Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-09-02
LABOR CONFERENCE.
The Judiciary Denounced for It's
1njunctions In the Coal Strike.
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE REPORT.
Another Labor Conference TO BE Held In
Chicago September 21-A Special
Session Of Congress Wanted
on the Injuncti0n&

has been in session here two days, fin
ished its work yesterday evening.
The meeting was productive of several
sensational speeches and many resolu-
tions, yet no decisive action was taken
in the principal matter for which the
gathering was summoned-the abolish
ment of government by injunction"
1t was ten o'clock in the forenoon be-
fore the committee on resolutions filed
into the convention hall, and the dele
gates were called to order to hear its
report Mr.. Berger, in presenting the
resolutions, spoke OF the great task
the committee had before 1t. 1t said
the report about to be submitted was
the best the committee could do under
the circumstances. The resolutions,
after a denunciation Of the judiciary
for its njunctions in the coal strike in
the preamble, are as follows:
Resolved, That we hereby set apart FRI
day, the third day Of September, 1871 as a
good Friday" for the cause OF suffering labor
In America and contribute the earnings Of that
day to the support Of our struggling brothers,
the miners, and appeal to every union man and
every friend Of labor throughout the country
10 do likewise
Resolved, That II the strike Of the miners Is
not settled by the Goth day Of September, 1891
and announcement made TO that effect by the
president OF the United Mine Workers, u gem
nrul nm hp hold AT I ihipu n n Mpuunv
September n, 1897. by the representatives OF
all unions sections, branches Lodge, and kin
dred organizations Of aboring mon and friends
Of their cause, for the purpose Of considering
further measures In the interest of the striking
miners and labor In general
Resolved That we consider the use of the
ballot as the best and safest means for the
amelloratlon Of the hardships under which the
laborng class suffers
Resolved That the public ownership Of all
mines and railroads is one of the most neccs-
sary reforms of our body polite
Resolved That we most emphatically pro-
test against government by injunction, which
plays havoc with even such political liberty as
workmen have saved from the steady cncroach-
ment OF capitalism; and be II finally
Resolved, That no nation In which the peO-
pie are totally disarmcd can long remain free
nation, and therefore we urge upon all liberty
loving citizens to remember and obey article
OF the constitution Of the United States. which
reads as follows ''1he right Of the people TO
keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
As soon as the platform was before
the convention a dozen delegates were
on their feet clamoring for recogni-
ton.
Mr.. Osborne introduced an amend
ment to the platform TO the effect that,
as the country should take care of its
unemployed, the striking miners and
other laborers of the country apply to
the authorities of their respective
counties for admission to the poor
house, but there was no particular at
tention paid to the motion.
After much talk without anything
particular being accomplished the con-
vention took recess until two o'clock
In the afternoon.
The delegates were eager for work,
and the afternoon session set in motion
promptly at two o'clock. After con-
siderable talk, in which Mr.. Williams,
st. Louis delegate, endeavored to
have the coming convention held in
81. Louis, and three or four attempts
to change The date Of the conference,
1t was decided that the matter should
remain as introduced in the platform,
and the labor congress will be held in
Chicago, on Monday, September ~
Mr.. Clemens, Of Kansas, moved that
the last two resolutions in the plat
form be considered simultaneously.
lie favored their adoption. Mr.. Web
ster of st. Louis, wanted to know If
these milk and water resolutions dis
posed of the pertinent matter of gov
eminent by injunction"
The convention broke into wild
cheering, which developed into a spon-
taneous call for Eugene V. Debs, who
had not uttered II word since the con-
vention opened, but who had not
missed minute of its proceedings.
When the cheering ceased Mr.. Debs
began speech which was interrupted
ut the end of nearly every sentence by
cheering and hand-clapping,
Then there were more amendments
and substitutes none of which was
adopted, and after an hour or two of
talk the last two planks were agreed
to, as submitted by the committee,
49, .la platform us u whole was de-
cared adopted.
Mr., Mahon offered resolution call
Ing upon the miners now at work in
Missouri, Iowa. Kansas, Kentucky and
other fields toquit work; and denounc-
ing them as enemies Of human liberty
so long AS they continued their present
course.
Notwithstanding the convention
early in the morning had declined to
act on President Ratchford's resolution
requesting President Mckinley to con.
vene congress for the purpose of dehn-
ing the authority of judges in the mat
ter OF njunctions, resolution to that
effect, but authorizing the chairman
of the convention to ask Mr.. Mckinley
to act in that direction, introduced by
W. d. Ryan, the Illinois organizer,
went through with whoop and short