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


A DAY.
There were no especially sensational
developments in the strike situation
yesterday. Two more indications of
the trend of public sentiment, one from
an organized trades union body, and
the other from a church pulpit, are
published elsewhere. 1t was an idle
day for the workingmen, and many
of them took occasion to express their
feeling against the company by plac-
ing distractions upon the car tracks,
and generally seeking to embarrass the
non-union men and Federal officers
in the operation of the cars.
Apropos of the incidents of the past
week, gentleman who represents an
Eastern business house, and who stated
that he has observed the conduct of half
a dozen strikes in the larger cities, ex-
pressed himself as surprised at the
apparent unanimity of public sentiment
favorable to the strikers in this city.
He was amazed at the complete with
drawal of patronage from the street
cars, and also at the fact that the dis
order has been kept down to the min
imum.
There appears to be a general i'm
preston that the Federal deputies are
manifesting unbecoming zeal in the
discharge of their duties, whereas, in
truth, they are given authority to re-
sort to much more radical measures
Jackson's blanket injunction requires
them to, in effect, conduct all the cars
of the Wheeling Railway Company,
whether they carry mail or not, and to
arrest all persons who in any manner
intimidate or obstruct the operation of
cars. United States Marshal Thompson
has determined that any error which he
makes will be on the side of conserva-
tism. He and his deputies have been
ney General of the United States, bear
ing directly upon the local situation,
which clearly defines their duties as
stated above. Marshal Thompson adj
dressed the crowd which assembled in
upper Benwood a few days ago, and
also spoke to the crowd in the vicinity
of the barn about noon yesterday, en-
deavoring to reason with them. and
to show them the utter folly of per-
sisting in course which must result
ultimately in injury to the cause which
they SO earnestly expouse.
The wagon service during the past
two days was fairly satisfactory, and
if team owners would meet and adopt
some sort of a schedule, it would result
in betterment of the trade of local
retail merchants, and a service which
would be satisfactory pending a set
tlement of the strike, to those who
have determined not to patronize the
street railway. The car service was
about the same as during the past few
days, and for the first time in eight
days a car was taken over the fair
grounds loop.
Throughout the city there was a gen.
eral obstruction of the tracks. Some
incidents of the day might appeal to
the sense of humor, were it not for the
gravity of the situation. The condi
ton Of affairs appears to present to
many boys and young men the oppor-
tunity for frolic at the expense of the
railroad company, and many things are
done in spirit of mischief purely.
On North Main street yesterday, one
of the cars met with Instructions on
the track, and there was large crowd
which became stubborn when the at
tempt was made to clear the rails. For
a time it looked like there might be a
clash, but cooler judgment prevailed,
and the non-union men and deputies
were permitted to clear the rails. The
police were communicated with, and
their presence prevented any recur-
renee of the trouble Last night, how
ever, all sorts of distractions were
placed on the tracks along North Main
street, and the eompanys employees
will find it no small task to clear the
tracks to-day