Richmond planet., 1897-07-31
THE LABOR LEADERS,

In Session at WheelinC-Men and OPP
orators Waiting the Result
Wheeling. W. Va. July 2S.-What is
declared 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. II IS the
conference Of labor leaders call4d last
week by President NJ. d. Ratchford,
of the United Mine Workers, and ap=
proved by Samuel Gompers, OF the
American Federation of Labor. of
which the miners organization is a
part. The purpose OF the conference
is to aid in a speedy and successful
termination OF the great coal strike.
Sessions OF the conferences were held
during yesterday and last night.
Samuel Gompers was chosen to pre-
side. and Secretary Morrison. also OF
the Federation. was made secretary.
Chairman Gompers called upon the
miners representatives 10 detail the
situation. They were also asked to
suggest In what manner the other la
boring organizations could give their
aid. President Ratchford. OF the min
srs. addressed the conference at some
length. stating fully the causes that
had led to the suspension OF work In
the bituminous regions. and presented
the conditions OF the miners who are
taking part in the strike. He did not
propose anything in the way OF rec
concentrations as to what the organized
labor OF the country should do in aid
Of the strike. preferring that important
subject TO be left to the consideration
OF the conference. An appeal for aid
was made in q general way. In the
course OF the remarks Il was brought
out that the miners believe that the
| hardest fight should be made at the
works OF the Cleveland and Pittsburg
| Coal company (DeArmitt's mine) In
| the Pittsburg district This was con-
| sidered fully as important a point as
the West Virginia district
kilograms piedging financial aid for
| the miners were received from nearly al
the heads OF organizations that had not
been able to attend on account OF the
short notice. Mr.. Morrison says that
the chief aim of the conference will be
to affect a suspension of work IN West
Virginia and at the DeArmitt mines
The conference has not yet come tC
the point OF believing 1t necessary tc
ask the firemen conductors and brake.
men to refuse to haul West Virginis
coal.
The conference adjourned at mid
night. 1t was decided that Presiden
| Gompers should act as a committee o
one in arranging for sympathetic mas
meetings all over the country on Aug
5. Of1cers of the American Federation
OF Labor were requested to communi
cate with union organizations as L
J what shall be done to further the plal
outlined In last nights appeal. 6hicer
Of the United Workers are to arrang
! the systematic work OF 100 labor or
= | ganizations in West Virginia, in whic
state and in Pennsylvania renewe
, | efforts to make the strike general wi
| be made.
Men and operators in the Fairmon
region await a report OF tho Wheelin
conference with anxiety. No new de
b velopments are reported in the region
+ Miners Out at the Governors Min.
Altoona, Pa. July zS.--Five hundre
or more miners at Hastings have goI
out on strike because the operators
the Mitchell and Sterling mines r,
= fused to accept resolutions adopted /
the miners at their meeting held {
Saturday night. The Mitchell min
do not pay the district price. IT
., Sterling raine pays the district pric
but Superintendent Nicholson is o
: noxious to the men because he has be-
- deducting from thei- wages the pri
y OF one car out of every ive. The M
at Nicholson's mine are preparing
go to headquarters with their grie
~ ances. Believing that Superintende
IA Nicholson is operating the mines
the Sterling Coal company, OF Will
Governor Hastings is president, tn
have decided that they will place tn
N grievances before the governor, wi
N the hope that no will take steps
have the matter remsdied