The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-01-26
wIIEELING, JANUARY 20, 1909.
a sllsconcop,ion Of tho Situation.

Tho merchants OF Fairmont and Vi
cinity threaten to boycott tho Wheel
ing jobbcrs for two reasons. a. Be-
cause tho Ohio Valley Trades Assem-
bly, has placed boycott on Monongah
3 coal on account OF the employment OF
non-union labor. (2.) Because the man.
ufacturers OF Wheeling do not take the
Z. coke OF that region. Tho two grew
ances arc in no way related.
Q)Our friends OF Fairmont and else
where who threaten to retaliate on the
jobbers OF Wheeling because the Ohio
Valley Trades Assembly has placed
Monongah coal under boycott lose sight
OF two facts. First, the Trades Assem-
bly, is an organization OF wage-earrers
in which the jobbcrs OF Wheeling have
no voice and no influence. 1t is not
long since some OF them were boycotted
by that organization during the strike
OF some OF their employees. Every nail
mill in Wheeling was boycottei by the
Trades Assembly during the long nail
strike, and the boycott lasted long after
all the strikers had gone to work who
could get back in the mills. The mer-
chants OF Fairmont and vicinity who
threaten to boycott Wheeling would
have as much weight with the Trades
Assembly as the Wheeling merchants
or manufacturers would have in an
effort to induce the removal OF the boy
colt on Monongah coal.
Secondly, no account seems to be
taken OF the fact that in spite OF the
boycott Mononclh coal continues to be
sold in Wheeling. There are persons
in Wheeling as elsewhere who buy
what suits them without regard to boy
colts. Ii the complainants could reach
directly the men who have placed the
boycott on the coal OF their region there
would be fairness in the retaliation
To strike at business men who are in no
way. responsible for the boycott and
cannot by any possibility have it re-
moved, is to do what is not worthy OF
tho business men who are contemplat.
ing this step.
(2.) Tfie1STELLIGEHCER regrets that
the manufacturers OF Wheeling have
not taken more kindly to the excellent
coke OF the Fairmont region and has
hoped that Wheeling manufacturers
Z might find it to their advantage to lend
their encouragement to the develop
lnent OF this important West Virginia
industry. This hope is still entertained;
but that the desired end is to be OBJ
tanned through boycotting another and
entirely distinct interest, to wit, the
iobbing trade, is not in the least prob
able. The point OF contact between the
Two interests is not close enough. More
( over, the coke producers OF the Fair
mont field will look in vain for mar
ket that has been secured by other
coke producers through q declaration
OF war to be made directly orindirectly.
New business channels arc not so
opened.
If the trade which has hitherto found
its way TO Wheeling be diverted to
Baltimore, Pittsburg and elsewhere,
will those cities rcciprocatc by taking
more OF the coal and the coke OF the
Monongahelo river region? Will not
those products have to take their
chances in every market as before?
What satisfaction will West Virginians
find IN sending this much more money
out oil the State, first because certain
wasc-earucrs have declared boycott,
and again because Wheeling manufac.
5tuacrs have not appreciated Fairmont
coke at its true value? Wilt not be
better to trust TO time and the operation
.soi natural business laws to right any
wrong that may DO involved in the
matter? And will it not be more fair
{ to discuss each proposition on its own
merits?
ltmay be assumed that the business
T men OF Fairmont do not endorse the
boycott as u good business method
when employed bywage-earners, that if
itwerc turned against them at home
they would denounce it, as business
men of.other places have, as being OPP.
posed to justice and fair play. How
can they Know how soon conflict OF
Interests in their own field of trade may
not turn tho same weapon on them?
The principle would not be changed
and they would find it awkward TO
change their attitude on the general
issue.
~ Our business with Chile.
The President gives Congress and the