Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-25

Assembly held long and interesting
session yesterday afternoon, the time
being principally devoted to discussing
a question of opposition as carried on
by a certain merchant against the Re
tail Clerks Association.
The meeting was called to order by
President A. L. Bauer at O'CLOCK Win
a large number of delegates present
After the minutes of the previous
session had been read and adopted,
credentials were received from ROBERT
KEYS, of Local Union No. 1O4, lnterna-
tional Journeymen Horseshoers, and A.
w. RAIDER, James Hawley and FrarK
fWendel, of Expressmen and Drivers
Local No. $500, and the delegates were
duly obligated. The secretary tnen
read a communication from typo
graphical Union No. rs, on behalf OF
the interests Of the striking printers
of Pittsburg. In substance, the COM
stated that all the Pittsburg
papers. excepting one, have been
placed on the unfair list, and asked
that the Assembly use it's influence in
support of the cause of the strikers.
On motion it was accepted, and the
delegates were instructed to comply
with the request.
One of the delegates then arose and
made known to the Assembly a griev-
ance of the Retail Clerks Association.
1t was stated that a certain merchant
had violated his agreement with the
union, in as much as he had adver-
tised in the daily papers to the effect
that his store would be open on
Christmas until noon for the purpose
of exchanging goods to the salts
faction of the purchasers. Dele
gate Sims then made a motion that
the arbitration committee call upon
the merchant to inform him that if he
refuses to live up to his agreement
with the clerks union, the Assembly
will take suitable action in the mat
ter. Remarks upon the question being
in order, very heated discussion en-
sued among the delegates. On request
from the Assembly, the delegate pre-
senting the grievance secured one of
the daily papers and showed that the
substance of the advertisement refer
red to corroborated his previous state
ment. Another delegate strongly OPP
posed such action being taken, on the
grounds that the merchant should not
be dictated to as to the way he con-
ducts his business as long a he en-
ploys union clerks.
An amendment was made to
the motion that similar action be
taken in regard to every merchant
keeping open on Monday, and it was
ruled out of order. 1t YVES said that if
necessary, the union would send it's
delegates with the arbitration commit
tee to the merchant for the purpose of
the position of the COM
mittee in the difficulty. 1t was also
held that the Assembly should take
action anticipating the merchants
action and should not act until he
acts, in order to show that it was
prosecute and not to persecute.
In reply to question as to the reason
the union is opposed to the clerks
working on holidays, it was stated that
the closing hours as advocated were
in accordance with the international
law upon the subject. Delegate Boes
finally offered a substitute for the
motion, to the effect that the
arbitration committee be instructed to
call upon the merchant Immediately
and report back to the Assembly with
in three-quarters of an hour. The SUBJ
tstitute motion was unanimously
adopted, and during the absence of the
arbitration committee Delegate Sims.
who represented the Assembly in con-
junction with President W. H. Riley,
of the National Stogiemakers' League.
at the convention of the Federation of
Labor held recently at Detroit, Mich,
submitted his report, which, in part,
was as follows:
To the Officers and Members Of the Ohio
valley Trades and Labor Assembly:
President w. H. Riley, of the National
Stogle Makers League, and myself arrived
In Detroit Tuesday night, and Immediately
called on secretary Morrison, of the A. +.
OF l. Mr. Morrison stated that the A F.
Of L., had not, unfortunately, been observ-
affiliating with the a f. OF L. very
closely and that we might be affiliated
Tor nve years and nothing would be said
as to what locals composed our assembly:
while on the other hand. 1t might be only a
few months until the Federation would
force US TO expel any Objectionable local.
Mr.. Riley then stated his case and showed
him an application he had prepared for
the utilization Of the Stogie Makers
League with the A. +. of L. After con-
siderable talk, during which Mr.. Morrison
said he did not think the International
Cigar Makers Union would object and q
few minutes after telling us that he did
not think the request would be granted,
Mr.. Morrison suggested that Mr.. Riley
should not present his application to the
give him blank TO fill out, and he (Mor-
riSion) would present it at a meeting of
the Executive Council to be held on We'd
neSddy night.
myself attended the session of the conven-
ton and the first business transacted