The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-13
OF Wheeling Meet and Discuss the
Street Car Strike and
PROPOSE THAT A CONFERENCE
Be Held Hero Next Saturday Between
the Strikers Representatives and
President Condcrman, of the
Wheeling Railway Company-Thc
Company was not Represented, but
Strikers Representatives We're on
Hand.


ing, last night, was a large and repre-
sentative gathering. From the point Of
attendance 1t was especially encourage
ing, for the standing room only sign had
to be hung out. but the failure of the
Wheeling Railway Company to send a
representative as promised the promo
tiers OF the meeting, was both unexpect-
ed and disappointing.
The object o. the meeting was to
bring the contending parties together
for the. purpose Of arriving at n settle
ment OF their differences. Retail mer-
chants have felt the force of the strike,
in decreased trade, and are anxious to
see the end of the strike as soon as pos
sible. The company had refused to deal
with the men and the suffering mer-
chants, believing they were entitled to
recognition and consideration, at the
meeting last night, drafted set OF res
olutions, asking President Conderman
II the board of directors, which meets
here next Saturday, would hearken to
their plea to treat with the men. The
resolutions specifically state that
Wheeling business men do not wish to
pose as arbitrator. but merely want the
company to hold conference with It's
employees. and that local business stag
nation requires relief in the operation OF
the railway.
It's impossiblesto predict whether the
company will accede to the conference
with the strikers, unless It has decided
to recede from Its position to not recog-
nize them as body or union. The reso-
lutions embodied no sentiment in favor
OF the company or employees.
Among those present were the follow
ing: DR.. S. L. Jepson, ex-Sheriff Lewis
Steenrod, John NJ. Dauer, George Johns,
of George R. Taylor Co.: Adam Hess.
Will McElroy. VIII Gutman, S. B. War
rick. of Egqer, Warrick G. Co.; Dave
Kraus, of Kraus Bros; Manager Fred.
Fl. Frazier, of Wheeling Bakery Com
pany; William Schwertfeger, Harry
Thurber. William Ebberts, Louis
Rentsch. of George NJ. Shook & CO..;
Seaton Alexander. Charles R. Goethe,
i. V. Barton, state labor commissioner;
P. j. Green. OF Locke Shoe COMPANY;
George House, of House & Hermann;
Henry Schrebe, ]. c. Williams, Of the
Wheeling Tent &: Awning Company; ex-
Mayor B. 2. Caldwell. E. L. Stone,
Moses Somehow. ey-Mayor Charles II.
Seabright. ]. C. Mckinney, ]. ".
WEIGH. Phil Hanauer, OF L. S. Good &
Co.: Samuel Bruhaker, Prof. W. II. An
derson. NJ. ]. O'Kane, James Devine.
Ralph Heyman, L. A. Montague, David
Gnndling. Rev j. L. Sooy, D. D., w. H.
Frank, John C. stroebel.
STRIKERS REPRESENTED.
The striking car employees were rep
resented by their executive board, Pres
!dent Thomas Padden; John Dyrne,
chairman; William ]. Welsh. John
Seaman. John Cosser, T. f. Burke; D.
l.. Dilworth, Detroit, Mich, national
executive board; Thomas V. Salisbury,
organize. and President NJ. F. TIghe,
Ohio Valley Trades & Labor Assembly.
The meeting was called tc order by
Mr.. House, who presented ex-Mayor
Caldwell as chairman. Mr.. VIII Gutnan
was chosen secretary. In taking the
chair. Mr. Caldwell thanked the assem-
bly, for the honor and then brancheI
out into the matter in hand. The,
Wheeling Railway Company had one of
the best equipped lines in the country,
said he. Ee realized the fact that the
company had spent large sum Of mo-
ney on Its road, and that there must be
sufficient income for the Investment.
The citizens had given up valuable
streets to the company and were we'll
satisfied with the company's service.
Now there was a stagnation of bust
ness, owing to the strike, and business
men desired the road operated and the
settlement OF the existing difficulties.
Mr.. Salisbury asked permission for
the railway employees TO present their
side OF the case. On motion OF Mr..
Schreoe the privilege was granted.
Chairman John Byrne, OF the street
car workers union, then read the state
ment made to the company, in other
words the request for the restoration of
the wages paid in 1893, a rate OF twentS
cents an hour. and for ninc-hour worl,
day. Mr.. Byrne read the petition in n
good voice and he was followed with
close attention. This petition was not
accepted by Secretary Shirley, who in
timated that the men would be treated
with rs individuals and not as body,
Mr.. Byrne then reviewed the nerotia-
tons that ensued. Duplicate copies of
the request were presented to Prcsi-
dent 7, II. Condcrman, Of PHILADELPHIA.
and Vice President r. Walker Peterson,
OF this city. The union re-
quested these men to even read
the petition unoficIally, so as
to get the matter before them.
MIR. Byrne said no satisfactory reply
had been received. Applause greeted
Mr.. Byrne for his lucid statement.
Mr. WEIGH. one OF the employees ex-
planned what is known as the 'Iatc
straight" He goes to work at 1l:lO n,
m. and quits ut midnight For this run.
which occupied his attention nearly
fourteen hours, he was paid 81 90
At the suggestion OF Mr.. Dilworth.
who preferred having the meeting hear
from Wheeling men, Mr.. Byrne explain
ed the run known as the early
straight" covering over thirteen hours,
he claimed. and for which there was
paid 81 % for twelve hours. Mr.. Cosser
spoke similarly TO the Swing rum"
WAGES IN OTHER CITIES.
Mr.. House Inquired as to the rate
paid in other cities.
MIR. Dilworth replied to this question.
Before stating the rates paid in other
cities the same size as Wheeling, he
said that by Wheeling's situation II was
better adapted for street car traffic than
most cities of the same size. Where the
men were organized their wages were
from eighteen to twcnty-scven cents an
hour, but he was sorry 10 say that there
were others where the wages were low
er. Mr.. Dilworth gave no figures other
than those quoted.
The hnrdships Of an extra man were
related by Mr. Hannis, who stated that
he often went five days TO the barn. for
which he got nothing. owing TO n rule OF
the company. An eXtraman was ex-
pected TO I'LL In on all kinds OF runs, and