The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-20
D. & H. STRIKE


negligent and had violated a company
rule and caused much damage 10 prop
erty. The union officials replied that
the accident was unavoidable and that
no serious damage was done.
Thereby developed the trouble. For
several months the company and
union officials debated the proposition
OF restoring the men 10 work. Then a
week ago. IS per cent OF the employees
voted TO strike II Slade and Lynch
were not restored 20 duty.
At 5:45 o'clock this morning the
trst body OF men walked out From
then on until noon engineers. con
ductors. trainmen. telegraph opera
tors and tower men gradually quit as
the safety OF passengers would permit
At noon IL was estimated that 5000
men were out. and the entire system
was paralyzed. Shopworkers and Of
nee employees only remained on duty.
II was less ;han two hours after the
last striker had left his work that Mr.
Hanger arrived here and began ne
gotiations with the two sides. Accom-
panying him from New York was Mr.
Sims. He agreed Immediately TO an
arbitration OF the differences. and Mr.
Hanger approached the union officials
with this in view
Arbitration Talk Useless.
They were firm in their demands.
however. and told MIR. Hanger that g.
Was useless TO talk arbitration with
them. Then he began a series OF trips
between railway officials and the
men. Three times he met each side
separately and three times from each
sid he received the same reply-the
unions demanding the reinstatement
OF the employees and Mr. Sims holding
out for arbitration. Then he returned
TO confer with union leaders and with
in an hour Hanger decided arbitration
was impossible So he drew up an
agreement granting the demands.
again went 20 Mr.. Sims office. OBJ
tanned mis- signature and the strike
was officially declared OF a few min
utes later.
In a statement issued after the
agreement had been signed Mr.. Sims
said that the company offical-- had
yielded TO the suggestion OF Commits
sioner Hanger that they recede from
their position in the best interests o.
the public. II was the railroad offAls
who originally asked the Federal
board TO intercede
Hanger Responsible.
Il wish IL understood that the set
Element was brought solely by the Ell
forts OF Mr. Hanger" said NJ {.
Carey, vice president of the Order Of
Railway Conductors and the only
grand lodge official who was present
at the conference.
Go 10 IL. old man." was the KEY
telegram which flashed over the wires
from Carey to vari ous union leaders
along the system when the strike was
settled. The last message was filed
just 1G hours after the Grst man
walked out.
Commissioner OF Labor James NJ
Lynch, of the state labor department
did not take part in the negotiations.
although he offered his services. In
attempting to call Mr.. Lynch by tele-
phone early this morning, Mr.. Carey
got in touch with someone who rep
resented himself as the commissioner
and said he could he seen during o.
fee hours That angered Mr.. Carey
until he learned I'm a letter from Mr.
Lynch that 10 was not he nor any
member OF the labor department on
the telephone.
No Violence Reported.
No violence was reported as n re-
suit OF the strike. Union leaders
told the men to leave the company
property quietly and they did 80.
The few meetings OF the union To-
Gals held along the system We're to
have been peaceable.
Many railroad men who left here
early today and then deserted trains
at terminals had the unusual exper-
fence OF paying their fares back
home.
Several days will be required 10
straighten out the mail. express and
freight which has accumulated here
and at other points along the lines.
Mail pouches were sent out OF here
today by automobile and trolley cars
and plans had been made to continue
the service tomorrow.