Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-26

/ hIOASIR M1SS MILLING
OF Strike Sympathizsrs Held in the
Opera House Last Night.
THE THEATRE WAS CROWDED
FOR TWO HOURS AND A HALF.
MEETING PRECEDED BY A
PARADE OF THE STRIKERS
FROM THE EIGHTH WARD
MUCH ENTHUSIASM MANIFEST
ED SPEECHES BY FATHER
ALTMYER, ATTORNEY DRYDEN,
AND MESSRS. TIGHE AND ORR.
The public mass meeting of strike
sympathizers in the Opera House, last
night, was complete success, furnish
ing additional evidence of the popular
ity of the cause of employees of the
Wheeling Street Railway Company
The theatre was crowded, hundreds
standing in the aisles and lobby for
two hours and half, unable to find
seats. The audience was ready to APP
plaud every sentiment favorable to the
strikers which the speakers might ut
ter, and they were afforded frequent
opportunities for giving vent to their
feelings.
Early in the evening the striking
street railway employees formed in line
at their hall on Forty-third street,
and marched to the Opera House, head
ed by the Liberty band, which dis
coursed excellent music en- route. The
men, and large number OF sympathlz-
ers who followed them, all wore It'll
walk" badges. The sidewalks were
crowded in many places, and the ap-
pearance of the men was signal for
enthusiastic cheering. The crowds also
took occasion to manifest their feeling
toward the imported men whenever a
street car passed the strikers in the
line
There was a very large crowd in
front of the Opera House, where Meis-
ter's band played several selections.
Two cars passed that point, and the
crews were greeted with jeers and cat
calls upon all sides.
The Opera House filled rapidly, and
within few minutes after the arrival
of re strikers, standing room was at
NJ II T1n i.n1 nm ON
under the direction of A. E. Summers,
very skillfully rendered the overture
from the opera Martha" The meet
ing was called to order by 7. J. Duffy,
Vice-President of the Ohio Valley
Trades and Labor Assembly, and chair
man of the Arbitration Committee Of
that organization. The audience in
sisted upon another selection from the
orchestra, and popular melody was
rendered. Mr.. Duffy then introduced
as chairman of the meeting President
M. F. Tighe, of the Trades Assembly.
Mr.. Tighe spoke of the qualification
which he felt in being permitted to
preside over such a large and represen-
tative assemblage as he saw before
him. He referred to the popular APP
proval of the motto-"A fair days
wage for fair days work, which SEN
timent was enthusiastically applauded.
AS President of the Assembly
he bespoke the heartfelt APP
probation of that body of the
cooperation of the public in the
efforts to induce the Street Railway
Company to concede the demands of
it's employees.
Mr.. Tighe referred to the criticism
of trades unions by a Federal Judge in
this city, and contrasted it with the
expression of an Episcopal clergyman
in Boston, who declared that the man
who held aloof from trades union,
was a traitor to himself and to his
family. He also quoted Ouida, the
English writer of fiction. This was
said in defense of organized labor,
which he conceded was imperfect, as
is everything of human origin, but not
withstanding it's errors of omission
and commission trades unions have
always stood for the uplifting of hui
mainly, the betterment of social condi-
lions, and just rate of wages with
reasonable hours of employment. He
said the street railway employees expect
to win their strike through the as
sistance of a fair-minded and sympa-
thetic public In conclusion, he resent
ed the charge that trades unions are
organizations of communists. Eve are
American citizens. We expect to dem
onstrate that inherent right of free
men-personal liberty"
MR.. ORR'S ADDRESS.
Mr.. Rein Orr. member of the Ma
tional Executive Board of the Street
Railway employees, whose home is in
Detroit, was the first speaker. With
a few Introductory remarks, Mr.. Orr
at once launched into a discussion of
the strike and its causes. He read the
paper which the railway employees tried
in vain to get into the hands of officials
of the road, reviewing the conditions
obtaining during the past five years,
charging that the cut in wages at that
time was said to be merely temporary,
and that full restoration was promised
when times improved. The receipts of
the road were no doubt as large at the
time of the strike as they ever were.
The speaker referred to the alleged
attempt to create the impression that
there is danger of serious disturbance
here. He did not think there was.
His brief observation taught him a
better opinion of Wheeling people.