Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-07-24

der are loafeTs looking for some easy
money. The majority of these even
AIRED isgusted with prevailing condi-
tons, and wholesale assertions are
expected at the end of the week. A
Greek laborer who left the companys
service this week, called at strike
headquarters. He said he demanded
his money for work performed, but
that the firm refused to pay him, and
that dissatisfaction lis rife among
those inside, and that after pay day
there wouldn't be sufficient men left
to operate peanut rooster. Asked
as to chicken three times a week, he
replied. Chicken b; the meat
they hand out down there emits an
odor that would paralyze a buzzard. 4"
A rumor gained wide circulation
last Saturday. that the company was
about to sue for peace, and this an
nouncement was met with glad ac-
claim on all sides. On Monday, how
ever, / learned from reliable author
ity that General Manager Williams
stated that the only settlement the
company would make was that it
would be willing to take back some of
its old employees under open shop con-
ditions. This, sounds about as ridicul-
Gus as the fellow underneath saying
to the chap on top, Get OF and I'll
let you up"
Rumors of almost unimpeachable
character are. flying thick and fast
that the Phillips employees In their
Weirton plant are exceedingly FESTIVE,
and that complete shutdown is ex-
pected there at any time. There is
apparently much dissatisfaction there
and all the employees need Is a little
more agitation.
Late Tuesday afternoon the second
disturbance since the deputies we~s
sworn in occurred when the mis-
armed thugs engaged in an encounter
with strikerssls Shooting took place,
but let it be emphaticaIly impressed
that ALL the shots were fired from
guns in the lands of men constituting
portion Of the company's walking
barracks. Not a striker is armed and
they are conducting themselves in
most ommendatble manner. The
good citizens are inQuiring as to what
is delaying the Chamber of Commerce
in passing further resolutions de-
handing that BOTH sides conform to-
the statute prohibiting the carrying OF
concealed weapons. All of the Off
cials of the company as we'll as their
chauffeur, are heavily armed as they
go to and fro from the mill,
said in the above that the COM
pany was licked to FRAGILE, and II
want to lay stress upon that state
ment / do not draw this conclusion
from any interview with the officials
OF the company, nor from an inspec-
ton Of the plant, but from personal
observations and talks with men who
have made tin-maEng life work. One
of the chief reasons upon which base
my. deduction is that since the strike
began. not a carload Of product has
been shipped from the premises,
whereas under normal conditions ship
ments Of IL to Is cars per day is nee
essary in order TO make room for the
daily output. VIII the company make
a denial Of this?s-
of the strike the impression prevails
that the men are not contending for
Increase in wages or reduction In
hours-only recognition Of the union
This in substance Is fact but what
the men are in reality fighting for is
a prevention of an increase in hours |
and decrease in wages. They know
the attendant results in transition
from union to an open shop.
The strikers are standing firm, and |
no better illustration of working class |
solidarity was ever exhibited in the |
annals Of strikes in this region. They |
are fighting for the maintenance of a |
principle, and not until that principle |
riumphs will they haul down their |
colors.