Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-22
FOR THE
INAUGURATION MEN
WAS EXPRESSED IN THE BELMONT
CENTRAL TRADES AND LABOR
UNION YESTERDAY.
STRONG SPEECHES
Were Made In Dcanition and Defense
of the stand Taken by the Iron,
steel and TIN Workers OrEsntsn-
tion-Preparntfonsf fer the Annual
Picnic = The Routine business
Transacted.

Transacted.
The Belmont Central Trades and
Labor Union met in Bridgeport yester-
day. The meeting was well attended.
All the delegates showed commendable
interest. The session was Important,
owing to the strike, and there was IN
terest as to how the body would aet
! in the matter.
President Edward Parsons, who has
been away, was in the chair, and in
| the absence of Vice President Crow, Mr..
J. r. williams was made vice presl-
| dent. The body took action on their
| picnic, and endorsed all the actions
| taken by the committee, and further
endorsed the plans made for the flu
ture regarding the picnic. One member
raised question as to whether 1t would
| pay to have the picnic on account Of
the strike but every member voted for
their Labor Day picnic. and those VINO
spoke expressed the opinion that the
strike should not affect the picnic.
| The body endorsed the grocers' clos
! ing hours on the four days of the week.
including all the grocers OF Martins
Ferry. Bridgeport and Bellaire. no have
| agreed to close at p. m. except on Fri
days and Saturdays.
| The non-union barger at Bellaire.
who has been causing some trouble,
was reported to have left the city.
That old blacksmith trouble in Mar
tins Ferry was brought up and dis
cussed at length, but was referred to
the arbitration committee.
Members introduced a resolution en-
dorsing the present strike, and promis-
ing the Amalgamated Association their
support and sympathy. The committee
who prepared the resolution was COM
posed of T. J. Davis. George B. Barr and
&c. Rodewig.
After the report of committees and
the minor business. the president called
for the welfare of the union. Mr.. T. J
Davis. of Martins Ferry, one of the
leading tin workers of the valley, made
one of the most eloquent speeches In
behalf of the strikers that was ever
heard in the history of the union. Mr.
Davis, who was fully informed on the
issues of the strike, took up all the
grievances against the trust, and made
telling report when he stated that al
McKeesport the trust told the men II
they wanted bread not to join the
union, and in the face of this the trust
president, Mr.. Schwab, talked OF indi-
viduality and that unions took that
| away from the workmen. Mr.. Davis
on this point of individual freedom, sar-
castically made reply to what he called
the men who, by their money, wished
! to make slaves of all their workmen.
| He touched all the different points OF
| the strike, and fully showed the honest
stand of the union. At the conclusion
of his remarks, Mr.. Davis was heartily
cheered.
President Parsons spoke on the
strike, and especially on the point that
the Association did not ask the men
to become Union men. but would de-
mand that all men receive the wages
of the Amalgamated Association. and
that If these men are averse to joining
the union, the organization did not
| force them to join. Mr.. Parsons went
into detail, explaining the situation,
| and was cheered as he closed.
Mr.. Davis, just before the union
| closed, moved that the next meeting
| be al open one, allowing the public TO
be present All the union delegates
! present were unanimous in their sup
port of the Amalgamated strike, and all
expressed their sympathy and promised
their support.
The meeting adjourned to meet the
first Sunday in August. 1t is thought
that an open meeting will bring out
large attendance.