Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-01-14
In the
WOrIdOf LabOr

In the past week more activity has
been shown that in the last four, and
it is thought by those who know the in
side of most trust concerns, that a total
resumption of all Industries will soon
be on, and that the howl that has been
going on for some time will be given a
rest. While the above is only a rumor,
it must be taken just as it is stated.
The concerns outside Of the trust have
almost all their industries on in full,
with plenty of orders ahead to keep
them running. This vicinity at present
seems to be suffering from an over-at-
tack Of the complete power Of trusts,
who are the largest owners of the man
ufacturing industries in this valley at
present. The majority of production of
steel, iron, tin and glass are at the
command of the orders OF the trust,
and the present local management has
no authority to say or predict the fu-
ture of these companies outlook.
The farmers still continue to find
much fault with the local hardware
men, and are buying only just what
they need, and have quit asking the
price of barbed wire and nails, think
ing it best to leave their Improvements
go than to pay the large advance
asked.
The kick is not confined to farmers,
as there is a pronounced objection
coming from all those who buy at re-
tail, as many articles have raised.
Food stuffs are much higher, and the
cost of living to-day, compared with
the wages, is making many a working
man think, and to count up how much
better off he is this past year, with the
Increased wages, than when he received
his old wages and the n~ecessaries of life
were at the old price.
A new project Is facing the labor
bosses of this valley in the way OF
placing a price on the jobs to be given.
For an example we will quote from a
labor boss of one Of the prominent in
dustries of this valley. His statement
was that the foreigners would app
for a place and slip a dollar in the hands
of the boss. Some bosses would hire
these men, and in a few days each one
would bring about a dozen men who
would apply, all claiming to be broth
ers of the first who paid the boss a
dollar for his job, and would openly
offer fifty cents for a job and a divvy
from each pay. This old and we'll
qualified boss said: This is why you
see so many foreigners around all
works doing the laboring work, as it is
called" No doubt there is much truth
in this mans statement, many bosses
receiving a consideration from their
employing of labor willing to pay for
their positions and give a certain COM
pensation out of their wages each pay
to hold the place. One can readily see
how easy it is for a boss to almost
double his wages by hiring men and
make them pay tribute for the privil-
eye of having a position.
The industries of Martins Ferry
have made little advancement In the
past few weeks, aside from the Laugh
lin Tin Company, which has eight mills
on. The men are exchanging, giving
those who are not at work a half turn.
By this plan those who are out of work
are given a chance to make a living. 1t
is thought the other mills will soon re-
sumo and in a few weeks the entire mill
will be on in full, including the tin
house. It Is hoped these rumors will
prove trua and that this entire min