The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-17
'''THE STRIKE
Rev. c. NJ. Oliphant Espouscs the
Cause OF the Strikers.
FIRST OF A SERIES OF TALKS
On Timely Questions Delivered Mt tho
First Christian Church Last Night.
Rev. Mr.. oliphant Believes tho Cir
cumstances Warrant the Increase
of Wages-Thc Responsibility Of the
Employees Includes Human Life.

The topic OF vital interest these days
Is the street car strike. and the an
nouncement that 1t would form the
basis of prelude to Rev. C. NJ. OIL
plants evening sermon. attracted
large congregation last night to the
First Christian church, South Market
street. The reverend speaker is consld-
ering the plan Of brief talks on timely
questions every Sunday evening, and
the prelude to his sermon next Sunday
evening will be on Expansion"
"The Strike" was Rev. Mr.. OIL
plants theme last night, and the
thoughts he gave utterance to were as
follows:
The strike seriously affects business
and religion. People are without COM
Portable means OF travel. Capital and
labor are somewhat against each other.
When corporation like a street rail-
way company cannot pay Its men living
wages. 1t should no longer pretend to do
his business. 1t has no right to engage
In business at the expense OF others.
Why are there so many street rail-
way NSipullIGb lIlt SOuihis Lazy
do not exist for philunthropc pur-
poses. They would not be organized IL
there was no money In the enterprise.
Capitalists dc not invest their money
in street railways because conductors
and motormcn receive sixteen or twenty
cents per hour; four cents per hour Is a
matter OF little concern to them when
1t comes to investment. There are
greater profit; In the enterprise than
those that come from such considera
tons. One street car In ten hours will
often bring to the company $40 to $50.
while it only cost 81 or s. to pay the ex-
penses Of running the cars. Large pro-
fits come to the company.
But the difference of four cents per
hour to the employee amounts to over
$50 per year. This Is a serious thing
to the poor man who supports himself
and family with the product Of his la
Dor.
Good living wages will secure good
service, good men and In time larger
patronage to the company. The reverse
Of this is also true.
The responsibility of the street car
operator is great. To him is committed
human life. Is he to receive no extra
compensation for this increased respon-
sibilitT. Twenty cents per hour is
small compensation In the light OF the
responsibility involved. Whenever \
street railway company Is unjust TO its
employees it forfeits its claim to public
patronage, because 1t Is unjust and the
community Of which these employees
form part.
The attitude of the public to this
question should be that OF justice 10 all
parties. We should desire that the
right should prevail
The action and attitude OF the strik-
ers are commendable. They are order
ly. They do not interfere with the
rights of the company. They simply
refuss' TO work until they are paid good
living wages to support themselves and
families. In this they are right.
Public sentiment is in sympathy with
these men because they are contending
fer Justice to themselves and families.
Let us all hope that this problem will
soon be solved. and that the golden rule,
taught by our Saviour, may be practic-
ed and its principle be applied to this
and all other questions OF capital and
labor: 'All things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do We
even so TO them"