The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-28

Wheeling, w. Va, July 27.-What is
declared 10 be the most important and
largest gathering of the heads of labor
organizations of America ever held. is
now in session in this city.
It is the conference of labor leaders
called last week by President NJ. D.
Ratchford, of the United Mine Work
ers, and approved by President Com
pers of the American Federation of
Labor, of which the miners organiza-
ton is part. The purpose of the con-
ference is to aid in a speedy and sue
cessful termination Of the great coal
strike. Sessions of the conference were
held during the day and tonight, but
until the night session was held, little
had been accomplished.
THOSE PRESENT.
The following labor leaders are pas
ent: -
Samuel Gompers of New York, presi-
dent of the American Federation of La
Dor; Frank Morrison of Chicago, secre-
tary of the Federation: NJ. D. Ratch-
ford of Columbus, president of the
United Mine Workers of America: W.
c. Pears of Columbus, secretary of the
miners organization; P. H. Morrissey
of Peoria, Ills, grand master of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen; w.
D. Mahon of Detroit, president of the
Street Railway Union; James r. Sover-
eign, president of the Knights of La
Dor; James H. Sullivan of Baltimore.
president of the International Associa-
ton of Decorators and Painters: J. B.
London of Bloomington Ills, president
of the Custom TailorS union: J. F.
u,holla-ld Of Toledo, O., president of
the International Union of Bicycle
Workers; Jesse Johnson of Nashville
Tenn, president Of the International
Printing Pr sSmen's union: Theodore
Perry of Nashville, president of the In
ternational Typographical union; Rob-
ert Askew of Ishpeming. Mich. secre-
tary Of the Northern Mineral Mine
Workers; William Mckinney of Lafay-
cite, Ind. president of the Painters
union; ]. w. Rea of Chicago, presida
of the Painters and Decorator union;
@. W. Perkins of Chicago, president Of
the Interna tiOnal Tobacco Workers
union; Patrick DOlan of Pittsburg,
president of the Pittsburg district min
ers; NJ. NJ. Garland of Pittsburg, presi-
dent of the Amalgamated Association
of Steel, Iron and Tin Workers; c. H.
wilkins of Chicago, assistant grand
chief of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors; T. P. Sargent of Peoria. His,
grand master of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen; Val Fitzpatrick
of Columbus, third vice president of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen: T.
L. Lewis of Bridgeport o., secretary of
the Ohio miners organization; E. V.
De'bs Of Chicago, former head of the
American Railway union; J. Kunzel of
Pittsburg, secretary Of the American
Flint Glass Workers union: w. H.
Riley of Wheeling, secretary of the Ma
tional Stogie Workers league; NJ P.
Carrick of Pittsourg, Pa, secretary of
the Painters organization; P. J. Coma
CHAN of Pittsburg, treasurer CT the Ma
tiopal Plumbers and Gas Filters union.
GOMPERS PRESIDES.
The first session of the conference was
held at ! o'clock on the arrival of
Messrs. Ratchford and Pears from CO.
lumbus. On motion of Mr.. Sovereign,
Samuel Gompers was chosen to preside
and Secretary Morrison. also of the
Federation. was made secretary.
Chairman Gompers then called upon
the miners representatives TO detail
the situation. They were also asked
to suggest in what manner the other
labor organizations could give their
aid.
President Ratchford of the miners
union addressed the conference at
some length, stating fully the causes
that had led TO the suspension of work
in the bituminous regions. and present
ed the conditions of the miners who
are taking part in the strike. He did
not propose anything in the way of
recommendation as to what the or
ganized labor CT the country should do
in aid Of the strike, preferring that inn
portant subject be left to the consid-
Grafton Of the conference. An appeal
for aid was made in a general way.
W. 9. Pears, Patrick Dolan and T.
Lewis also addressed the conference,
speaking in the same strain.
IN THE AFTERNOON.
Upon reassemblng at 2:3O the con-
ference again took up the strike ques-
ton. Messrs. MahOn. Rea and Dsbs.
who have been at work in the Fair
mont district: Mr. Askew. who is fresh
from the Norfolk & Western territory,
and Mr.. Sovereign addressed the meet
ing, the latter speaking at sumo length.
The conference was held behind closed
doors. At its close it was given out
that a committee of five had been ap-
pointed to dsvise q plan for aiding the
miners, which would be reported at the
night session.
kilograms pledging financial aid for
the miners were received from nearly
all the heads OF organizations that had
been unable to attend on account Of
the short notice.
Mr. Morrison says that the chief aim
OF the conference will be to effect
suspension Of work in West Virginia
and at the De Armitt mines. The con-
ference has not come 10 the point TO
ask the conductors, engineers and
brakemen 10 refuse to haul West Vir
ginia coal. The conference reconvenes
at 8 p. m.
MIDNIGHT SESSION.
The night session of the conference was
still in session at midnight. The report
Of the special committee 10 devise ways
and means to aid the miners made its re-
port. The report is an appeal to the coun-
try to assist the miners.
At Midnight nothing additional could
be learned Of the further business that
was transacted at the conference, and it |
was thought that the conference would
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