The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-28
APPEAL TO TOILERS
ALL WORKINGMEN ASKED TO ASSIST
THE STRIKING MINERS.
Organizations After an All Day and
Night Conference Mt Wheeling.
WOEFUL PICTURE OF MISERY
THAT is SAID TO BE THE LOT OF
THOSE WHO DIG COAL.
Request Made that Indignation Meet
ings Be Held Everywhere to De-
nOunce Issuance of InjunctiOns.
OPERATORS NOT HARMONIOUS
PITTSBURG CONFORMITY, MEETING
BOLTED By COLONEL REND,
His Plan Not Acceptable to Other
Mine Owners-Progress OF the
strike-Hunger at Brazil.
Request Made that Indignation Meet
ings Be Held Everywhere to De-
nOunce Issuance of InjunctiOns.
OPERATORS NOT HARMONIOUS
CONFORMITY, MEETING
BOLTED By COLONEL REND,
His Plan Not Acceptable to other
Mine Owners-Progress OF the
Strike-Hunger at Brazil.

WHEELING, w. Va, July 27-What is
declared to be the most important and larg-
est gathering of the heads of labor organi-
cations of America ever held is now in ses-
sion In this city. 1t is the conference of
labor leaders called last week by President
M d. Ratchford, of the United Mine Work
ers, and approved by President Gompers.
OF the American Federation of Labor, of
"hlch the miners organization is part
The purpose Of the conference is to aid in
a speedy and successful termination of the
great coal strike. Sessions of the confer
ence were held during the day and tonight,
but until the night session was held little
had been accomplished.
The following labor leaders are present:
Samuel Gompers, of New York, president
of the American Federation of Labor;
Frank Morrison of Chicago, secretary of
the Federation; M. d. Ratchford, of Colum
bus, president of the United Mine Workers
of America; w. c. Pears, of Columbus
secretary of the miners organization; p H
Morrlssey, of Peoria, ILL.,. grand master of
the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen: w.
L. Mahon, of Detroit, president of the
olreet-rallWay Union; James r. Sovereign.
president OF the Knights of Labor; James
h Sullivan, of Baltimore, president of the
international Association of Decorators and
PAINTERS; j. B. Lennon, of Bloomington.
ILL.,, president of the Custom Tailors Union:
j. f. Mulholand, of Toledo, president of
the International Union of Bicycle Work
ers; Jesse Johnson of Nashville Tenn.
president of the International Printing
Pressmen's Union; Theodore Perry of
Nashville. first vice president of the Inter
rational Typographical Union; Robert Es
kew, of Ishpeming, Mich, secretary of the
Northern Mineral Mine Workers: William
Mckinney, of Lafayette, Ind, president of
the Painters Union; J. w. Rea, of Chicago.
president of the Painters and Decorators
Union; G, w. Perkins, of Chicago, president
OF the International Tobacco Workers
Union; Patrick Dolan, of Pittsburg. presi-
dent of the Pittsburg district miners: M. M.
Garland, of Pittsburg, president of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron Steel and
Tin Workers; c. H. Wilkins. of Chicago.
assistant grand chief of the Order of Rail-
way Conductors; f. p. Sargent of Peoria,
ILL.,, grand master of the Brotherhood of
Railway Ffremen; Val Fitzpatrick, of CO.
lumbus, third vice president of the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen; T. l.. Lewis.
or Bridgeport O., secretary of the Ohio
miners organization; E. " Debs, of Chi
cago former head Of the American Railway
Union; j. kunzler of Pittsburg secretary
of the American Flint Glass workers,
Union; w. H. Riley, Of Wheeling. president
OF the National Stogie Workers. League:
NJ. +. Carrick of Pittsburg, secretary of
Afghan, of Pittsburg, secretary and treas
urer of the National Plumbers and Gas
Filters Union.
RATCHFORD EXPLAINS.
The first session of the conference was
held at l o'clock on the arrival of Messrs.
Ratchford and Pears from Columbus. On
motion of Mr.. Sovereign, Samuel Gompers
was chosen to preside and Secretary Morri-
son, also of the Federation, was made Sec
retary Chairman Gompers then called up-
on the miners representatives to detail the
situation. They were also asked to suggest
in what manner the other labor oieanika-
tions could give their aid. President Ratch-
ford, of the miners addressed the confer
ence at some length stating fully the
causes that had led to the suspension of
work in the bituminous regions and pre-
Sented the conditions of the miners who are
taking part in the strike. He did not pro-
pose anything in the way of recommends
uons as TO what the organized labor of the
country should do in aid of the strike, pre-
ferrlng that important subject to be left to
the consideration Of the conference. An ap-
peal for aid was made in a general way.
w. G. Pears, Patrick Dolan and r. l.. Lew
is also addressed the conference speaking
in the same strain In the course of their
believe that the hardest fight should be
made at the works of the Cleveland and
Pittsburg Coal Company lDe Armitt's
considered fully as important a point as
the West Virginia district. At this point a
recess was taken for dinner.
On reassembling at 2.G0 O'clock The con-
ference again took up the strike question
Messrs Mahon Rea and Debs, who have
been at work in the Fairmont district; Mr.
Askew, who is fresh from the Norfolk q
Western territory, and sIr. sovereign ad-
dressed the meeting, the latter speaking at
some lens tn. The conference was held be-
hind clos I'd doors. At its close it was
given out that a committee of five had
been appointed to devise a plan for aiding
the miners which would be reported at the
night session.
kilograms pledging financial aid for the
miners were received from le;tTi iy al &C the
heads of organizations that had been una
BILE to attend on account OF the short no
tice. Mr.. Morrison says that the chief aim
of the conference Will be to effect a sus-
pension of work in West Virginia and at
the De Arrnitt mines. The conference has
not yet come to the point of believing it
necessary to ask the f1remen conductors
and brakemen to refuse to haul West Vir-
ginia coal.
AN APPEAL TO WORKINGMEN.
The report of the committee was made
late tonight and the conference adjourned
Just as the Capitol clock struck the mid
night hour. 1t was decided that President
Gompers should act as a committee of one
In arranging lOI sSAlpdtnellc mass meetings
all over the country Aug. 3. Officers of the
American Federation of Labor were re-
quested 10 communicate with union organ
izations as to what shall be done 20 further
the plan outlined in to-night's appeal Off
GERS of the United Mine Workers are TO
arrange for the systematic work of one
hundred labor organizers in West Virginia,
in which State and in Pennsylvania efforts
TO make the strike general will be made
The railway brotherhoods. except engi-
neers. are in hearty sympathy with the
movement to N make M tie the sJTske eIIectiye The
IA wall of anguish. mingled with desper-
alton arises from the bowels of the earth