The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-03
THE LABOR CONFERENCE
FOURTEEN ORGANIZATIONS REP
RESENTED

tons Appointed Speech Making Con
sumes Balance OF he Day-Ratchford's
Plan for Extra Session Of Congress Not
Approved-Extreme Measures Advocated
St. Louis, August 3O.-The conference
morning, had a busy day. What the
conference has accomplished, IL any
thing, Is in doubt. 1t is not believed
the leaders have ttained any definite
result and, in fact, the president Of one
of the national organizations said to-
night that the failure of the conference
was a %foregone conclusion. Il should
feel very much chagrined," said this
gentleman, IF I had any part in the
converting Of this conference"
The committee on resolutions and
plans of action was at work all the
afternoon and evening, n tonight
Mr.. Sovereign announced that they had
formulated a plan, but declined to give
any details. The platform, it is ex-
pected, will be submitted to the con-
vention tomorrow morning. The four
teen different organizations represent
ed in the convention make an unwieldy
body, and it is evident that all of them
cannot be satisfied with a platform for
muIated by five men representing as
many branches Of organized labor.
Mr.. Ratchford's plan to petition
President Mckinley to owen con-
gress in extra session to enact meas
ures providing for the settlement Of the
= 1~o- I;F3 r,,Jtinc or az he n11fG
it, ito define the rights of citizens, II
any" did not meet with the approval
he had hoped for, and it is not believed
the idea will be Incorporated in the
platform.
Although present in the convention
all day, Mr.. Debs did not speak and
did not put in an appearance at TO-
nights mass meeting, where ne was
widely advertised to make an address.
He is represented on the resolution
committee, however, by Mr.. Berger,
and as he has remained pretty close to
the gentlemen composing that commit
tee, it is safe to say his social dem
ocracy" idea will be represented.
1t is thought adjournment will be
reached some time tomorrow.
The only work accomplished at the
morning session was the naming or a
committee on credentials. This COM
lIllll6t IIIduc llo lCPOIN
upon the assembling of the conference
for it's afternoon session. 1t was shown
that lightweight delegates, represent
ing the following organizations, were
represented: United Mine Workers Of
America; the Social Democracy; the
American Federation of Labor; the
Stone Cutters International Union;
Brotherhood Of Painters and Decorat-
ors; Brotherhood of Bottle Blowers;
pui1diro 1>ro6oc Council Of Ct TO1liC.
the Patriots of America; International
Brotherhood Of Track Foremen; the
Single Tax League of America; Gen.
trail Labor Council of C~incinnati; the
international Typographical Union; the
Peoples Party Of Kansas, and the In
dustrial Order of Freedmen.
The report, after some discussion,
was adopted. 1t was decided, however,
that the delegates to be recognized as
coming from the particular organiza-
tions they represent instead Of the gen.
eral body. The report showed also the
presence Of n woman delegate-Mrs.
Mary Jones, of Chicago, who represent
ed the Social Democracy. After con-
siderable discussion, the following COM
mittee on resolutions and plan of ac-
ton was named: w. c. Pearce, of the
Miners; w. d. MahOn, Of the Street
R~ailwaymen; Victor Berger, of Mil
waukee, who represents the Social
Democracy, in whose favor Mr.. Debs
declined; J. c. Clemens, of Topeka, rep
resenting the Populists, and James r.
Sovereign. i'
Mr.. Ratchford then took the floor.
He went over the miners strike from
it's conception to the present day, and
dwelt particularly Upon government
by injunction He pleaded for prompt
action, and, coming to the point of his
argument, advocated a special session
of congress as the best and, in fact,
the only relief. II believe" said Mr..
Ratchford, " a specil session of con-
gress is necessary to define the rights
of the people of this country-if they
have any. I believe if sufficient time
were given the president of the United
States he will call a special session of
congress to act on the matter of in
functions and find means of relief
from the existing troubles in the labor
world. In case of REFUSAL said Mr..
Ratchford, impressively, after an out
burst of cheering a subsidized, lit will
then be time to consider more extreme
measures. I am in favor, if the presi-
dent refuses to call congress together,
of a complete paralysis of business. I
believe then in a sympathetic strike"
Mr.. Pat O'Neill, of Rich Hill, Mo,
who aid he represented 1900 morgan
lied picks" favored a labor revOlu-
tion. He was a socialist, he said, and
believed in the miners taking things
in their own hands if necessary.
Mr.. Sovereign put himself on record
as opposed to Mr.. Ratchford's plan. He
believed this would be the last conven-
fion to be held under present conditions
n that the crucial test now confront
ed organized labor.
Mr.. Mahon made a fling at Senator
Hanna, saying that the president would
have to gel Hanna's consent to the con-
vening of congress-.
Mr.. James Nj. Carson, of the Illionis
miners. said he believed his men would
be beaten in two weeks.
kilograms of greeting and protests
against government by injunction"
were received from the populist execu-
tive committee of the Sixteenth con-
gressiOnal district of Ohio, the German
Trades Assembly, of Philadelphia, and
the Atlanta Federation of Trades. A
polite request to quit monkeying and
frvvp Co.. -.~~1-