Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-06
CITIZEN NO. 5.

Slr:-It 5 fact TO be deplored that. re-
gardless OF the money concern IS max
ing, many of them INSIST on getting labor
as cheap.y as possible. And we were re-
Gently told by a judge on the bench thar
this is entirely justfiable. How many be-
lieve that capital has a right TO thus grind
labor down? If this be the true principe,
trusts have a right to organize all aaong
the line, and through such organization
acquire power sufficient to dictate TO the
working class, and if they refuse TO ac-
cept their terms, shut down their works
and live themselves on the fat of the land,
While the poor working men. with their
families, are starved into subm. ss.on.
When this state of affairs arrives, in
what respect are our poor better than in
old countries? GOD iornid that proud
America should ever come to this. But
If a fairer spirit on the part Of capital
employing labor is not developed, surely
tins is inevitable. Why should capital die
tate entirely 10 iabar? Labor IS as import
amt as capital, and why snou.d it no1 re-
ce.ve its show Of cons Iteration? II a bus
mess is a profitable one, why should there
not be far and equitable division of the
profits between capital and labor?
Any policy emanating from whatever
source, calculated TO make the rich richer
and the poor poorer, should be fought TO
the bitter end; for crowd the poor below
the point of thar being able 10 educate
Their children, and we at once are deprived
of the material possessing the greatest
capabilities. Who ever heard of a mil
Eonairets son having brains enough to be
President of the United States? While
the farmers or mechanics son Is burning
midnight oil in study. and thus developing
himself into that manhood, capable Of
taking his place in the affairs of MS coun-
try, and rendering useful and substantial
service, the r-ch man 5 son IS taking dane
.ng lessons and learning TO receive ana
entertain in the most elegant manner,
WITH liberal supply Of champagne on the
SIDE
The Street Car Company said first Il did
not object to wages, but would not rec
ognize the union but after the big fellow
came on from Philadelphia, and prooabiy
spanked few Of the smaller fry for
Their .ndscreton, they changed their tune
and SAID We are wiling 10 recognize the
union. but cannot afford to pay the men
20 cents an hour" The public Is left to
take its choice of these statements. Who
Eei.eves the Wheeling Street Car Company
is not doing a good business. such a bus
mess, indeed, as fully just-hes the men
in skiing the modest wages of 20 cents
an hour for Drawing the storms of win
ter and the heat Of summer, IN helping to
make this business a success2
The company can depend upon it that
the men have the sympathy of the pub
lie to an extent never witnessed IN SIM
liar struggle before. Very few, indeed,
have raised tn r voices against the men,
for the justice of their demand is almost
universally recognized.
In the paper / notice a Commercial
Traveller" or two (drummers). fool
from Venice. and another fellow who
claims to have horse sense ins ST on the
public coming out and assisting in. crush
ing the cause of the men; but they VIII
find very few willing 10 follow their
Leadership.
The bushes smen are a s much interested
as any in seeing the working people get
fair wages. for the working peop.e consti-
tute the great mass and the great mass
of their patronage comes from them, and
if the laborer is ground down TO a mere
existence, they VII have but little to
spend for anything more than what Is abb
solutely necessary to keep soul and body
together.
Why don't the Wheeling Street Car Com
pany do as the great Riverside works and
others did? When times we're greatly de-
pressed they consulted their men and ex-
plained the circumstances. and asked
them to submit to a cut In wages and
their wages would be raised again as soon
as times improved. This was done and
the men are satisfied ANA the company en-
joys the confidence Of its men, for Il did
what t promised It would 40.
CITIZEN NO. 8.