The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-22

"Yes, struck that car over by the
back river bridge, and just came over
here a.humming. When left here last
summer the old road was about played
out Now everything looks new, and
goes like business, Single trolley-new
cars-smooth track-polite conductor
operator seems to know his business.
What's broke loose, anyway
"sh, George; hold on there, now.
You're not posted, It's foreign capital;
and black sheep. Bad combination,
Making war on honest labor"
"Of course Pm not posted, II | had
known that I'd have walked. But go
on"
"Well, the unions making it hot for
them, toll you. The union men are
running buses. Everybody down
town rides in the buses, or walks, 1t
isn't healthy to ride in the ears, and the
union is going to keep it unhealthy by
all honorable MEANS Local unions are
getting names OF people who ride on
the cars, and threatening all sorts OF
uHTk THINGS lOH OuSlI w SSo lVSf
dent Chew's cards TO tho public.
They're hummers,
"\Nho is President Chew"
"Why, he is Harry Chew, Of North
Wheeling. He is president OF the Street
Car Workers Union. tell you, he lays
it down straight. They are furnishing
the local unions OF all the trades with
the names oil all tho people who ride
on the street cars, and tho unions arc
going to prevent tho people from
patronizing the cars They are to take
such action as is necessary. That's
what he tells the people"
'What il the authorities get after
Chew and tho unions for using unlaw-
full meansW
DO you mean under the conspiracy
laws?"
Eyes, guess that's what they would
call it"
"The conspiracy laws arc relics OF
barbarism any way. They don't amount
TO much nowadays. Ii it came to tho
worst | suppose the fellows could all
prove an abb. or something"
allow could Chow prove an alibi ii
he published the notices, and the court
should hold that they show conspiracy
right on the face OF themW
swell, his cards on their face plainly
declare that they are using honorable
means. II that wouldn't settle it, may
be the state couldn't prove that he
wrote the cards. He would get out OF
it some way"
"Why, Jack, the company seems to
be running cars. How is the fight CO.
ing?"
first. 1t generally is, you know"
YES, that's so. The law is slow, but
1t gets the last inning"
"Well. so far, the strikers and their
friends have been having the innings,
mostly. There were several riots tracks
obstructed cars broken up; scabs
done up; two or three passengers
hurt-but the boys hardly meant to
hurt them, l suppose. However, it had
good effect. The public is easily
scared, and then it insists on settle.
ment. The union keeps it before the
public that they are trying to settle by
all honorable means The rioting
hadn't been going on very long till the
new mayor came into Office. I1o is a
law and order man, and he started in
pretty fresh. 1t looks like he was 60
ing to keep 1t up, too; So the cars are
running in day time"
GLOW about the busses"
20, nobody disturbs them. They run
day and evening, right along, on the
company's track"
"What does the company do about
settlingH
20, it leaves everything in Jolly's
hands. He is the general manager OF
the company. The union gives him fits
in the papers every day. He never an
swers. Very mild-mannered man. l
guess he must have the sand, though"
But, Jack, what's it all about? The
company is cutting down tho wages and
lengthening the hours OF labor, OF
course"
"Well, no, that isn't tho point You
see after these new capitalists came in,
the union fixed up scale that was Just
tip top, and the now company signed it
all right. The men didn't have to sign
it themselves Mt all. 1t was signed by
the committee. 1t provided for the
best wages going anywhere. Nine hours
day and extra charge for over time.
Company ran eighteen hours. Had
double turn on each car Then, the
operators and conductors were not to
adjust any spring poles, or to do any
oiling, or cleaning, or pushing, or any
thing OF that kind. II anything went
wrong they got a rest, ii they wanted
it; and so did the passengers, unless
they walked; and the company sent
either experts or common laborers to
the car, whichever was needed. Then
there were lots OF provisions in tho
pcale recognizing the union. Tho con-
tract was to last till the first OF Septem.
Dor, 1893"
"Well, Jack, that seems all right.
Now, what happenedP Did tho com.
pany 80 back on the contract"
why, George, you see it's this way.
Everything went tlrst-raia for u while.
The men had things pretty much their
own way. Those that wanted TO nc.
commodate tho company in any little
matter wcro at liberty to do so, but
those that didn't want to didn't have
to, and guess some OF tho mon got
pretty independent. It's human nature,
you know, The public complained d
good deal lhats human nature, too.
But tho company didn't do anything
about 1t, apparently. A good many OF
the complaints were that the mon
wouldn't stop for people that wanted to
ride. AT last fellow who hailed car
for himself and his wife, and got boau.
tiiully Left complained TO tho company
because he thought tho crow was too
particular about the kind Of passengers
they took on. II seems that there was
an old grudge between him and ono or
both Of tho crow-ono had called