The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-08
THE STRIKE DECLARED.

This Action tho Wheeling Railway
Company's Employees Declare Was
Forced Upon Thcm-President Ma.
hon Coming to Wheeling Next
Week.
AT 2:30 o'clock this morning the oper-
ators and conductors employed on the
Wheeling, Bridgeport and Martins
Ferry lines OF the Wheeling Railway
Company, eightr In number, In session
at Bischoff's hall, corner OF Forty
third and Jacob streets. South Side, de-
clared strike, which becomes effective
this morning. To an Intelllgencer re-
porter who called at the hall shortly be-
fore 3 o'clock. It was stated that this
action was forced upon the men by tho
company bringing In outside men to
operate its cars and by the failure OF the
officials to reply to their request for the
restoration of the scale OF wages In ef-
feet previous to 1893.
Chairman Dilworth, OF the Amalga-
nation OF Street Car Workers, who
takes, charge Of the strike, stated that
the national organization would sup
port the men in their position, and that
President Mahon and other officers
would probably be here in a few days to
cooperate with him in the conduct OF
the strike. He said the strike is q strug-
gle for living wage, and he believed
public sentiment would be with the
men. The men. he said, had decided to
hat utr In, IL ,,.f,,
ner at all stages, and no lawlessness
would be encouraged; the men would
not interfere with the operation OF the
road by tho company.
Efforts were made to secure inter-
Views with Vice President Peterson and
Secretary Shirley. after the strike was
declared this morning, but they could
not be seen-or rather could not be got
to tho telephone.
In the afternoon at 3 o'clock, the ex-
ecutire committee of the union waited
on Vice President B. ". Peterson, at
the Dollar Savings bank, and asked for
his reply to the demands OF the men for
the restoration OF the wage scale to the
twenty cent rate that was in force be-
fore the first reduction was made In
1893. Mr.. Peterson replied, stating that
he was busy at that time but that he
would probably be able to give the men
definite reply later in the afternoon
The committee again called on Mr..
Peterson at AIS o'clock, when he stated
that he had been In conference with
President T., H. Conderman, who is in
Philadelphia, over the long distance tel
ephone, but that they had not yet come
to n conclusion, and for that reason he
could not give the men an answer. He
added that he might be in q position
later in the day to communicate with
the committee. Up to midnight the
committee had not heard from Mr..
Peterson. ...5.B lt-.4t
The men were surprised to learn late
In the afternoon that the Wheeling
company was making preparations for
the strike in advance OF Its being de-
clared. About o'clock n number Of
operators and conductors reached the
city from the west, Chicago, 1t was
stated, and were met by an official Of
the road. Another batch of street car
men reached BellaIre In the afternoon.
Last night they were taken 10 the
company's barns. at Forty-elghth and
Jacob streets, where the company made
preparations for lodging and boarding
them. 1t is said about forty men have
been secured bY the company, enough
to operate twenty cars. Up TO the pres
ent time about eighty operators and
conductors have been employed by this
company.
Shortly after midnight. the operators
and conductors went Into session at
Bischoff's hall, l,corner OF Forty-thlrd and
Jacob streets, South Side. to discuss the
situation. With them met Mr.. Dilworth,
OF Detroit. the chairman of the execu-
tive board Of the -Amalgamatlon OF
Street Car Workers. Before the meet
ing It was stated by some OF. the men
that the only outcome possible was the
declaration Of I strike TO become eff
fective this morning.
The old men stated they had made
arrangements to inaugurate an omni-
bus nnd wagon service to-day, which
they soy will be continued so long as
the strike is on. These vehicles will be
run early In the morning for the con-
venience of the mill men throughout
the city, who, In fact, requested that
such an ARRANGEMENT be made