The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-29

An lntelligencer reporter camped out
under the shade trees on Chupline street
at midnight. and for one hour and fifty
minutes he found enjoyment In wonder
Ing whether street railway strike con-
ferences were interminable, or. II lin
tied, whether the limit wasn't u higher
one than is usual In Wheeling.
Finally, ut 1850 o'clock this morning,
three men emerged from the Carroll
club house and walked down street.
They were Directors Ford, Stifel and
Holloway. of the Wheeling Railway
Company. The scribe got nothing from
these suave individuals except q sug-
gestion to see Colonel O'Brien. Hell
tell you all about It," said MIR. Stifel.
On the Carroll club steps were Presl-
dent Padden and Nlessrs Byrne, Wech
and others of the strikers representa-
tives. Again the reporter was told to
| see Colonel O'Bren. Nobody else Is
authorized to say anything" was the
parting shot given the Intelligencer man
us he started after the colonel. who had
secured a handicap of not less than a
hundred yards.
However, the colonel Is big man and
not so speedy as he was some years
ago, so the reporter succeeded in over
hauling the genial colonel just as he
was inserting his latchkey at 1918 Eoff
street. and doubtless congratulating
himself that he had escaped the repor-
tiers.
Unexpectedly the colonel was a diff
cult proposition; he knew nothing ''iit
for publication" though as chairman
of the conference committee he ought
to know everything.
An can say now" said Colonel
O'Brien. is that the conference be-
tween the company and the strikers has
just adjourned until $50 o'clock to-
morrow afternoon
DO You consider the indications fav-
oraDle TO settlement OF the strike?"
asked the reporter.
Il do: they are very favorable" was
the encouraging reply.
Then. as the colonel vanished through
his doorway, he fired this parting shot:
III another reporter comes around
here I'll shoot him.
1t will be seen from what Colonel
O'Brien admitted that the prospect is
that the street car strike. which has
worried Wheeling people for so many
weeks, may be settled this afternoon.
II this can be accomplished there will
be rejoicings loud and deep from JON
| athan'S ravine to the Marshall county
line. and even far beyond this limited
| territory.
Wednesday was day of conferences
between the street railway company d.
rectorS and the strikers representa-
tives, Wednesday morning they had
adjourned until 10 n. m. At that hour
the conference was resumed, and with
short !ntermisSion at noon II was
continued until late in the afternoon,
when 1t broke up with the statement
from both sides that nothing had been
accomplished and that negotiations
were OFF.
Then both sides busted themselves
preparing statements to the public for
publication In this mornings papers.
AT o'clock the company's statement
had been prepared and was about to
be furnished to the papers when two
va NhI SNi representatives.. utCbIll-
panied by Colonel Thomas O'Brien,
called at the Intelligencer office and re-
quested that the companys statement
be withheld from publication. as the
strikers would seek another conference.
Directors of the company were called
in and consented that their statement
be withheld. and soon another con-
ference had been arranged. and the d.
rectors and strikers representatives
went Into session at the Carol club.
This second conference lasted until
ESQ this morning. as related above, ant!
as the interested parties decline to talk
1t Is not known just how the negotia-
tons stand. AT the first conference /;
Is said the contcnding parties agreed
on all points but one. the retention oil
discharge Of the present employees
These, the company commended. would
| be retained, while the strikers repre-
sentatives insisted they should be dis
| charged. This was the rock on which
they split. The questions of wages.
hours and other matters were agreed
upon at the first conference. AS to
hours 1t was agreed that the men would
work eleven hours or as near that as
| 1t Is possible to arrange the runs.
From all that can be learned early
| this morning-which. 1t must be con-
fesscd. Is not much-the Indications APP
pear favorable to n settlement Of the
| strike this afternoon.