Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-07-18

OF Labor was one Of the most import
ant labor gatherings ever held Ia thls
country" said Patrick McBryde, Seere-
tsry-Treasurer. Of the United Mine
Workers. to-day. Mr.. McBryde repre-
sented the national miners Ia the con-
ference, and in speaking Of the gather
ing gave an interesting side-llgnt on
the proceedings. Said Mr.. McBryde;
"a convention Of local unions had de-
clared In favor Of a general strike ana
demanded the presence OF Mr.. GomperS
in Chicago. Mr.. GOmperS recognized
the gravity Of the situation ana sent
telegrams 90 all the national and inter
national trades unions aud 10 diuerent
railroad brotherhoods OF hremen ana
trainmen. President Arthur, OF the
engineers, wrote he was unable TO De
present.
LAS the conference was about TO con-
Vene, a delegation from local unions that
had already left work, informed the
delegates that il they did not agree TO
call a national suspension the strike was
lost, and that the conference would be
held responsible for the defeat Ihe
delegation was quietly but nrm!y IN
formed that the conference would take
action as 10 believed 10 be in the interest
OF tbs workingmen Of the country.
After the delegates had listened 10
statement made by Mr.. De0s, and In
vestigaled for themselves into the
trouble at Chicago, peculiar state
OF affairs presented itself There was
Mr. Debs and the A. X. L.. on the one
SIDE, and Mr.. Pullman, the railroads
and the different orotherhOOds on the
other. The representatives Of the hre-
uen and trainmen, while opposed TO the
strike or rather the boycott had had
nothing but words OF praise for Mr..
Debs: for his associates they had Moth
ing but words OF condemnation; indeed
10 has seldom been my lot 70 hear men
get such scoring as Mr.. Howard and
other members Of the 4. K. L. board,
except IL be the language used against
p NJ. Arthur, OF the engineers by the
trades union delegates az ths conference.
"It seems that the organizers OF the
"A. r. L. had been so indiscreet as TO
confess thar they intended 10 break up
The older organizations and bOasted that
VI only required victory OF the present
battle in order TO be successful II can
be readily seen, therefore, that the boy
colt at Chicago was not only a nght
against capital but life aud death
struggle between the different railroad
organizations. The older orders being
on the side Of the corporations, 1t Is out
fair 10 state that some Of the brother
hoods. like the Trainmen, although op-
posed 10 the strike, allowed the men,
bers 70 act for themselves, and over l5.-
600 Of them Joined hands with the A. K.
L.
.'You must declare for a national sus-
pension" said the trade uniOniStS OF
Chicago.
You have no right te take sides
with one organization against another" "
said the brOthernOOds.
"Haye little common sense and keep
the men you represent out Of this mud
die" whispered conscience.
"And so the delegates talked, dis
cussed and talked all around the sub
ject, each afraid to spring 4 resolution
lest it might be premature. In this
condition Mr.. Debs found the confer
ence, be realized the difficult task he
had 20 perform, the men be was 10 sd-
dress were not amateurs 10 the methods
of labor organizations. A number OF
them bad more experience than him
self. The man seemed an icicle, but
the voice held his hearers Spellbound as
he recited the suffering Of the wOrkmen
az Pullman, the high-handed policy of
the Board Of Managers, and the deter
minatiOn Of the men 10 fight TO the end
The delegates seemed maguetized.
What do You want Us 20 do?' exclaimed
one. To a tone OF deep sorrow be ex-
claimed: Nothing A long pause, and
tnru Mr. De0s SAID: i ask nothing OF
YOU, gentlemen, but if l we're 10 your
place I will tell you what | would do
Then Mr.. Debs spoke In favor OF gen.
eral strike.
"a sharp exchange OF words between
Secretary Mcclure, OF the carpenters,
aud Mr.. DebS followed, Mr.. Debs hay-
ing the best OF 10, but the discussion
broke the spell, the delegates were once
more business men, aud Mr.. Debs soon
realized it, for be changed his tactics at
once.
II have a telegram from Washing
ton" be said. The President is going
$50 appoint an Arbitration Committee,
20 7 nave prepared the following docU-
ment, which, with the consent OF this
conference, 1 would wish President
Gompers 10 present 10 the Board OF
General Managers" He then proceeded
90 read the document presented by
Mayor Hopkins, calling of the strike
, uDOn condition that the old men would
be reinsJated. He left the document,
and the conference promised TO send
hin an answer.
"a Little reflection on behalf OF the
delegates aud they realized that II Mr..
Gompers was the bearer Of the message
and the managers refused TO accept il,
the A. F. Of l. would be placed in an
em oarrassing position. Il was resolved
20 tell Mr.. Debs that he could name any
three gentlemen Ia the convention, who
would, with an equal nun Der Of citizens
and Mr.. Debs, call upon the Board of
Managers, but Mr.. GOmpers must NOT 90
alone. Hour after hour the copferanca
waited Tor Mr.. Debs' reply, bur mona
came until the afternoon papers an
nouuced the fact that Mayor HookIns
had presented the document and that
President Deos had dumped the confer
ence.
The delegates looked Sheeplsh when
they realized how narrowly they bad
escaped being trapped into bringing all
the horrors Of general strike upon the
country. After q hearty laugh they