Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-01

HOUSE IN INTEREST OF
STREET CAR STRIKERS D.
DRESSES BY MAHON. OF De-
TROIT, AND REID, OF TOLEDO
ANOTHER MEETING PLANNED
FOR TONIGHT.
The mass meeting in the interest of
the street car strikers scheduled TO oc-
cur Last evening, owing to the threaten
ing weather. was held in the Opera
House instead of in the open air, as
was intended. The object of the meet
ing is set forth in the hand bills max
ing the announcement and which
were circulated yesterday. It reads
thus:
The citizens of Wheeling demand
that the Wheeling Railway Company
pay their employees 20 cents per hour,
"a living wage"
The Wheeling Railway Company
says to the citizens OF Wheeling, I'VE
will not"
Can the Wheeling Railway Company
make the citizens of Wheeling recede
from their action and endorsement?
The speakers were w. d. Mahon, of
Detroit, president of the national or
ganization of street car employees, and
Stuart Reid, of Toledo, national organ
izer for the International Association
Of Machinists. Both gentlemen are
well versed in trades uniOnism and are
forceful and pleasing speakers, and the
arguments presented last night in be-
half of labor were considered by many
to be the most effective ever delivered
from a platform in Wheeling. Mr..
Reid is a Scotchman and an ex-minis-
ter, and his anecdotes and pertinent
illustrations kept the audience in ex-
cellent spirits. Both Mr.. Mahon and
Mr.. Reid will remain in Wheeling to-
day, the former to address the striking
street car employees at Trades Assembly
hall at 2:30 o'clock. and the latter to
work in the interest of his organiza-
ton.
The Opera House was well filled,
both first floor and gallery, when T. j.
Duffy, vice president of the Trades AS
sembly, called for order and named
John G. Byrne, chairman of the execu-
tive committee Of the strikers, as pre-
siding officer. Mr.. Byrne, in his re-
marks, briefly recounted the events
emphasized the statement of the COM
pany that it would not treat with the
men as an organization. In closing, he
said: mot man of the union wants
to recede from our position. We ex-
pect to rear the flag of victory over our
hall, or at last admit that we have been
trampled upon by mighty organiza-
ton. Ii We give up the fight for re-
cognition of the union, not man of us
has the slightest assurance of being
reinstated in our former positions"
Mr.. Reid spoke for little over an
hour, his talk in the main being deyot-
ed to a general discussion of the rights
OF labor and its oppression by capital.
The popular opinion that trades unions
are responsible for strikes, he held to
be erroneous. THE real object of un-
ions" said he, lis the very opposite of
this. 1t is disorganized labor that is
responsible for seven-eighths of the
strikes, from the fact that they are
controlled by local conditions. Trades
unions are moved by intelligent obser-
walton of trade conditions throughout
the country, and are not so liable to
be unreasonable or cratic in their de-
mands. The Wheeling strikers have
the sympathy OF their fellow laborers
everywhere, who are saying, go in and
win the fight if it takes you years to
do it, tApplause). The best way TO
manage corporation is to go after its
profits. and judging from the bus lines
running in your city you are doing this
with vengeance" (Applause.)
The street car company has told
their employees they will not deal with
them except as individuals. Now let
us see how reasonable this is. Suppose
the street railway company would go to
the manufacturer of cars to make a
purchase, and the former would say to
them, we will not deal with you as an
organization or corporation. You must
come to use and make your contract as
individuals Hw would the company
like that? But the company says, we
have a right to organize. We've got
money But these employees have no
right to organize for business purposes.
They are only Jumps of common mud
Uaughter) Capital can form new
company or a new trust every day.
They claim it is correct business prin-
ciple to do so. Now if it is good bust
ness principle for the capitalist, why
not for the men who place upon the
markets of the world the only commod-
ity they have to sell? Capital has
taught labor that it must organize or
die
Give the men better nav and