud losses, they would have done
better had their investments been loaned
out at simple interest. They have not
realized simple interest on their capital.
Neither can they tell, as .thingu stand to-
day, whom they will realize that much
| from their buOinesS. Under such circum.
stances we respectfully protest that the
demand on us at time like this 10 most
Unfair. We feel as II advantage were bs.
ing taken Of uS In Our depleted situation,
and therefore we appeal 10 that sense Of
fair play that should actuate employers
and employees one towards G1other and
which we trust we have preserved IN oil
these years towards our help, 70 consider
the hardship which such 4 demand, II
successful, would entail upon Us.