Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-18
BELMONT CENTRAL BODY
VERY INTERESTING SESSION
YESTERDAY.
TALKS ABOUT THE TRUSTS
By Thos. L. Lewis and Others-A Plea
for the Organization of the Com
mon LabOrer, and for the Removal
of Social Distinctions From the
Laboring CIasses-Little Business
Transacted.


The Belmont Central Trades and
Labor Union held their regular meet
ing yesterday afternoon at Bridge
port The meeting was marked by, it's
large attendance of delegates, which
is probably the largest this year. Lit
tie important business was transacted.
and the session was very short, most
of the time being used under the head
of the welfare of the unions, several
delegates voicing their opinions, which
proved very interesting. The union
opened with President Parsons and
Vice President Grow in their respective
places and only regular routine bust
ness was transacted.
fhe auditing committee being con-
tinued with Mr.. Louis Summers being
added to the committee, reported, and
was continued, and as to finance for
the affair, it was referred to the diff
ferent locals and the committee was
given power to secure the speakers
for the three meetings which are to be
held on different Sundays in Martins
Ferry, Bellaire and Bridgeport. The
other committees had nothing more to
report Under the welfare of the
union Thomas L. Lewis made an elo-
quent talk for organized labor and
cited the United Mine Workers union
as an example and that in this year
the union would have 250000 members
and that he believed that in the near
future they would again be able to
secure the eighty cent scale. Mr..
Lewis is firm believer in organizing
the common laborer and lettering
their conditions. He stated that where
the skilled workmen's wages advanced
so should the unskilled workman, and
vice versa. Mr.. Lewis explained the
great railroad combinations and the
position the unions were in who were
under them, also that some union men
| thought the government would take
action in this matter, but it is we'll
not to be deluded, as the corporations
and combines were looking after the
| legislative end as well as the finan-
cial part. Secretary Norris endorsed
| Mr.. Lewis views and spoke of the re-
cent billion dollar trust formed which
| people two years ago would not have
believed that such could have taken
place, but now it was before their
| bill introduced in Congress to place
| all goods manufactured by the trusts
on the free list, but did not think this
would stop the trusts, as they now
were so large that they did not care.
| President Parson made an effective
appeal fer more work in the unions.
/ and said that many union men who had
| good paying positions would hardly
| recognize the common laborer and
| that many were selfish and proud, and
| that he hoped soon to see the common
| lalborer organized and all unions under
| one head with a committee from the
different unions at the head. He also
| endorsed arbitration, and that unions
must be more alert in the future, or
they would find themselves growing
weaker. Several others gave their
! opinions. and all endorsed the idea OF
| all laboring people to be organized
and be under one head. The meeting
| adjourned after being in session about
one hour, one of the shortest Tor some
! time. The next meeting will be held
| March 3rd.
| Tna sale of FIousehoId and Kitchen