The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-06
Representative Audience.

The meeting was held in the Bell
aire Commercial club rooms and was
attended by representatives OF the
commercial bodies from Wheeling.
GAINESVILLE. Flushing. SteubenvilIe.
st. Clairsville. Martins Ferry, Mounds
Vile. Shzdvside and Bellaire. and at
least one hundred delegates represen-
ting the various organizations were
present.
Several days ago Secretary Martin,
OF the Bellaire Commercial club sent
a letter to Congressman Francis ask
ing him to use his influence to enlist
the aid OF Secretary Wilson 20 me
diate the coal miners strike in East
ern Ohio. Congressman Francis re-
piled that Secretary Wilson stated
that IL was not the custom OF the "a
hor department TO interfere in such
affairs except when requested to do
so by the employers, employees or out
side people. directly or indirectly in
terested. Mr.. Francis suggested that
the boards OF trade of Eastern Ohio
and the Wheeling district, hold a
Joint meeting and adopt a resolution
requesting the assistance OF Secretary
Wilson
Acting on that suggestion the meet.
ing was held and proved very inter
estinR. as Il demonstrated the senti-
ment OF the business people OF the
Ohio Valley regarding the prolonged
strike and the Inanimity In their te-
sire for settlement OF the vexed
controversy
Appointment Not Known.
]. NJ. Dubois. president of the Bell
sire Commercial club called the meet
ing to order. and stated the purpose
for the call. At this point some one
asked 10 Secretary Wilson had not al
ready acted and selected a commits
sion 70 investigate the strike No one
had been informed Of the fact. but il
was Inferred that evening papers car
ried a story to that effect. As no Of
fetal confirmation had been received
that the commission was appointed,
IL was deemed best TO proceed with
the adoption Of the resolution.
Al this juncture Mr.. John II. Gov
stated that while he had no official
information tina: sucn was the case.
he believed that IL was a good thing
that Secretary Wilson had acted 50
promptly. and since that had been
disposed OF. he suggested that the
meeting give some attention TO an
other vital question After delivering
Vulnerable Labor disputes. Mr.. Cow
made a motion that a committee be
selected to draft resolution askir <
the Ohio legislature to enact a com.
pulsory arbitration law. He said such
law would no. effect the present
strike. but would be beneficial in thu
future in reducing strikes 10 a mint
mum. Attorney Fred Spriggs %
posed the motion. stating that such
law would cucumber the statutes
already padded with useless laws. and
with such Law Il would be further
padded with an attempt TO coerce pri.
vate business Others took part in
the discussion and when the question
was called for the motion was dc.
feated
Vote Of Thanks.
Postmaster Flynn did not see arv
necessity in asking Secretary VII
sons assistance. now thai he had ap-
pointed the commission On his
opinion al that was necessary was
vote % thanks aud he made n mo.
lion that the action ~ the secretary
be approved. The motion lost
Then the meeting took MP the bus
ness for which 90 was called A g.
Mitchell. % Martins Ferry. submitted
the resolution above. asking the aid
81 Secretary Wilson. and moved -
adoption. George sheets % Bridge
port. submitted On amendment 70 tho
resolution introduced by Mr. Mitchell
asking that a committee Of Eve b.
selected 20 bring the operators and
miners together IN an effort TO aettis
the controversy The amendment was
defeated. and Nhen the original resO-
lution was called Tor. 10 vas adopted
unanimously.
on motion the following COMMITTEES
vas appointed m assist the connie
sion m nediating the strike ..eorRs
J Mafhinson. Wheeling a " MI
chell. Martins Very V g. Refy
Flushing 3 e. Shaw. WoundsvIlle.
~ W. Case sfsuberviIe. y Bruce
Dawson. Shadyude p VI Young. 81
Clsirsville, and p " Martin. Berairs