Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-13
AN * AMPLE

OF the SIurs and Publications Concerning
This city EsiDg Sent Out % Town These
Dnys.
From the Pittshurg Dispatch.
WHEELING. w. Va, June 10.
To the Editor of the Dispatch.
There is great struggle going on in
Wheeling at this time.
1t is warfare waged by the Trades
and Labor Assembly against one of the
electric car companies, and is nominal
ly on behalf of the former employees of
the company, who went out on strike
some nine weeks ago.
This company runs its cars with fire.
quency and entire regularity from
North Wheeling to Benwood, giving an
excellent service, and has continued to
do SO from the first with brief inter-
ruption, but they rarely have a passen-
ger. A stranger here seeing the cars
running without passengers might
think that they were hooded or Ia
booed by some mighty religious super
stition. This would be a mistake.
They are only boycotted by the Trades
and Labor Assembly.
A large number CT unlicensed wagons
of all descriptions have been impro-
vised to carry those who will not, and
those who dare not, be seen on the
cars.
There are two car lines here; one
running to Elm Grove; the other city
line to Benwood.
The operating men on these lines
were organized and struck for 25
per cent. advance in pay and nine
| hour day, and an acknowledgment of
the union. Both companies resisted,
but the Elm Grove Company being
largely owned by beer brewing in
terest, yielded at once, when their de-
livery wagons failed - bring in the
usual orders.
Ever since, the city line has been
alone in the fight and all of the re-
sources of the Trades and Labor AS
sembly have been most theoretically
used against it.
The company at no time has had any
difficulty in supplying the places vacat-
ed by the strikers. AS no boarding
house would dare to care for the new
men, nor any dealer sell them so much
as a loaf of bread, they were obliged to
quarter them in their own buildings,
| and buy the supplies necessary for
their subsistence from other cities. The
usual strikers arguments, such as OBJ
structlng, derailing, and disabling cars,
Stonlng and breaking windows, club
bling, stoning and otherwise intimidat-
ing motormen and passengers, was
tried by the strikers and their SYM
pathiZers against the car company,
with considerable effect at first. The
city authorities did not see anything
particularly wrong, or that needed any
correction in this. but the United States
| District Judge on being appealed to
| took a different view of the case and
| the interruption of the cars has now
ceased, although the intimidation, and
| even violence to those who choose to
| ride on the cars still continues.
Probably majority of the employees
of the mills and factories here belong
to union, and, being obliged to act
with their union, are thereby formed
| into a distinct class.
| Were any one of this class to ride on
the cars he would be taking his life in
| his hands. Even if he escaped death
at once he would be prescribed man.
| The multitude of other unorganized
| employed persons male and female,
whatever their opinions or wishes, just
ly fear the power of the Trades and
Labor Assembly over their situations
too much to be seen on the cars Any
| teacher in the public schools riding on
the cars would find her pupils with
drawn and an instant clamor for her
dismissal. Even the bank clerks have
to stay off the cars. OF course large
| numbers favor the boycott of the cars,
as the cry is industriously circulated
| that it is in the interest of honest
labor.
There are probably 1000 girls who