The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-28
THE LABOR ASSEMBLY
Legislative Committee Makes c
Statement Regarding
The STREET CAR STRIKE SITUATION,
Advancing Reasons Supporting tho
Present Position OF the Electrical
Street Car Workers Union and Or
ganized Labor Regarding the Street
Car Strike.


car strike now going on in our city, and
us it not only effects those directly en-
gagged, also the business interest, as well
as the travelling public in general, lew
facts will not be amiss.
The Street Oar Companys side has
been defended by different patriotic
"Americaus," "0ld American Citizen"
who have nobly defended the great
American principle OF every man doing
us he pleasesi and in the two and half
column article In the INTELAdENcRR OF
the I'D inst, tho company's side OF the
case has been well presented by two(?)
gentlemen; ono not we'll posted, and the
other instructs him, tho article reminds
one very fOrcibly OF the dialogue Of the
organ grinder and the monkey discuss
ing the merits OF tho late Jay Could
the monk, in the main agreed with his
master,
1t was the general conclusion OF the
street car workers when Mr., A. Nj.
Jolly came into the management that
trouble would soon result, They were
forced to that conclusion from tho man
ner in which things were managed.
The company contended for two days
with the men oyer the length OF time
for which the contract should be drawn,
they only desiring to enter into an
agreement with the men for tho torn OF
six months, while 1t is generally the do
sire OF employers when making agree
ments with unions to have them run as
long as possible, to avoid tho danger OF
trouble by change OF conditions that
might be demanded at the expiration Of
the old contract. During Superintend-
ent Harriugton's administration rule
book was issued governing the conduct
OF the men,
Upon the reinstatement oil Supt.
Lotus these rules were abolished, and
the road, SO far as rules were concerned,
was running Wild" Sometimes tho
orders as to the time OF running around
the loop would DO changed three times
in one day. Supt Harrington had signs
made informing tho public when cars
were compelled to run past o street
crossing; these were discontinued under
the new management, Also In the mat
ter OF carrying packages there were
many conflicting orders encouragement
was given to the men to use their judy
ment as to the kind OF packages they
would carry, while by the public, in any
controversy over the matter, tho en-
pIoyes would be censured. We do not
claim the men were blameless. No
doubt there were violations OF rules, dis
courteous conduct to the public, which
could all have been remedied. No labor
union holds that an employer cannot
discharge IN employee Tor good cause.
Such claim would be absurd. But, on
the other hand, where the employees
have reason to doubt the honest inton-
ton Of an employer, and an episode like
the Williams and Murrin affair furn-
ishes htm plausible pretext to justify
anything he may desire to do, the en-
ployes will zealously guard their inter-
ests.
In the adjustment OF difficulties like
these, where labor 10 pitted against COM
bined capital, a body without u soul;
aud intelligence without heart, capital
is an entity recognized and protected
by law, while the laborer stands alone
as an individual ondeavorlng to adjust
the rights OF the whole by and through
his individual efforts. When labor
organization forces an increase OF wages
for its members or any condition that
workmen are fairly entitled to, an in
crease theyicould not get without their
union, are they transgressing tho civil
rights OF their employers? Certainly
not; the government would not allow
labor unions to exist for a moment If
there was the least suspicion that they
transgressed the civil rights Of tho en-
ployers OF labor; labor organizations
merely secure for their members that
which it is not denied they are entitled
to.
Well, now, are We not forced to the
strange concluion that these organize
lions assume one OF the functions OF
government? For ii they secure for
their members larger product than
they would themselves get, without
transgressing tho civil rights OF en-
ployes, than employers, by retaining
in their own possession this product,
acknowledged to be the property OF the
laborGr, have they been transgressing
their the laborer's) civil rights? And
upon the theory Of protecting the rights
OF all its subjects, the government is as
much bound to interfere in tho one case
as in the other. There is no escape
from this conclusion.
Ii any phase in the labor movements
stronger than another it is tho ethical
side OF it. No class OF society is less
able to defend themselves than the pro-
ductiye workers, and yet they arc tho
foundation upon which the supreme
structure is erected,
The class who own the earth from
whence the material is obtained. tho
GLASS who own tho capital and tools by
which production is aided, can both
maintain their claims rs against the
workman, who Is the active and most
important factor OF tho three, and this
by virtue OF private ownershipi in land
and property rlghts. Now tho work
men only ask for justice accord to him
that which justly belongs to him. That
will forever sottle the labor question.
II tho workingmen have any claim
upon any particular class in society 1t Is
the moral teachers, and when We read
OF ministers expressing opinions such
"a tho Rev. j. a. Fullerton Is quoted as
expressing in mn interview with news
paper man, conforming tho action OF
tho stroot car workers without invosti-
cation, and as q means OF ending the
matter, recommends force, is tho lax.
ity and irrovorance among workmen
toward tho church 10 DO wondered at
when It's ministers defend the
heRrtloss commotcialiam Of to-day,
system built upon the principle OF tho
survival oil tho Attest" and defend its
nClB In tho name OF ChriBtianltyP thon
we no longer wonder whom workmon
give expression to their locling, 90 SGT
forth by Bishop huntington, Of central