The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-15
SOME LOCAL history.
"COld shOr,, J" Of the 81. Louis Ags OF stsSl,'
the NRlIsFs' Strike.


Mr.. Philip Henry Moore ("Cold Short J
Of the St, Louis Ag Of Slssl, in his latest
letter published in that paper, gives as
history some statements concerning the
Bellaire mill which have been made and
denied repeatedly here. Mr., Moore, it
must be borne in mind, Is supporter Of
the manufacturers and has been; through
out this strike, He says;
The nail imbroglio still continues in
Wheeling, and while someprediCtR speedy
finish TO the trouble cannot see 1t. The
manufacturers are neither disheartened
nor weakened by the late deieetions, but
rather confirmed in their position that
their cause IL just and that they cannot
honorably dispose Of the bridge that has
partially carried them oVsr-ths feeder
mailer, and they will stay With him. l
have been narrating the history Of this
mailer strike, and some Of its phases and
incidents, and there IL one feature in it
and OF 1t that have not alluded
10, and as II IL antscsdent in its
happening to much that have written, l
will ireshen it up, Ga it were. That is the
position occupied by the Bell3ire mill
during the trouble. When 1t became a
decided conviction that the steel nail was
not only practicable, but was TO be the
nail OF the future, and the different fac
tories were making preparations to make
them, the AmalgamRted Union instructed
the nailers TO demand au advance OF 20
percent per key for cutting steel nails,
thus to protect the boilers, The Bsllaire
company had a new steel plant and was in
prime condition to start on the new nail,
Hersey Lodge sought an interview with
Mr., MCOortney, president OF the Bellaire
company, Previous to this, believe, the
AmalglmRted Union was about to disOip-
line Herssy Lodge for not being more
prompt in making this demand, The
lodge asked Mr.. MCCOrtney what he was
going to do on the lst OF June. He told
them that II they brought in the old scale,
tWenty.one Cents, clean, without any
20 percent clause with regard to steel nails,
he would sign 1t, and he subsequently did
80. This was several months before the
Western Nail Association met in CinCin-
natl and adopted the seventeen.cents Csle,
After obtaining Mr., MCCortney's promise,
Heney Lodge withdrew from the Amalga.
mated Union and formed the nucleus Of
the present Nailers' Union, When the
Western Nail Association adopted the
seventeen cent card Mr.. MCCortney was
placed in u position fIom which he could
not honorably extract himself-very SINH
lar to the present position Of the manu-
iacturers and the tseder.nailers, and he
fulfilled his promise. Since this Mr.,
MCUortney has attended but very few
meetings OF the Western Nail Association
and he has never voted on any resolutions
brought before 1t, lie has been approach.
cd with propositions to allow some Of the
strikers to "sub," as printers call 1t,
but he has positively refused. Be-
tween the manufacturers and nailers Mr..
MCUortaey's actions have been square,
straightforward and honoTable-there has
been no detection. AS to the effect Of his
course there is this 10 say: he caused the
Withdrawal Of the nailers from the Anal
gamated Union, aud thus deprived the
strikers OF substantial support, which they
would otherwise have received, and con.
Germs which have both iron mills and
nail factories were enabled to operate their
iron mill departments, collision having
ceased between tho iron mill operatives
and the striking nailers, When the pres.
ent season IL over Mr.. MCCortney will, ]
feel confident, DO found In full accord and
membership with the Western Nail Asso-
citation. There may be some trlfling mac
Curacies in this statement, as have never
discussed tho subject with Mr.. MCCortney
but have CLEANED my information from
other sources.