The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-24

FAIRMoNT, W. Va. July 23-M. D.
Ratchford, president of the United
Mine Workers of America, teIegraphed
the following letter to Samuel Gompers,
president Of the American Federation
ofLabor tonight at Washington, d, c.:
ION the fair soil OF West Virginia
peaceable assemblage has been forbid
den and free speech suppressed. a crl-
sis is upon us which must be met II We
would escape total slavery. The great
mining strike now extends over five
states. 10000 miners and their families
and almost million souls are involved
Public sentiment is overwhelmingly
with us, only the hollow, heartless sem
timent of corporate capital, echoed by
IT'S vulgar parrot, the subsidized press,
is opposed to us. The acute stage has
been reached. This Is no longer n
strike for justice, but struggle against
starvation. Every atom OF nobility II
human nature impels us to rise to the
emergency and by performing our duty
as becomes men rescue the miners OF
the country from the cruel grasp OF
bondage and their wives and children
from the tortures OF famine.
west Virginia Is the field of action
and here our forces must be conyerged.
The miners here are eager, anxious to
IoIn in the movement for their emancl-
patton, but are restrained by the fear
Of discharge and eviction. They are ns
much the property OF their masters as
were the black slaves before the guns OF
Sumter thundered the doom OF chattel
slavery.
Here upon the soil made sacred by
Thomas jefferson and Patrick Henry,
the slavery OF labor has become univer-
sal. The patriotic cry OF the impas-
stoned Henry, give me liberty or give
me DEATH Ia once more In order. The
united hosts OF organized labor must
come to the rescue. The millions Of
sturdy craftsmen of our country must
be aroused.
To Meet I'm Wheeling.
"a therefore call upon you in behalf Of
the struggling miners to convene all the
chief executive officers of all national
labor organizations at Wheeling, W.
Va, on Tuesday. July q, for the pur-
pose OF meeting this crisis and achieving
victory for the cause OF labor. No duty
which any labor official may have Mt
this time Is to be compared in impor-
tance to this great demand, and 1t IL
therefore hoped and expected that each
and att OF them will attend in person.
This Is not the time TO consider differ
Cncs between organizations, II differ
enCes there be, and no man who has our
cause at heart will raise that question.
The call to duty is to all organized la
Dor, and the chief executive OF each or
ganization is expected to give the con-
ference the benefit OF his personal pres
ence. II this battle Is won, organized
labor In every department will be i'm
mcasurably strengthened, but II lost,
the cause will be set back at least ten
years.
Never have the American people 50
unanimously supported n labor strike.
Eighty per cent are with us and will
support our cause to the end. This IL
the supreme opportunity to strike the
blow for Industrial liberty. and II ig-
nored, the doom OF labor is sealed nnf
we, It's trusted leaders. must bear the
odum Of our cowardly inactlon. The
very presence Of the combined leader
ship OF labor in this state will awaken
the hosts to duty. The down-troddcr
miners will take heart and as II by ma
gic will stand erect and assert their
rights as men. The unity Of labor Is al
that Is required to decide this contest
in favor OF the miners In favor Of JUS
tlce and in favor OF humanity. Yours
fraternally, M. d. RATCHFORD,
President United Mine Workers OF
America"