Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-08-27
CAPITAL AND LABOR
UNITED IN THB GREATEST STRIKE OF
THE AGE
Fifty The7saHd Men Go O1i in Lordor. Deck
Laborsr, Carmen, Iron Workers, Timers,
Ec.-TLs wealthy English Shippers
sai the Strikers Unist.

LONDON, August %. The strike which
was begun by the dock laborers and which
subsequently spread TO the carmen, has
now extended to the Thames irouworkers
and the gas-stokeis threaten to Join forces
with the strikers There is also talk Of
compelling labOrers in .all the trades 10
quit work and force matters to on issue at
once. The ironworkers' strike adds 1000
TO the number OF unemployed. The men
as yet are quite orderly. The shipping
business is completely paralyzed and mail
steamers are leaving without cargOes.
THE TIN PLATERs
at Bergondsey, a suburb OF London, have
Joined the strikers. In Rotherhithe the
shipbuilding district OF London, process
sions Of ofstrikers are marching continually,
but up to the present time the men seem
to be peaceably disposed.
Many ship owners have began suits
against the Commercial Dock Company,
claiming damages for the detention Of
their vessels The company, however,
claim that the act of Parliament granting
them a charter precluded the enforcement
of any claims for damages from the strike.
PUBLIC SYMPATHY.
Public sympathy is with the labOrers.
They are miseraby paid lot, and os-
pecially at the decks, where the companies
or their nominees act "a middlemen. The
shippers pay good prices, and the laborer is
not paid enough to keep body and soul to-
gether. He has TO wait at the dock gate
hour after hour on the chance cf being
employed. Then, when he is taken 10 on
he is paid at the rate OF fyepence per hour,
and il he earns s. in the course Of one
week be considers himself lucky. But the
men engaged are supposed to work bali an
hour for no pay each day for the benefit Of
the contractor, and this is an iniquitous
tax.
The men have a chance OF winning the
strike The dock companies have offered
to pay sixpence an hour instead OF five.
pence. They have also agreed to make
other concessions, but they do not comply
with the strikers demands in full, and
accordingly the men stick ont Tor their
rights. Elch day they march from the
docks to the city, eight deep, with bands
and banners, and great show they
make. The enthusiasm Of the
strikers ia unbouuded, their self
restraint and good humor are marvellous.
II ia striking feature OF the
struggle that the clippers sympathizs en-
tirely with the men, simply on the ground
that they also are yictimizad By the dock
companies, who retain in their own hands
a monopoly Of loading aud unloading ships.
| The labOrers have recognized this, and Ia
passing each of the large shipping houses
when marching into the city they have
cheered long and loudly. In this one in
stance capital and labor have joined hands,
for the shippers are contributing literally
TO help the men keep up the struggle
So lar all has been perfectly orderly.
Burns, the wen-knOwn Socialist, Is At the
head Of affairs, and uses all his inhaence
to keep the strikers on their best behavior,
but when the pinch OF hunger comes 1t
rnRy take something more than soft words
TO keep these dr0wn.trOdden creatures in
order. II is point which the authorities
are recognizing, and police and soldiers
have already been told of to meet any pos
sible outbreak. The situation is likely TO
become serious.
The strike IS
GAINING NRw ADHERENTs HOURLY.
Eight thousand sailors and firemsn, and
> 500 dockmen at Isle Of Dogs, where sew
eral large docks are located, have gone ont.
The authorities have become oppreheusiye
of trouble, and are holding the military in
readiness TO suppress any outbreak that
might occur.
A conference took place to-day between
the Dock Mansgers and Delegates from
the striking lsborers, but it was without
result
In consequence of the strike Thousands
OF tons OF mutton are rotting, 1t being im-
possible to find men to handle the stock