The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-05
ARBITRATION
Is the Panacea for Strike Troubles
IL Favored by Many who
WERE INTERVIEWED THURSDAY
BY the rntelligencer = Sympathy for
the men Expressed. but tho stagnn.
ton of Business Must end, and Dis
Interested Arbitration is q Remedy
that is Fair to Both Sides in tho
Present Controversy.

suNAn ,1ntelligencer reporter last night
interviewed a score of representative
citizens in search of ideas for the settle
ment OF the street car strike, and with
one exception all were In favor OF arbi-
tration. The citizens seen embraced
manufacturers. physicians, clergymen,
lawyers. city and county officials, mer-
chants and workingmen. None cared
to be quoted, hence the absence Of the
names.
The following was the list Of ques-
lions submitted by the reporter:
First-Suggest plan for ending the
strike. ),
second-should not the strikers ac-
cept disinterested arbitration!
Thlrd-Do you favor riding on the
cars again If the men decline arbitra-
ton?
Fourth-What percentage OF loss
have have you observed through the
strike In your own business? -f
In answer to the first question, the
plansug8ested for ending the strike was
arbitration. with the exception OF n
manufacturer, who believed the strikers
ought to accept the company's offer OF
17E cents an hour, and he took the
stand that the people ought to patronize
the cars unless the men recede from
their position by Sunday. The manu-
facturer therefore answered yes" with
much posltiveness to the third question,
and contented himself with this express
sion Of his opinion In the controversy.
With this exception, the sentiment
was unanimous In favor of arbitration,
and as embodied in the second query,
that OF disinterested arbitration. The
plan proposed was for the selection Of
one or more representatives of the COM
pany and strikers. who in turn would
select the odd arbitrator. Arbitration
was suggested us the only path out Of
the present tanglc. and the opinion was
expressed that public sentiment would
desert the strikers unless they agreed
to II. AS one citizen pointed out. nrbi-
tration was the only recourse left. since
the strikers had conceded one cent, that
IS agreeing to 10 cents an hour. and
the company had offered III. cents. an
increase from the present rate Of 16
cents of TX cents. both parties showing
no signs of relentirg. and the public
remaining In suspense with business In
state OF scmi-stagnatlon.
DO you favor riding on the cars
arain II the men decline arbitration? p"
produced 4 ready response In the af-
firmativc from some Of those interview
ed, while others hcsi,ated in answer.
Ing. The hesi.atins ones expressed
their sympathy Tor the strikers, and
said they would like the men to get all
they We're asking for. but said they
would ride on the cars, II the men fatty
Inr1ipa m tiEtptarar,aJ rhit ro
ton. a
Owing to the lateness OF the hour
when the reporter started on his mis-
sion, he WAS unable to see many nler-
chants, consequently he was unable to
gather data concerning the question
pertaining to the percentage OF loss to
business sustained through the strike.
4 physician with 4 large Office practice
said he was 4 sufferer, as he had pa
tlents In outside towns whom the strike
prevented from visiting him 4 druggist
with customers In Eenwoo:. and Nc
Mechen spoke In the same tenor. and n
Clergyman said the attendance in his
church was cut In half. Another pas
tor. whose congregation is seemingly
more loyal, hadn't perceived any de-
creased attendance. Little light can
ne thrown on this question. however. by
clergymen, lawyers and professional
men, but retailers and jobbers In the
business district have certainly suffered
in large measure.
Several cltIzenG ventured the predic-
ton that the strikers would soon look
on arbitration with favor. and they were
confident the men would come to this
conclusion II It was made plain TO them
that the third party In the settlement
would be disinterested. with no leaning
either way. and resolved only to effect
q satisfactory compromise.