Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-08


STRIKE, AND HAS BEEN UN-
DER CONSIDERATION FOR
SOME TIME.
At least a week previous to the set
Element of the street railway strike it
was reported that Secretary T. Y. Sal
isbury would be asked to tender his
| resignation as an officer of the Ohio
Valley Trades and Labor Assembly.
! The request was rot made, however,
until this week, when Mr.. Salisbury re-
ceived the following self-explanatory
letter:
WHEELING, w. Va. July 3, 1899.
Mr.. Thos. Salisbury, Esq, Secretary
o. V. T. & L. A:
| Dear Sir:-The executive board of the
Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly.
after several weeks of profound and ser
ious consideration, have decided to make
you the following statement and requests:
During the progress of the late street car
strike, on several occasions, your actions
were such that it gave rise to runors and
public disapproval on the part of not only
the men engaged in the contest, but the
entire body Of delegates who represent the
different local organizations of the as
sembly.
The executive board has tried by every
means in its power to keep down this wide
spread dissatisfaction, and did so during
the strike. but now that the contest is
over it deems it but right and proper to
place the matter before you, and in doing
so it desires TO assure you that in so far
as the board is concerned that it is in no
sense a personal matter. We believe that
it is our duty to advance the cause of
labor, and furthermore, that it is the duty
of every person who, knowing that his
services are no longer required in the
movement, to gracefully retire from it.
To enumerate the many complaints from
the different locals would be an unpleas-
| ant as we'll as a very painful task; so we
will pass it over by saying that the board,
desiring to preserve the perpetuity of the
0. V. I. & l.. A. above all things, and be-
lieving that the course we are pursuing
is the only proper and consistent one, in
the interest of harmony and the advance
ment of our cause, we would respectfully
ask your resignation from the O.. v. L. &
L. A.
With DEEPEST regrets that such action is
necessary, we remain, yours,
NJ. F. TIGHE. President,
THOS. j. DUFFY, Vice Pres.
JOHN DONAHUE,
ED. V. GILLtES,
L. w. SELVEY,
A. L. BAUER,
c. STEIN.
The names attached are those of Of
tcers and members of the Executive
Board of the Assembly.
Mr.. Salisbury has announced that he
will refuse to tender his resignation,
and will demand an investigation of
the charges against him. The Assem-
bly, will no doubt grant the investiga-
ton. 1t is understood hat the mat
ter was preached to Mr.. Salisbury by
a member of his own local union, and
it is stated by delegates that the AS
sembly's appropriation of a portion Of
the Secretary's salary to payment upon
his note to the Assembly, which action
was taken at the last regular meeting,
was intended as a polite notice that
his services were no longer desired.
So far as can be learned, there are
no allegations of dishonesty in the
charges against the secretary, but he
is accused of indiscretion, neglect OF
duty, and Indifference. A Register re-
porter interviewed a number of Off
GERS of the Trades Assembly concern
ing the matter. All expressed regret
that it was given publicity, stating
that they had endeavored to proceed
quietly, in the hope that Mr.. Salisbury
would acquiesce in their wishes.
Assembly leaders state that the gem
during the street car strike was very
unsatisfactory, and gave rise to fire.
quent complaints from delegates and
members of the locals affiliated with
the Assembly.
Mr.. Salisbury was accused of stating
in the office of the City Clerk, that the
passenger wagons SNOulu Ut IdAtu, anu
his explanation of the conversation did
not appear to satisfy the strikers. 1t is
also alleged that he did not encourage
the strikers, but maintained an ultra
| conservative position, and advised some
of the men to accept terms of settle
ment which were not satisfactory to
them.
officers of the Assembly say that it
was Mr.. ~Salisbury's duty, as secretary,
to attend all the meetings of the Exec
utive Board, and they allege that al
| though meetings were held daily, he
was never present.
They also charge that in the contro-
versy between the central labor bodies
of Wheeling and Bellaire, Mr.. Salisbury
leaned toward the latter. while acting
as a delegate from the Ohio Valley
Trades and Labor Assembly.
AS a matter of course there are spe-
| cifc details concerning these and other
| matters. which an investigation will re-
veal, but so far as Register reporters
were able to learn, there is nothing to
| justify the use OF the word "sensa-
tional' in connection with the matter.