Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-21
Deny D|SLWALIY.
Belmont Central Trades and Labor
Union Defends Its Position
IN THE LATE STREET CAR STRIKE
OHIO MEN CLAIM TO HAVE
BEEN MADE CATS PAWS
KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHEN TO
STOP FIGHTING AS WELL AS
COMMENCE COMMENDED.

1t will be recalled that tbout the time
of the settlement of the recent street
car strike controversy arose between
the two central labor bodies in this
section of the valley resulting in the
severing of fraternal relations. The
trouble arose by the street car men On
the Ohio side settling their differences
with the company and returning to
work before an agreement was
reached by the Wheeling men, The
Belmont Central Trades and Labor
Unicn was charged by the o. V. T. &
l.. A. with disloyalty in the matter. and
there was some cross-firing through the
papers. The Belmont body resented
the criticism of the Wheeling Assem-
bly,, and to put the matter fairly be-
fore the working people of the valley a
committee was appointed TO prepare a
statement defining their position
throughout the strike and defending it
from their standpoint. That commit
tee reported at the meeting the Central
at Bel.aire yesterday, and the state
ment is given below The Central asks
the Register to express the desire of
the delegates to have the report copied
by ether papers in the valley.
THE REPORT.
To the Members of Organized Labor in the
Ohio Valley.
Greeting:-The attention of the Belmont
Central Trades and Labor Union has been
called to the fact that certain individuals
have circulated throughout the valley that
this central body did not give its loyal
support to the men engaged in the late UNI
pleasant street car strike. Coupled with
this there has been circulated reports that
We're intended to discredit the integrity and
besmirch the character of individual mem
bers of the Belmont Central Trades and
Labor Union.
This Central Labor Union, at the solcita-
ton of the members of Local Division No.
l03, entered vigorously into the contest TO
make 1t a success A committee was APP
pointed with instructions what to do and
that committee carried into effect every
duty imposed upon 1t.
They first learned that the sentiment of
the employees on the b.. b. & NJ. f. line
was almost unanimous in favor of an or
ganizatlon, but there was opposition TO
joining with the members of l.. d. i03 for
reasons, that this Central considered were
reasonable.
The representatives of this body then
outlined a general policy of conducting the
strike, including the establishing of a sys-
tenn of conveyances to accommodate the
people on the Ohio side of the river. This
was ignored and it was stated that cost
of furnishing conyeyances would entail too
much expense.
Through the influence of this Central
body the B., B. & NJ F. line was then tied
up. This after it had been stated by MEM
bers of the Wheeling body that we had no
control of the men on the Ohio side OF the
river.
When the Wheeling Chamber of Com
merce secured statement from the Exec
utive Board of l.. d. 1903 that they would
not arbitrate, the representatives, Of this
body attended a meeting of l.. u. lt3 and
insisted that they must so on record in
favor of arbitration and at the same time
an official of the Wheeling Assembly stated
they had nothing to arbitrate.
When the members Of the Executive
Board of L. D. 1903 were considering the
advisability of repudiating their National
officers and withdrawing from the National
organization, this Central Labor Union
threatened TO withdraw its support from
The strike continued and the feeling ex-
isting became more intensified each day
The employees on the Ohio side of the river
were ignored by those who belonged to
l.. ID. 1913. The employees on the Ohio side
formed an organization, and through their
representatives effected settlement with
their employers that was satisfactory to
them and strictly within the provisions OF
the constitution of the international Ass)-
ciation The members of the Arbitration
Board and the special committee were re-
quested TO place before this central body
request of the street employees to
raise the boycott on the line of the B., b.
& NJ F. railway. Those members first
waited upon the representatives of the
company 10 learn If a settlement had been
arranged. 1t was found that the terms Of
the agreement were as had been reported.
A special meeting was called to consider
the matter. At a regular meeting follow
ing a resolution was adopted for a COM
mittee of three from each central body and
a like number from among the strikers on
each side of the river. This committee
TO try and effect a settlement of the entire
strike This proposition was ignored by
the Wheeling Trades Assembly. Had IL
been adopted there could have been no
settlement on either side without the other.
This apparently was not in accord with
the ideas Of some individuals in Wheeling.
1t began TO dawn on the members of the
Belmont Central Union that we were to be
ignored in the entire matter only so far
as our assistance was needed to win the
strike for the men over the river. II was
then that the Belmont Central acted indie
pendently.
The members of the committee appointed
by this central body reported all Of its
work and was always under the instruc-
tons of this central body.
1t has been stated tine and again, that