The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-28
The Gathering Held at Wheeling the Largest
Ever Held In America.
CALLED TO CONSIDER MINERS STRIKE.
A Committee Appointed to Devise
Plan TO Aid Assistance
offered by Many Organizations
Mino Operators Hold m Impor,uut
NcestnG ut Pittsbur..
Wheeling. w. Va, July 27, 1897.

What Is declared to be the largest and
most Important gathering of the heads
OF labor organizations of America ever
held Is now In session in this cIlY-It
is a conference of Ia Dor leaders called
last week by President NJ d. Rntch-
ford, OF the United Mine Workers. and
approved by President Gompers Of tho
American Federation of Labor. of which
the miners organization is a part. The
purpose of the conference Is to aid In n
speedy and successful termination of
the great coal strike. Sessions OF the
conference were held during the day.
and tonight. but until the night scs-
sion little had been accomplished.
The first session Of the conference was
held at o'clock OH the arrival Of MessrS
Rat chford and Pears. from Columbus
Gompers was chosen to preside and Sec
retary McsSiSon, also of the Fedora ton,
was made SECRETARY.
Chairman Gompcrs then called upon
the miners representatives 10 detail the
situation. They We're also asked TO SuS-
gest in what manner the other laboring
organizations could give their aid.
p! esldent Ratchford, of the miners ad-
dressed the conference at some length,
sta ating fully the causes that had led TO
the suspension of work In the bltumi-
nous regions and presented the condi-
tions of the miners who are taking part
in ;he strike.
He did not propose anything In the
way OF recommendations as 10 what the
org anized labor OF the country should
do In aid of the strike, prcfcrring that
important subject 10 be left TO the con
sideration Of the conference. An appeal
for aid was made in n general way.
w. c. Pears, Patrick Dolan. and II l..
Lewis also addressed the conference.
spe aking In the same strain.
In the course OF their remarks It was
brought out that the miners believe that
the hardest fight should be made at the
works of the Cleveland and ittsburG
Coal Company (De Armits mincs). In
the Pittsburg district. This was CON
sidered fully as important point as the
West Virginia district. AT this point
n recess was taken for dinner.
Upon re-assembling at 2:S0 o'clock the
conference again took up the strike
question. MesNs. Mahon, Rea and
Dehs who have been at work in the
Fairmont district: Mr.. Askew. who Is
fresh from the Norfolk and Western
territory and Mr.. Sovereign, addressed
the meeting the latter speaking al
some length. The conference was held
behind closed doo!s. At It's conclusion
It was given out that a committee Of
five had been appointed 10 devise plan
for aiding the miners which would he
reported at the night session.
Telegrams picdging financial aid FOR
the miners were received from nearly
al! 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 he 10
effect a suspension of work in-WcSt Nir-
glnia and at the De Armit mines. The
conference has not yet come 10 The point
OF believing II necessary 10 ask The
iircmcn conductors, and brakcmcn Ia
refuse to haul West Virginia coal The
conference rcconvcncd at 8 p. m.