The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1886-08-18
WOrkingmen's Convention.

WOrklngm6nS CONVENTION.
The Workingmen's convention
of Kanawha County, met at Coal
burg, Aug 2. A proposition to
nominate Independent candidates
was defeated by majority of one,
and instead of such action, the
convention decided to suggest can
didates to the other parties.
NJ. J. O'Brien, J. B. Fleming,
and W. II. Toler, of the Demo-
cratic, Republican and Greenback
parties respectively, were chosen
by ballot as men whom working
men could support for the Legis-
lature if nominated.
The following Resolutions were
adopted:
WHEREAS, All our efforts have failed to q
great extent to bring about laws that will
give labor its Just share OF its products, We
now have formed our organizations known
as the Miners Federation and Knights Of
labor, in order to bring about better wages
for the wage-worker in the State of West
Virginia and in the entire United States, as
much as we possibly can by all lawful and
honorable means; and we now pledge our
selves to support laboring men for all
offices, who may have the power to make or
lax hot Uh wi
pledge themselves to do all they can to
bring about a change of certain laws that
now exist which are oppressive to laboring
men generally; and to create such other
laws as will better the now oppressed
lsborers of our land and nation, to wit pass
a law that all coal shall be weighed before
screened, and that the operators OF all pub
lie works in the State of West Virginia shall
pay their employees at the expiration OF
every two weeks in lawful money Of the
United States; also law regulating weights
and measures, adopting the Cincinnati coal
weight, 1000 pounds to the ton and 70
pounds to the bushel; also law exempting
all property under twelve months OF age
from all taxes; also all farm products, rye,
oats, tobacco, all poultry and beeh1ves Tree
from all taxes also HOUSEHOLD goods, such as
household and kitch en- furniture, where the
household and kitchen furniture do not
amount to more than $500; also law
providing for witnesses when summoned
before grand juries by the State, and that
they shall have $3.50 per day and mileage
for each day while in the service OF the
State-the mileage shall be the same as
grand jurors receive for their mileage; and
furthermore, to use an honorable and law
full means to pass an act permitting the
voters of the State of West Virginia to hold
an election Immediately after the adjourn
ment of the Legislature, to take the sense OF
the voters of West Virginia to ascertain
whether the majority Is in favor of the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating IL
uuors or not, and In case the maj ority Is In
favor of Prohibition, any person manu-
featuring or selling intoxicating liquors
contrary to law shall be fined not less than
$4,000 nor more than 100000 for each
offense; we further ask that law be enact
ed, that will prevent convict labor from
coming in competition with free labor. Now
as the injury of one laboring man is the
concern Of all, we ask the cordial support
of all laborers in the State of West Virginia
to help as carry this resolution into effect
as low wages afflicts the farmer as well as
the miner; we should be equally interested
in the elevation of labor and the reduction
OF taxes, therefore we offer our party sup
port to all laboring men, and ask the same
in return from all who earn their bread
by the sweat of their brow" and as all the
political parties have failed to make laws
for the benefit of all, and have made laws
alone for the support of the sonded
dana
that each candidate for office shall pledge
himself to do all he possibly can lawfully
and honorably to carry these laws into
effect; and be it
ResoIved, II any candidate refuses to
pledge himself to stand by these PROPOSE
lions, that we will not support him under
any consideration.