Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-02

Foa Shorter Hours and Mors Wages
Than They Now Receive.

ONLY ONE CAR WAS RUN OVER
| THE LINE YESTERDAY, WITH
| SUPT. WRIGHT AT THE HELM.
THE employees OF TIL E
WHEELlN COMPANY AltE
MEETING THIS MORNING A
| SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
TRADES ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD
| TU-NIGHT.
| The Wheeling & Elm Grove Railway
Company is tied up. The employees are out
on a strike, because of the refusal OF the
company TO concede shorter hours and
higher wages than now prevail The. meet
ing of the men, in Trades Assembly hail,
adjourned after the morning papers went
| to press Several conferences were held
! between representatives of the employees
and General Manager Wright. The latter
offered as compromise to agree to. pay
/ Is cents an hour, an advance OF TWO cents
an hour over the present rate of wages.
| This was communicated to the local union
and rejected, the men serving notice that
| they would not return to work until the
company agreed to nine hour work day
| 1890
i conductors.
| Mr.. Wright remained at the office of the
| company until near.y daylight yesterday
morning, to await developments, and to
endeavor to bring about an amicable
| agreement with the men. When notified
| of their declination to accept his COM
promise, he sin.l4y stated that he had
/ done all that was possible, and what he
| dc -ir OH tair arin n
tIo men mai way. Mr.. Wright stated
that the company IS engaged in practical
iy d new line, and that there is no means
| of knowing whether or not the road will
be profitable during the coming summer.
| The reduction in the fare will necessitate
big increase in the traffic, and whether
| or not the increase will be sufficient 10
| justify the company in paying the in
| crease asked for, only the future opera
| ton of the road will determine.
| On the other hand, the men calm to be
| working the same length OF time for $1.44
that they were paid two dollars for when
the cars were operated by steam. Tney
receive 10 cents an hour ror nine hours.
They claim thar they are not asking for
an increase, or even Tor full restoration,
inasmIch as the granting of their de-
of 20 cents a day. They will receive $3.50
for nine hours, and were formerly pad
two dollars
The decision of the men to refuse to go
to work until their demands were granted
was practically unani-lous. There was
some discussion relative to acts of vio-
lence, and before adjourning the union
adopted strong resolutions condemnng
| ,,.al, l
sympathizers. The men assert that they DO
not want TO gain their ENDS through in
t:midation of any sort, but are wing to
submit their demands upon merit alone.
The men are instructed to remain away
from the barns and track of the company,
and to do all that is possible to accom-
piish their purposes by peaceful methods.
Only one car was taken over the road
yesterday 1t was operated by General
Manager Wight, and but one round trip
was made. The car collected and distrib-
uted mail. There was no attempt at mo-
lestation along the road
During the day there were several con-
ferences among directors and officials of
the road Last night Mr.. Wright said TO
a Register reporter that there were no
new developments. I'VE are Simply rest
In the afternoon at three o'clock the
men held a meeting at Trades Assembly
hail. and discussed the situation. No ac-
ton was taken beyond the appointment
of a press committee of TWO The men
will meet daily at the same time and
place, until the strike is terminated.
A special meeting of the Ohio Valley
Trades and Labor Assembly has been
col fal FOO 90 ofo IL
expected that there will be very large
attendance of delegates. The strike will
be discussed and plans adopted for the
cooperation of the Assembly with the
strikers
Up to the hour of going to press there
were no new developments in the situation
on the Wheeling line. During the day the
men discussed matters wherever they as
sembled. The more radical were in favor
of striking to-day, but the conservative
men argued against haste in the matter
The advisory board of the union were
among those who favored a general
strike only after all other means of eff
fecting a settlement have failed All this
discussion was during the day, and prior
to the meeting of the men after midnight
The men went into secret session short
ly after midnight in Notes hall. on Eoff
street, south of Thirty The men
who came from the hall during the pro-
gress of the meeting would not discuss the
situation, and 4 the hour of gong to press
it was impossible to ascertain what. if
any, course had been determined lnon.
1T was the general Impression among th1se
who were not familiar with the situation
that another effort would be made to Sc
cure conference with off:ciais of the
company, and the hope was expressed
that in the meantime President Mahon.
OF the Amalgamated Association of Street
Railway Employees of America would ar
rive in the city and counsel the men.
Their laws permit them to act independ-
entity but they are anxious to proceed
properly
President Mahon is now in Cleveland
organizing union of street railway en-
ployes, but will probably come to this city
If the strike is prolonged for several DAVIS
During the afternoon the strikers orer-
ed bus line from the city to Elm Grove.
which was literally patronized. 1t is like
~ that several buses or covered wagons
will be running to-day.
New spring novelties in all priced
wall Papers, Room Mouldings. etc
JOS. GRAVES SON