Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-01-31
THE MoNoNaAH COAL BOYCOTT.
The Trades Assembly Replies to General
Manager spillmans Statement.
tn p,I;Ior ~ Ybs PS1isgar

The Trades Assembly heples TO uenefoi
Manager spilman's Statement.
To TIE Editor Of the Register.
DEAR SHIN letter over the signature
OF General Manager Spillman in your issue
of the 9th inst that gentleman denounces
the Trades Assembly for boycotting the
product of the Monongah mines, and also
charges the committee OF the Trades AS
sembly with a contortion OF facts in pub
fishing list Of eleven names taken from
sixty of seventy published by MIR. Crum-
hacker Now, the facts are, the list pub
lished by US was furnished by reliable
person conversant with the circumstances,
but happened to correspond with some
names on q list OF 80 miners published by
Mr. Crumbaclker about three weeks ago IN
the SUNDAY REGISTER.
Again, he refers TO us as liars and law
breakers, for branding the company's store
as q ''Pluck Me" store. We have no rea-
son for changing our opinion on that point,
from information furnished US by persons
conversant with the facts we still adhere
to our former declarations.
Mr.. Spilman referring TO US, says: ARE
they in fact trying to accomplish anything
in which the people Of Wheeling are inter
ested2 Yes, they are trying TO keep out OF
Wheeling this cheaper and better coal"
In answer we would say the retail mer-
chants of Wheeling are interested in the
fair wages earned by her five to six thou
sand organized workmen, for we know OF
no city in this Union that has less
extremely wealthy citizens, and fewer
poor, with as many well paid.
and contented wage earners, as the City OF
Wheeling Now in ordar to give TINS
"cheaper coaln to Wheeling they ride into
competition on the backs Of their employees.
That means to them less consumptive pow
er and In turn means disaster TO the home
miners who are receiving Union wages; 1t
means less trade TO teeir employers, TO the
miners it means more idleness, less con-
sumption and lower wages. Do the retail
merchants Of Wheeling think IL economi-
cal to limit the purchasing powers OF lts
wage earners.
Tie interest Of the different industries
are so closely interviewer that what Injuries
one effects others, IL one manufacturer re-
duces wages, others will
We hold that the workman shall have
voice as to what his labor is WORTH part
Fer TO a transaction that TO him is OF vital
Importance.
OF the three factors in the production OF
wealth, land, labor and capital, labor is the
active and the most important factor. Let
us see how the Monongah Company treats
with it's employees. When they concluded
to organize for self protection, they were
told their organization would not be recog-
nized, and the Company would treat with
them as individuals only. Now when they
offer US their coal they appeal TO our State
pride, as if trade and commerce were con-
Quoted on geographical lines. While we
are proud Of our little Mountain State with
her many natural opportunities from which
labor can produce wealth, we don't
want these opportunities monOpolized and
every avenue to self-employment Of labor
cut off so that even the figures on our State
arms would be caricatnres and our motto
snare and delusion.
We deplore the necessity Of strikes and
boycotts; they sometimes incur fearful
waste of energy and great loss OF money,
but In the absence Of more available RENE
dies TO enforce our rights, we will continue
TO use them.
with the accumulation Of wisdom and
Judgment the economic education OF the
workingman is rapid. and many to-day rec
ognize that they have an inalienable inheri-
lance and right TO a share for use, OF the
soil. that the right to live carries with IL
the right to the means Of living, and that
all statutes that obstruct or deny these
rights are wrong. The working classes
ere discussing these questions; they en-
! gender thought and reasoning, from cause
IN effect. and will in the end
prevail long after the bugle notes OF the
task master have died away, aud his i'm
perious mandates buried in oblivion, will
these principles exist and remain living
| truth. Wehave no issue with the Monon-
gah Company, nor Manager Spillman, other
| than the removal of these unjust conditions.
Before parting, however, we unite in our
/ thanks to Manager Spillman for his appre-
citation Of our work in advertising bis coal,
and we convey to him assurance that we
| will continue in the good work.
Very Respectfully, etc,
ARBITRATION COMMITTEE
of Ohio Valley Trades and Labor As
sembly.