The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-02
THE moNoxGAu COAL poYcorr.
Tho Trades Assembly, Replies to General
Manager Spliimnn'S statement.

Tho Trades Assembly, Replies to General
Manager Spliimnn's statement.
To The Eiitor eths HieliaHer.
DEAN SIn:-ln letter over tho sigma.
turc OF General Manager Spillman in
your issue OF the Goth inst. that gentle
man denounccs the Trades Assembly
for boycotting the product OF tho Mo.
nongah mines, and also charges tho
committee OF the Trades Asscmblywith
u contostion Of facts in publishing list
OF eleven names taken from sixty or SOW
cnty published by Mr.. Crumbacker.
Now, the facts arc, tho list published
by us was furnished by Il reliable per-
son conyersant with the circumstances,
but happened to correspond with some
names on list OF 81 miners published
by Mr.. Crumbacker on Monday, January
II, in the DAILY ISTELnGEScEn.
Again, he refers to uI as liars and law
breakers, for branding tho company's
store as II "Pluck Me" store. We have
no reason for changing our opinion on
that point; from information furnished
US by persons conversant with the facts
We still adhere TO Our former declara.
tions.
Mr.. Spilman, referring 10 US, says:
"Are they in fact trying to accomplish
anything in which the people Of Wheel
ing are Interested? Yes, they are try
ing to keep out OF Wheeling this
cheaper and better coal" In answer
VIC would say the retail merchants OF
Wheeling arc interested in the fair
wages earned by her five or six thou
sand organized workmen, for We know
OF no city in this Union that has less
extremely wealthy citizens and fewer
poor, with rs many well paid and con-
tented wage.carncrs, rs the city OF
Wheeling. Now, in order to give this
Cheaper coal" 10 Wheeling they ride
into competition on tho backs OF their
employees. That means to them less
consumptive power, and in turn means
disaster to tho home miners who arc
receiving union wages; it means less
trade to their employers; to tho miners
it means more idlcncss, less consump-
ton and lower wages. Do the retail
merchants OF Wheeling think it eco.
nomical to limit the purchasing powers
OF its wagc-Carncrs?
Tho interest OF the different industries
arc SO closely interviewer that what in
jurcs one effect others, ii one manufac-
turcr reduces wages, others will.
We hold that the workman shall have
n voice as to what his labor is worth; u
partner to transaction that TO him is
Of vital importance.
Ofthc three factor in the production
Of wealth, land, laborand capital, laboris
the active and the most important
factor. Let us see how the Monongah
Company treats with its employees.
When they concluded to organize for
self protection, they were told their
organization would not be recognized,
and tho company would treat with
them as individuals only. Now when
they offer lis their coal they appeal to
our State pride, as il trade and COM
mcrcc were conducted on geographical
lines. While we arc proud OF our little
Mountain State with her many natural
opportunities from which labor can pro-
ducc wealth, we don't want these OPP
portunities monopolizcd and every
avenue to self-cmployment OF labor cut
of SO that even the figures on our State
arms would be caricatures and our motto
snare and delusion.
We deplore the necessity OF strikes
and boycotts; they sometimes incur 4
fearful waste Of energy and 4 great loss
OF money, but in the absence OF more
available remedies to enforce our rights,
We will continue to use them.
"With the accumulation OF wisdom
and judgement" the economic education
OF the workingman is rapid. and many
to-day recognize that they have dn' ina
licnable inheritance and right to
share for use, OF the soil, tina. the right
to live carries with it the right to the
means OF living, and that oil statutes
that obstruct or deny these rights are
wrong. The working classes are dis
cussin2 these questions; they engonder
thought and reasoning, from cause to
effect, and will in the end prevail long
after the buglc notes OF the task master
have died away, and his impcrious
mandates buried in oblivion, will these
principles exist and remain q living
truth. We have no issue with the Mon
ongah Company, nor Manager Spillman,
other than the removal OF these unjust
conditions. Before parting, however,
We unite in our thanks to Manager
SDillman for his appreciation OF our
work in advertising his 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