Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-08

street, and after a session which lasted
rather more than two hours, decided
unanimously to go out on a strike for
the advance in wages demanded, the
increase being from sixteen cents an
hour at twenty cents, and nine-hour
day.
The men ran the cars as usual last
night until the regular hour for stop
at the hall, where Chairman of the
National Executive Committee Dill
worth, of Detroit, was present. The
meeting was organized about o'clock,
and there was a long, full and free
discussion of the situation, large ma
jority of the ninety-one men in the
employ of the Company being present.
In fact, there were very few absentees.
reporter for the Register called
at the hall at two o'clock this morn
ing, and was met by committee OF
the men, who reported that as yet
nothing definite had been done, but
they said they construed the failure OF
the Company to answer the ultimatum
of the men and the fact that new men
had been brought to the city as GER
tain indication that the corporation in
tended to reject the demand made. 1t
was added that the men expected to
stand by the position they had taken,
but that positive action had not been
taken. While this information was be-
ing given the reporter an address was
being made in the hall, and the ap-
plause was liberal and frequent.
There was nothing definite obtain
able until half-past three this morning,
when a committee of the men reported
that the strike had been determined up
on unanimously. Later Mr.. Dilworth
was seen, and he corroborated the in
formation, and stated in addition that
National President Mahon would come
to the city as soon as his presence was
needed or desirable. On behalf of the
strikers, Mr.. Dilworth requested that
the public be asked to refrain from pat
ronizing the cars, and that the men and
those who might sympathize with them
refrain from any and all acts Of vio-
lence or anything tending to create dis
order of any nature or form. He said
the contest inaugurated should be
peaceful one. and hoped that nothing
would occur to provoke trouble of any
nature.
That some cars will be running to-
day. notwithstanding the strike, is
matter to be expected. Just what the
service will be, however, cannot be fore
told at this writing. Both sides having
deliberately determined to disagree,
the contest must be fought out, and this
will require an indefinite amount of
time. The last strike, six years ago,
lasted three months, and resulted in a
vast amount of public inconvenience.
1t may be that the community will
have 10 go through the same expert
ence again, although it is hoped such
will not be the case.
So far the Trades Assembly has moth
ing to do with the controversy. al
though the services of its Committee
may be called in at later stage The
recent success of the organization in
the Elm Grove difficulty gives color
to the nope that similar means may
eventually, if not speedily, end the trou
BILE which was inaugurated this morn
ing.
There was every indication last night
that the Company had anticipated
strike for some days, and had made
preparations to at least partially
operate the line, no matter what hap
pened. Yesterday morning about
twenty men, in charge of A. J. McLain,
arrived in the city from some point
| west of the river, they having passed
through Bellaire. They took dinner at
Bellaire, and had supper at a prominent
Market street restaurant. Later in the
evening they were taken to the Forty
eighth street car barns, where quarters
! had been prepared for them.
The scene at the barns of tbs Com
| pany last evening, was rather an I'M
| usual one. In the north end of the big
building a large cooking stove had been
set up, cooking utensils provided, and
cots for the men put in. The windows
in the northern end of the building
were closed by blinds to prevent obser-
walton from the outside.
I Last night about nine O'Clock, after
it had become generally known that
the new men had arrived, crowd OF
boys and young men gathered about
the building and made the air ring
with cries of "scabs," ''blacksheep,
etc. No one within the building paid
any attention to this, and the crowd
outside soon dispersed.
A Register reporter saw Manager
! Shirley, of the Railway Company, last
night. In response to questions as TO
the situation, he said:
I'VE are not absolutely certain that
| the men will strike, but it is tie