Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-06

The above statement, signed by Pres
ident Thomas L. Padden, of Local
Union No. 103, and by Chairman John
j. Byrne and other members Of the ex-'
ecutive board, was handed to Register
representative last night for publica-
ton. While it is true that members
of the union have Individually express
ed their opposition to arbitration, It
appears that there has either been a
change Of sentiment or that major
ity of members of Local Union No. 103
are and have been favorable to this
method of effecting a settlement.
There was a very interesting meet
ing of the strikers in Trades Assembly
hall yesterday afternoon at which the
question of arbitration was under con-
sideration, and at which the signed
statement quoted above was prepared
for the press. Several strong speeches
in favor Of arbitration were made and
the point was raised that no proffer of
arbitration has yet come from the COM
pany One OF the strike leaders said
afterward to a Register reporter that
it was net evident that the local direc
tors quoted in the newspapers were au-
thorized to speak for majority of the
directory, but that when a proposition
to arbitrate comes from the directors
it will be considered.
President Tighe, of the Trades As
sembly, said last night:
Arbitration is a principle of trades
unionism, it is true, but there is arbi-
tration and arbitration. The men can
not and will not object to fair set
tlement by this means. This much
conceded there arises the matter OF
what questions are to be arbitrated,
and this is a subject of primary i'm
portance which will be determined af-
|. ter both sides have agreed to this
method Of settlement"
1t is fact that, three days ago now,
Mayor Sweeney received a telegram
| from the officers of the International
| Organization OF Street Railway Work
ers, to the effect that if there was any
! chance Of arbitration, they would
come to Wheeling and settle the case.
! The Mayor communicated with both
| sides to the contention, and as a ret
result of his investigations came to
| the conclusion that matters were not
| quite ripe, and SO withheld his infor-
nation from the press, as he felt that
no good could come from publicity at
| that time. AS one result of the Mayors
! efforts, President Conderman was com
municated with by telephone, and the
| entire situation was discussed to a con-
siderable extent. Perhaps, in the full
ness of time, arbitration will come
about, but not yet.
| The company has posted notices at
the car barns, increasing the wages of
! its employees from sixteen cents per
! hour to seventeen and one-half. the
| rate they have offered to pay the old
men. This makes the wages of the
new men 500 per day, for twelve
hours work, as against s1.92 paid the
old men for the same number of hours.
! There was small increase in the num-
Der of people who rode on the cars
yesterday, but as yet the entire patron
age virtually amounts to nothing.
Reporters for the Register saw the
leaders on both sides yesterday, but
there was really nothing new TO chron-
icle. The men, in conjunction with
! the officials of the Trades Assembly.
are preparing for the big labor demon
stration set for next week. and the
companys officials report nothing par
ticularly new. Cars are run on sched-
ule time, and the new men are gradu-
ally getting into uniforms Public dis
cussion of the trouble continues. but
there is little tangible in the talk. be-
yond the general hope that some set
tlement may come speedily.
A RECENT INCIDENT.
| On Monday last a gentlemen and