The record-union., 1897-08-31
1t is not expected that the convention

Chairman SteinDlSS OF the local Com
mittee of Arrangements called the con-
ference to order at 10 O'Clock About
100 people We're scattered about the
hall, not all of them, however, being
delegates. Mr.. Steinbiss suggested
that as the call of the convention had
been issued hurriedly, and as many of
the delegates were yet unadvised as
to the meeting place and hour, an ad-
journment be taken until IL o'clock
He named a committee to go to the
hotels and inform all delegates that
the convention was about to assemble,
and recess was taken.
Shortly after IL o'clock the conven-
tion was again called to order Mr.
w. b. Prescott, President of the Inter
national Typographical Union of In
dianapolis. was chosen temporary
Chairman, and w. C. Pearce of Column
bus temporary Secretary. Mr.. Prescott
then appointed the following as Com
mitlee on Credentials: Mr. Ratchford;
James O'ConnOr of the Machinists, Chi
cago; Grant Luce of st. Louis Labor
Organization; j. r. Sovereign, and w.
d. Mahon.
Considerable controversy arose over
the naming of a Committee on Resolu-
tions, which, although the convention
was not yet permanently organized,
was moved by one of the delegates
There were amendments to the effect
that the convention adjourn until 1
o'clock and that the hour be made .
O'clock and in the midst of this par
liamentary tangle Delegate Sovereign
shouted:
St. -
this is the time for action I move,
Mr. Chairman, that the motion to ap-
point a Committee ON Resolutions be
amended SO as to read ON Resolutions
and plan of Action"
This brought out a flood of amend
ments and motions, but the whole mat
ter was finally tabled and the meeting
adjourned until p. m, at which hour
the report of the Committee on Creden-
tials was presented.
When asked as to the truth of the
statement reputed to have been made
in Pittsburg by NJ. P. Carrick, Presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Painters
and Decorators, in regard to the mob
ilizatiOn of idle miners at Pittsburg.
President Ratchford of the United
Mine Workers of America said: 'T
know nothing at all about it; have
never heard of such plan being pro-
posed. Tt may have been, however,
without coming to my attention as
have been away from Pittsburg for
some time"
The Committee on Credentials made
it's report Immediately on the as
sembling of the conference for it's af-
ternoon session. Tt was shown that
eighty eight delegates, representing the
following organizations, were present:
United Mine Workers of America, Social
Democracy, the American Federation
of Labor, the Stonemakers' Internation-
al, Brotherhood of Painters and Dec
orators, Brotherhood of Bottleblowers
building Trades Council of St Louis
the Patriots of America the Brother
hood of Track Foremen, the Single Tax
League of America. Central Labor
Council of Cincinnati, the International
Typographical Union, the Peoples Par
ty of Kansas, and the Industrial Order
of Freedmen.
The report, after some discussion, was
adopted. 1t was decided. however, that
delegates be recognized as coming from
the particular organization which they
represent, instead of the general body.
The general report showed also the
presence of one woman delegate, Mrs
Mary Jones of Chicago, who represents
the Social Democracy.
The temporary organization was then
made permanent, and the Chairman
read the call for the convention.
1t was moved and seconded that a
Committee on Resolutions be made up
from one member from each organiza-
ton named, each delegation to choose
their member. This was amended by
Delegate Stephens of Philadelphia to
read land plan of action
Mr.. Mahon of Detroit objected to this
committee as unwieldy, and said he
was perfectly satisfied to leave the mat
ter of resolutions to a committee of five
to be selected by the Chair. He amend
ed the resolution to that effect.
Mr.. Mahons amendment was carried
on a division, as was the amendment
of Mr.. Stephens.
The Chairman then named as the
Committee on Resolutions and Plan
of Action w. G. Pearce of the Miners,
w. D. Mahon of the Street Railway
Men, Victor Berger of Milwaukee, who
represents the Social Democracy, in
whose favor Mr. Debs declined; G.. G.
Clements of Topeka, representing the
Populists, and James r. Sovereign.
Mr. Ratchford then took the floor
He went over the miners strike from
it's inception 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.
Mr.. Sovereign put himself on record
as opposed to Mr.. Ratchford's plan. He
believed this would be the last conven-
ton to be held under present conditions
and that the crucial test now confront
ed organized labor.