The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-25

Hon. A. B. White was the lOuAuet
Of the Daily State Journal, of Parkers-
burg. and editorlally conducted the
same for sixteen years. He bought 1t
as a weekly paper in 1881 and had been
a newspaper editor and publisher for
twenty-one years, when he retired
from the business in July last. He
was q successful newspaper man and q
large employer Of labor for years.
Mr.. White has recently given his
friends to understand that he is
candidate for the Republican nomina-
ton for governor. Having been
friend Of his for many years and hav-
inf heard Mr.. White accused by Demo-
Gratis Of having been opposed to IA
Dor union Of printers at Charleston the
editor OF this paper wrote to MT.
White for the facts. Mr.. White wrote
a very frank reply and in 1t he said:
"I have been an employer OF LABOR
both in newspaper and other business
for many years. I never had trouble
with a man in my employ over wages
or any labor dispute in my life. The
most touching and appreciated tesu-
monial ever received was from the
printers in the State Journal ONCE when
/ sold out last July. believe 1t to be
the truth when say that every prin-
ter ever in my employ was my friend.
We always paid the highest wages and
commanded the best help. believe IN
organized labor and frequently urged
the organization of Typographical
union in Parkersburg to save our eS-
Establishment from cut-throat competl-
ton OF other offices, where cheap labor
was employed. have always urged
that the highest priced labor In the
printing business was the best ana
cheapest In the end because the most
efficient My favorable views to or
ganized labor are too well known to be
successfully attacked in Parkersburg
or among the printers living there.
I'm December 1897. Mr.. j. ]. Peter
son, Of Huntington, interested num-
Der of Republicans including myself In
an effort to buy out the two existing
and starving Republican papers at
Chnrleston-one a weekly and the 9TH
er a daIly-and to build up therefrom a
vigorous, straIght-out Republican pa
per. Early in 1898 the purchases were
consummated and took some stock In
the MaIl-Tribune company and was
elected a director. Mr.. Peterson, who
was a large stakeholder. was made
employ help ETC., on the condition that
the ONCE be made and maintained as
union Office. never would have any
thing to do with nOn-unlon Office In
union town. was at Charleston a
number Of times during the first six
months Of 1898, while we were putting
in linotype machines, etc, and adjusted
several matters over which friction had
arisen between the printers and the
manager.
"There was no meeting Of the direc-
tors that I know OF in the fall and win
ter Of 1898, prior to some time in Janu-
airy, 1899. / was not at Charleston In
December, 1895 nor do remember
hearing Of any threatened troubles at
that time over n new scale submitted
by the typographical Union to all the
employing printers Of Charleston.
was not consulted and knew nothing OF
any friction. The political campaign
of 1898 absorbed all my attention from
July to November and, as secretary OF
the Republican state committee, was
kept so busy after the November cleo
ton in trying to thwart the efforts Of
the Democratic managers to steal the
delegates in Taylor, Webster, Lewis,
Roane. Monroe. and other counties.
and looking after numerous recounts
that even neglected my own paper at
Parkersburg for weeks at time.
"AbouS the thirtieth OF December I
went to Columbus, O.. to spend New
Years with my parents and on my re-
turn, January or 3. was called up over
the lonG-dIstance phone by Mr.. Daw-
son and told Of the unauthorized and |
unwarranted letter said to have been
written by Mr.. Peterson December 2s.
and the subsequent events and trouble |
between the manager and the union. |
Both Mr.. Dawson and myself prompt |
" repudIated Mr.. Peterson'G action and |
harmony was restored. The new union |
scale had been signed by Mr.. Peterson |
January /, believe, but he had trou- |
BILE with some OF the mon. declining to |
take one or two back. This trouble was |
adjusted to the satisfaction Of the |
union and the MaIlTrlbune is to-day. |
as It always had been, union office. |
Subsequently Mr.. Peterson resigned as
manager and MS soon as a new pur
chaser was secured he was relieved |
and the paper changed hands.
III any confederation OF my position |
were needed, which was that OF a |
stakeholder, rather than Of one having |
a voice in the management from July, |
1895. to January, 1899, the accompanying |
statement from the leading officers OF |
the Typographical Union at ChArleston
are sufficient, trust, to AbsoIve me
from the charges made Of being oppos-
ed to organized labor in any manner,
shape or form, or being responsible in
any manner for an unsigned type
written letter purportlnE to have come |
from The Tribune Company but of |
which the president and directors had
no knowledge whatever. In conclusion
refer you to the following"
International Typographical Union.
ONCE Of Organizer Fourth District,
Gazette once,
CHARLESTON, ". Va, Dec. ., 1882
TO ALL CoNCERNED:-It having
come to my knowledge that reports are
being circulated throughout the state
to the effect that Hon. A. B. White, OF
ParkersburE, W. Va, Is opposed to or
EanIZed labor: said reports having their
foundation in the fact that Charleston
typographical Union had some differ
ences, about year ago, with The Trib-
une Company, OF this city. Mr.. White
being at that time q BtockholdCr and
director in said company, deem It
simple Justice to Mr.. White to make
the following statement regarding that
matter from facts within my personal
knowledge:
Some two years ago when Mr.. White,
William NJ o. Dawson. j. j. Peterson
and Others were negotiating for the
gentlemen named called at the Office Of
that paper to Inspect the plant, and
during their stay in that ONCE, the
question Of wages came up. Mr. Peter
son rOmRrklnR that there was no mo-
ceSSity for paying the scale Of prices
hxed by Charleston Typographical I'm
Ion, as he could Rct all the printers he
wanted In Huntington, who would work
here for seven dollars n week. To this