The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-29
SAYS WELLS WAS
LIBERAL TO employees
Veteran Street Car Man Relates
How Dissatisfied WoOrkmen Got
More Than They Asked.

The kindly feeling with which Rolia
Wells is regarded by his employees and by
men who were formerly employees OF his
father Is evidenced in many ways as the
campatgn progresses. Striking testimony OF
the esteem in which both the late Erastus
Wells and Rolla Wells are held is evidenced
III the following letter. written oy Mike
Dooley. the veteran conductor on the olive
street road. For thirty-four years DooieS
worked on the same line, under the Weiis
administration, first. then under the MaHitt
administration. finally losing his place Id
the Transit Company strike OF last year.
Concerning Mr.. Wells. he writes as 1oiiows'
"Haying been for years an empioye OF tne
Missouri Railroad Company, OF wnicn the
father of the present Mr.. Wells was presi-
dent. 1 would like to say word regarding
Rolla Wells and his father.
.I received a position from the Missouri
Railroad Company in the year 1866 as con-
drctor. and remained with Erastus Wells
until he sold out in 1881 to Mr.. Maftitt. and
1 can cheerfully say that the Missouri
Railroad was the best company in the city
to its employees.
.At that time Erastus Wells was mem
ber Of the City Council and later went 10
Congress as the workingman's candidate.
He served three terms and 1t Is we'll known
to the older men Of the city that no man
ever did more good for st. Louis than did
Mr.. Wells He was the means Of securing
every appropriation for the Custom-houss
now at Eighth and Olive streets, and this
was no easy task, as he had a Republican
Congress and Senate to contend against.
He was an earnest and determined work.
er and never deceived the people Of St.
Louis. and believe the people of this city
owe it as a duty to elect his son, Eolla
Wells. as Worlds Fair Mayor of the city
of st. Louis.
In 1878 his son, Rolla Wells. became gen.
eral manager of the company and from
that time showed himself kind and liberal
to his employees. In the year 1881 the en-
rloyes formed an organization and con-
cluded to strike for twelve hours work d
day instead of fourteen hours. and to ask
wages Of 81 for conductors and $1.75 for
drivers.
"Erastus Wells was at once looked to to
settle the difficulty and several suggestions
were made to both sides, none of which
were accepted. The difficulty lay in the pub
tic recurring car service during fourteen
hours of the day. Rolla Wells then sug-
gested that the men be paid by the hour.
conductors to receive IS cents and drivers to
receive 15 cents per hour. This suggestion
proved satisfactory to the ren. who thus
received an advance in wages they did not
expect.
'Erastus Wells having arranged this mat
ter with his employees, the other railroads
Of the city did likewise and adopted the
same schedule.
Referring to the kindness of Rolla wells
tc his employees, l know of several instances
when there was sickness or death in the
family of his men, and, upon the case being
laid before Mr.. Wells. he would advance
s15 to 500 to the sufferer, allowing him to
repay it in small sums, so that the man
need not Inconvenience himself.
(Signed) IN. DOOLEY"