Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-19

n justice to t3e cttizeua h ~ proper
and right that . statement should be
made wh1ch may d6sabuse the minds Of
the pubEc relative to the many misleading
rumors set afioat for publication contfnu-
asiy appearing in the daily papers tending
70 discourage sympathsz ers OF the striking
street car employees. The position of the
strikers is absolutely concsliatory All
mediative measures yet advanced have
emanated from the strikers. At the con-
ference of April 18th. the men offered to
accept a lSc rate. and 1t is alleged that
the company offered 17iac. Now the truth
IS the union never received a I71sc prop
osition- The company did offer TO pay the
men who might operate their cars ike
per hour, the directors insisting On re-
tanning their non-union men, and reserved
the right even TO fill vacancies with such
men as they might be disposed to hire
without regard TO their unionism This
was virtually no proposition TO the men
Not even one of them was assured of re-
employment Impartial arbitration, recog-
nation OF the union. the disposal OF the
present non-union employees, the 19c rate
and the replacement of the men in their
former positions. were each In Their turn
rejected by the company.
The only proposition the directors of the
company have ever stood upon is that they
would hire whom they pleased. pay what
ever they pleased. and regulate the hours
of service beyond human endurance, and
make such intolerable rules as might
please their fancy. and give such service
as might appear most profitable to the
company, regardless OF the convenience
a N sat .afu Of tha
out recourse
The policy of the strikers has been and
now is, that OF conei.Lation Being con-
tinually mindful of the interests of the
pubic they have been and are now, OPEN
ly for arbitration. and will allow no OPP
portunity TO pass, by which a speedy and
honorable termination of the strike may
be brought about. The cause OF the strik-
ers merits the support of the community
This support they have received up to the
present time, and there is no reason to
believe but that it viii continue to the
end 1t is the verdict of the people that
he company is in the wrong. and that
verdict is a just one and VIII stand
The strikers stand as solidy to-day as
ever, and in the justice OF their position
are not apprehensfve of any m4sgivings on
the part of the pubic. In fact, the fight
is that of the public against the Iron hand
of monopoly. The cause of the strikers is
being continually strengthened, and the
public and trades unionists are becoming
more and mere determined. 1t Is desired
that 1t be known that the reSatfon of the
Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly
and the street car union is the same to-
day as it has been in the past, and it is
safe to predict that the Trades and Labor
Assembly viii stand by the strikers 10 a
finish, and any statements to the contrary
are unreliable
No greater inconsistency on the part OF
the company can be exhibited than in It's
action in increasing the wages of it's new
and inexperienced men to IKE The di-
rectors, no doubt. would have you believe
these men to be of mere, profit than were
the old employees. but the people viii fai
to see where the profit lies. The directors
may tell you that these new men are eff
Gent and experienced. but it would seem
that If such We're the case their services
would be in demand in the cities whence
they came
The fact that they are here is sufficient
| to cause some to believe that they are
y.
doubleday discharged for ineffic.ency an6
other good causes. These men canno
hep being disturbed by Their own con.
sciences, and no doubt they continual,
harbor more or les fear, and it Is believed
| that unless men are clear minded and pos
sessed of an unencumbered nervous sys
tenn, they are unfit to run cars through
the streets of city. Recent accidents ex
empty this fact. Long hours also over
taxes the operator and makes greater LA.
bility to accident.
word relative to the position of the To-
cal directors, four in number. and vet they
hide beneath the veil Of lack of authority
That the traction line Is owned pract. ca TX
by outside capital. is true, but this doe.
not obviate the fact that these resident d.
rectors should be in some degree mindful
of the interests of the peop.e among whom
they live, and from whom they are en-.
joying local business patronage. The
traction company received its franchise
from the citizens of Wheeling. They re.
ceive their revenue from the patronage OF
Wheeling's working peop,c, and send the
major part of their profits east Now the,
propose to employ non-residents to dc
their work and pay them more than the,
paid your citizens
Consistency. thou art jewel"
BOARD OF LOCAL NO. I03.