Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-13

TIERS.
The awarding of the coal contract
for the city gas works and the local
newspaper comments on the action OF
the gas board were made subject OF
consideration in yesterday afternoon
meeting of the Ohio Valley Trades As
sembly. The members of the gas board
were commended for their stand against
the non-union product, and a local
evening paper was condemned for its
advocacy of the case of the operators
in the Fairmont region.
The matter came up in the form of
resolutions endorsing the action of the
board and declaring that the articles
in the evening paper were contrary
to the spirit of unionism and construed
by the Assembly as throwing down
the gauntlet to labor" Remarks were
made by Delegates Bauers, Salisbury,
Tighe and Riley. The most vigorous
S 1ech ccme from President M. F.
Tighe. who denounced the course OF
the paper in unmeasured terms.
He declared in effect that the articles
were scurrilous and antagonistic to
the principles for which trades unions
are contending. He said the gas board
did right in granting the demands OF
organized labor and refusing to enter
tain propositions for the use OF the
product of non-union mines. The
course of the paper which defended
the miners in the Fairmont region was
tantamount to a plea for 'scabY labor
and "pluck-me" stores. He reviewed
the strike of three years ago, and told
what figure the action of the Falrmont
miners cut in the progress and settle
ment of the wage trouble. The attitude
of the Fairmont miners threatened to
defeat the strike, and certainly pro-
longed it. and the attitude of the Fair
mont miners has since figured IN the
calculations of coal operators when
ever they have been confronted with
a question of readjustment of wages.
That region has been a stumbling
block to the union miners, and the
Trades Assembly, in line with organ
lied labor elsewhere, has fought the
FairmOnt product for that reason. NOW
a local paper takes up the light for
the non-union operators, and because,
forsooth, a few paltry dollars might
he saved annually to the city, asserts
that the Fairmont coal should be given
the preference over the product OF the
union mines in Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Tighe spoke with considerable
feeling. and when he concluded his
remarks there was general applause
all over the hall. The resolutions
which had been offered were not signed
and a delegate asked the reason. In
his speech Mr.. Tighe asserted that they
were not drastic enough to snit him.
and that no friends of organized labor
would hesitate to sign them The res
olutions were unanimously adopted
They read as follows:
Whereas. The Board Of Gas Trustees
of the city gas plant, having been con
demned by articles in some city papers
particularly the News, for awarding the
coal contract for the ensuing year tc
an operator of Pennsylvania, and
Whereas. The said board in so do
ing only carried out the wish and desire
of board. and the 0. V. T. and l.. A. IN
this. that the board advertised for bids
and specified only union mines would
be considered, and
Whereas, The failure of the Monon-
gah and other companies of this State
70 be competitors. is due the fact that
thew did not come under the head OF
"union mines" as advertised by the gas
board. therefore
Resolved. That this Assembly, the
central body of labor in this section
does hereby endorse the action of the
said gas board, and commends it for its
interest in behalf of union workmen.
Resolved. that we believe the motive
in the published articles of condemna-
tion were for other purposes thar
throwing down the gauntlet to labor
and that those articles are contrary tC
the spirit of unionism, and an insult tc
the Assembly.
Resolved, That a copy of this express
sion be sent to the secretary Of tn gas
hoard as a means of showing our ap-
preciation of the boards action.
Another matter Of some importance
which was considered was the report Of
the officers and committee to whom haC
been referred the recommendations
made by President Tigh and Secretary
Salisbury, after their return from
Charleston. The following recon-
mendations were considered separately
and adopted:
First. That the labor commissioner
be requested to enforce the provisions
of the child labor law.
Second. That a suitable circular BIZ
prepared and distributed throughout th'
State.
Third. That the Legislative Commit.
tee be instructed to petition council t.
hava all tho p1unipjDal work hprpa Fl o,