The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-27

Ta-dRy,s labor Conference.
The meeting OF national labor officials
to be held here to-day to discuss the sit
uation Of the coal strike, and to consider
methods to bring It to a successful ter
mlnatlon, Will be OF the very greatest
Importance and on the result OF Its de-
llberatlons may depend the outcome of
the struggle in which there is so much
involved, not only to the'cause of the coal
miners, but to other industrial classes
and the industries on which they are
dependent.
OF course, the outcome of the confer
ence cannot now be predicted. CnlncI-
dent with 1t meeting of operators in
connection with the uniformity plan will
be held in Pittsburgh. and while the two
conferences haze no direct connection
with each other, the action taken by both
will be OF supreme Importance. The
Wheeling conference will attract the
most attention because of the general
impression prevailing thar the effort will
be made to enlist the sympathies of rail-
road men in the effort to close all West
Virginia mines. and to induce them to
refuse to handle the coal from the West
Virginia districts.
The wisdom of such course IS doubted
by many who sympathize with the cause
of the striking miners, for sympathy
strikes OF this nature very rarely prove
successful. and too often lead to trouble.
For this reason the effort on this line
will eaues some apprehension. notwlth-
standing the fact that the labor
leaders everywhere are counselIng
peace. and the gentlemen who will meet
here to-day haNe no intention OF doing
anything more than to bring about
settlement on legitimate lines.
SO far the leaders OF the mine strike
have failed to convince a majority
of the West Virginia miners that
they would be benefited by quitting
work at this time merely through sym
patty with the miners of other regions
who work under different conditions.
Opinions differ also as to whether nr not
the railroad men will consent to Join the
sympathy strike. This remains TO be
seen.
From the expression OF the United
Mine Workers officers, and others who
are Interested in to-day's conference, 1t
ia probable that the meeting win be a
dellberative one, which will map out a
programme for final effort In West Vlr-
ginIa. While the fntelllgencer Is OPP
posed to sympathy strikes on principle,
and has always believed that the mine
workers will have to show those whom
they ask to Join In such movement
that It will accomplish the purpose, and
at the same time benefit the sympa-
thlzers in the future. It trusts that the
outcome of the present gathering may be
the framing OF such line Of campaign
In behalf OF the suffering miners who are
ON strike as will insure a speedy and
peaceful settlement that will secure Them
the better conditions for which they
are struggling.
There are other things beside the mere
low rate OF wages that are bur-
dening the miners and we are sure that
the leaders OF the movement are fully
alive to the fact that the settlement OF
the wage question Is not all that Is TO BE-
accomplished. The efforts now being
made by the nrbtrators OF the various
states Is in the direction Of correcting all
the existing evils, and II would DO n
pleading outcome to the Wheeling meet
ing could It arrange some proposition
that would bring about conference OF
the miners and operators in the districts
affected by the strike. looking to a gem
eral plan Of arbitration which would re-
suit In the wlpIng out OF all grievances.
We admit that the situation Is not
bright Just now for such conference.
and yet the conditions are such that II Is
not without the bounds " possibility