Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-07-28
Save Engineers Are In
H. Sympathy With the
Strikers.
Concessions For Agree
fnent Is the Hope of
All the Men.

Wheeling, w. V, July 27.-What Is de-
clared to be the most important and
largest gathering of the heads of labor
organizations of America ever held is
now in session in this city. 1t is the
conference of labor leaders called last
week by President Ratchford, of the
United Mine Workers, and approved by
President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor of which the
miners organization is part. The pur-
pose of the meeting is to aid in a speedy
and successful termination of the coal
strike. Sessions of the conference were
held during the day and night, but until
the night session little had been accom-
plished
The following labor leaders were pres
ent: Samuel Gompers, of New York, pres
ident of the American Federation of La
bor; Frank Morrison, Chicago, secretary
of the Federation; M. d. Ratchford, Co
lumbus, president of the United Mine
Workers of Anne RIGA; W. P. Sears, Colum-
bus, secretary of the miners organiza-
ton; p II. Morrisey. Peoria, ILL.,, grand
master of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen; +. d. Mahon, Detroit, presi-
dent of the Street Railway Union; j. r.
Labor; James H. Sullivan, Baltimore,
president of the Information Association
of Decorators and Painters; ]. b. Len
non, of Bloomington, Ill.,, president of the
Custom Tailors' Union; J. V. Mullhol-
land, Toledo, president of the Interna-
tionaly Bicycle Workers; j. P. Johnson,
Nashville, president of the International
Printing Pressmen's Union; Theo Perry,
Nashville, vice-president of the Interna-
aonal Typographical Union; Robert
A-1-l Tx.l~.
the Northern Mineral Workers; William
Mckinney, Lafayette, Ind, president of
the Painters Union; ]. w. Rea, Chicago,
president of the Painters and Decorators
Union; G. w. Perkins, Chicago, president
of the. International Tobacco Workers
Union; Patrick Dolan, Pittsburg, presi-
dent of the Pittsburg district of miners;
VI. M. Garland. Pittsburg, president of
The Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers; c. H. Wilkins,
Chicago, assistant grand chief of the
Order of Railway Conductors. F. p.
Sargent, of Peoria, ILL.,, grand master of
The Brotherhood of Railway Firemen;
Val Fitzpatrick, of Columbus third vice
president of the Brotherhood of Railway
rrainmen; L. L. Lewis, Bridgeport o.,
secretary of the Ohio miners organiza-
tions e. V. Debs, Chicago, former head
Of the American Railway Union; ].
xunnzler, Cleveland,r secretary of the
American Flint Glass Workers Union;
VI. Riley, Wheeling, president, of the
National Stogie Workers League; p. j.
Coughlan, Pittsburg, president of the Ma
tional Gas and Steam Filters Union.
The first session was set for 10 o'clock
on the arrival of Messrs. Ratchford and
Pears from Columbus.
On mo ion of MIR. Sovereign, Samuel
Gompers was chosen to preside, and Sec
rotary Morrison, also of the federation,
wasy made secretary
Chairman Gompsrs then called upon
the miners representatives to detail the
situation. They were also TO suggest in
what manner Qlhe other labor organiza-
tions could give their aid.
President Ra.chford, of the miners, ad-
dressed the conference at sons length,
stating fully the causes that had led tothe
suspension of work in the bbtuminous re-
igions and presented the condition of the
miners who are taking part in the strike.
He did not propose any thing in the way
OF recommendations as to what the or
ganized labor of the country should do
in aid of the strike, preferring that that
important subject be left to the consider
ation of the conference.
An appeal for aid was made in general
way. 90
w C. Pears, Patrick Dolan and L. l..
Lewis also addressed the conference,
speaking in the same strain
In the course of the remarks 1t was
brought out that thu miners had the
hardest fight in the Pi.isburg district.
This was considered equally as important
as the West Virginia district.
AT this point recess was taken for
dinner.
lAt 2:20- o'clock the conference again
took up the strike question. Messrs. Rea
md lbs. who have been in the West
Jirginia district. and Mr.. Sovereign adj
iressed the meeting, tfe latter speaking
" some length.
The conference was held behind closed
doors. AT its conclusion 1t was given out
halt a committee of five had been APP
pointed to devise plan for aiding the