The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-10
MINERS ENCOURAGED.
Continued from First Page.)

devise means to assist the miners in their
contest for increased wages. The con-
ference was called suddenly, but the Off
Gals responding represented nearly every
branch of organized labor in the United
States. Those present were Samuel Com
pers. President of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor; NJ. ID. Ratchford, Ma
tional President of the United Mine
Workers of America; NJ. NJ. Garland,
President of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Iron and Steel Workers: Stephen
Madden. Secretary of the Amalgamated
Association; j. NJ. Hughes, First Vice
President of the Federation of Metal
Trades; NJ. j. Counahan, National Sec
rotary of the Journeymen Plumbers AS
ISOLATION; NJ. Z. Carrick, President of the
Brotherhood of Painters and Decora-
| tors; -. II. Thomas, President of the
| National Pattern Makers League; w.
b. Mahon, President of the Amalgamat-
ed Association of Street Railway EN-
Iployes; Patrick Dolan, District President
of the United Mine Workers of America,
and w. NJ. Warner District Secretary
of the United Mine Workers.
| The session was secret and it was al
most midnight before it was over. The
Press Committee, Messrs. Gompers,
Ratchford and Counahan, then gave out
the following statement in which was in
corporated, they said, all that was done
at the conference. The manifest fol-
| lows:
After an informal discussion reports
were made by Messrs. Ratchford, Dolan
and Warner in regard to the situation of
| the movement and it was demonstrated
| that the suspension was practically gen.
eral in the competitive bituminous coal
district, extending also to Kentucky and
Tennessee, excepting few points in
West Virginia. 1t was realized that the
situation in West Virginia required at
| tention in order that the suspension
should become absolutely general and
success assured With that object in
view action was recommended by Presi-
den Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor and it was determined upon
to overcome this feature of the contest.
| 1t was also determined that every effort
be made ON the part of those present to
| secure the cooperation and practical
aid of organized labor for the struggling
miners. All the circumstances war
ranted the firm conviction that the miners
will ultimately achieve victory and to
this end the aid of labor and the sympa-
thetic public is invoked. Conscious of
the great interest which the public has
in contest so widespread as that Of
the miners, it gives us great satisfaction
to know that the miners have not been
and are not now opposed to arbitration.
We therefore urge and advise that a con-
ference be held by the representatives
of the miners and the operators with a
view of arriving at settlement Of the
present suspension"
| Notwithstanding the positive announce
ment by the committee that the state
ment furnished the press covered all the
proceedings of the conference, it is known
that an organized effort to secure a gen.
eral suspension of mining in West Vir-
ginia was decided upon. After thorough
canvass of the situation it was unani-
mously agreed that the West Virginia
miners held the key to the situation and
without their united support the success
of the general movement would be great
| ly jeopardiZed.