Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-17

CUSSED BY THE DELEGATES.
ACTION TAKEN IN REGARD TO
THE MATTER-AN EXECUTIVE
SESSION-OTHER ROUTINE b.
SINESS TRANSACTED.
The Belmont Central Trades and
Labor Union held their regular semi
monthly meeting at Odd Fellows hall
in Bellaire yesterday afternoon. Quite
number of the delegates were in at
tendance and nearly the entire after
noon was spent in discussing the stand
taken by the employees on the Bellaire
division of the Wheeling Street Rail-
way line, in the present strike.
The meeting came to order at $3.50
o'clock, with President Kunkel in the
chair. George W. Curtis was appointed
as vice president and William Neal as
warden, in the absence Of the regular
officers. After prayer by CHAPLAIN Sal
isbury, the roll was called and the min
utes of the previous meeting were read
and adopted William Hemsley, Alex
ander Branden and John H. Johnson,
members of Ballaire Union No. 7S6, U.
NJ u of A.. on presenting credentials
were duly obligated.
The matter concerning the Wheeling
Street Railway employees strike was
brought up and the various phases of
the situation were thoroughly discuss
ed by the delegates. A gentleman in
terested in the strike was present, and
on being requested to submit report
of the present difference, gave a brief
recital of the facts leading up to the
Inauguration of the strike, and fully
explained the existing conditions. The
gentleman also asked the Belmont I'M
ion to take action, which would pre-
vent the cars ON the Ohio side from
being patronized during the present
difficulty, and after thanking all the
locals on the Ohio side for their assist
ance, declared that anything that could
be done further to advance their inter-
ests, would be heartily appreciated.
In reply to questions from several OF
the delegates present, the speaker stat
ed that the Bellaire car men had been
asked to join the Wheeling Street Rail-
way Union, about three months ago.
and had refused to do so. He also re-
ported that the Bellaire car men were
not organized at present and that nine
new men were being instructed TO OPP
crate the cars on the Bellaire division,
evidently for the purpose of being
transferred to the West Virginia side,
but did not clearly see just what ac-
ton could be taken by the Union 10
prevent it.
Another delegate then spoke, saying
that he had ridden on a Bellaire car,
and would continue to ride until the
matter concerning the steps taken to
effect an organization among the men
had been fully explained to him; and
thought that it was right to ride on the
cars as long as it was right to operate
them, as he had been lead to believe
that the operators of the Bellaire cars
was not interfering with the strike.
Another delegate thought that the
company was holding the men on the
81 for hn IF
covering their expenses during the
strike, and although he understood the
mems wages were to be governed by the
result Of the contest on the opposite
side, yet he thought they were black
sheep, and ought not to be patronized.
One delegate said he had understood
the Bellaire men had been informed
that they were not interfering with the
strike by remaining at work and asked
the cause of the sudden change in the
situation.
delegate then reported that tie
change had been brought about owing
TO the Bellaire men being employed TO
instruct new men, who are 10 take the
strikers places. 1t was also stated ii
was not the fault OF the Wheeling
Union or the officials of the associa-
ton that the Bellaire men were nom
union men, as attempts had been made
at various times to have them organ
ize and had proved unsuccessful. 1t
was further said that the Bellaire men
claimed that they had agreed to remain
at work, as the company had offered
to treat them in accordance with the
result OF the Wheeling mems contest
1t was reported that a difference of
opinion existed among the men. as
some favored separate organization
and others desired to join the Wheeling
union.
II was suggested that the most eff
feetive way to strike the company was
to tie up the line. as it seemed right
to patronize the cars as long as it was
right to operate them.
1t was also reported that d. L. Dill
worth, chairman of the Executive
Board Of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Street Railway Employees of
America, who, together with an official
from the Ohio Valley Trades Assembly.
conferred with the Bellaire men during
the week, did not object to the men
joining the Wheeling Union or to sep
arate organization. 1t was the general