Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-09-03
ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE
0ATCHFORD WANTS An EXTRA
SESSION Of CONGRESS-.
AaaPess by Grand Master Workman
Sovereign ~ the Rights Of
Labor.

st. Louis, Mo-, Aug. BE. V. Debs,
NJ. ID. RatchfOrd and A. ID. Mahon were
among the delegates 10 the labor con-
ference arriving yesterday. I'm out of
1t to a certain extent said Debs this
II am no longer affiliated with
any labor body. but have come simply
~ a guest Of the conference under the
general call
O'Connell, representing the city branch
Of the American Federation of Labor,
Chicago; A. S. Merrill, industrial coun-
Gil, Kansas City; Taylor X. Bemer, with
credentials from the Social Democracy,
Milwaukee, and Frederick +. Heath,
representing the street railway men.
also OF Milwaukee; w. ID. Ryan, vice
president Of the United Mine Workers
Of Illinois; Jacob Tazclaar, who comes
from the Brotherhood Of Painters, Chi
cago, and X. =. O'Neill, Rich Mill, Mo-;
John Mitchell, Spring Valley. H.;
George Wallace Scammon, Kansas, and
Joseph Pollard Of Belleville. ILL.,. all
members Of miners organizations.
w. Is. Prescott. president Of the Inter
national Typographical Union, Of In
dianapolis. was chosen temporary chair
man. and W. G. Pcarce Of Columbus tenn.
poary secretary. Prescott then appoint
ed the following as a committee on ere
dentials: MIR. Katchford. James OCon-
nor Of the machinists. Chicago; Grant
Luce Of st. Louis central labor organiza-
tion. j. X. Sovereign and w. d. Macon.
1t was shown that ~ delegates, rep
resenting the following organizations
were present: United Mine workers OF
America. Social Democracy, the American
Federation Of Labor, the Stone Masons
international Union. Brotherhood OF
Bottle Flowers, Building Trades Council
Of st. Louis. the Patriots Of America
GENITAL Labor Council Of Cincinnati, thu
international Typographical Union. the
Peoples party Of Kansas and the Indus
trial Order Of Freedmen.
speech by RatchS0rd.
Rutherford then took the floor. HI
went over the miners strike from IT.
inception to the present day, ant
slwelt particularly upon government
by Injunction" He pleaded for promp
action. and coming to the point Of hi
argument. advocated special session
Of congress " the best, and in fact tn
only relief.
II believe" said Ratchford, "a specia
session Of congress is necessary to de
fine the rights Of the people Of thi
country--if they have any. believ
II sufficient time were given the presi
dent of the United States will call
special session Of congress- to act upol
the matter Of injunctions and fin
means 81 relieving the existing trouble
in the labor world.
"In case Of refusal" aaid Ratchfor
impre~.iyely, sitter an outburst ha'
subsidized, ut will then be time to cor
slider more extreme measures ! am i
favor. II the president refuses to cal
congress together, Of complete pa'
alysis Of business. believe in a SYN
pathetic strike"
Patrick O'Neill Of Rich Hill. Mo-. VIII
said he represented 1900 "organixe
picks," favored labor revolution. II
was u socialist. he said. and believe
In the mine,s taking things in the
own hands II necessary. His fierce ha
anRue pleased the audience greatly.
severeigA says No.
Sovereign put himself on record I
opposed to Ratchiord's plan. He b
lieyed this would be the last CONVEX
ton to be held under present conditio,
and that the crucial test now cOnfron
Cd organized labor.
Ratchiord's plan Of petitioning Pres
dent Mckinley to convene congress
extra session to enact measures pr
viding for the settlement Of the pre-
ent labor difficulties, or. a. he put
ito define the rights Of citizens, II any
s. did not meet with the approval he hs
hoped for. and II h not believed Il
plank will be incorporated In the pla
form.
In the EveninG.
Not less than 5000 people, amor
whom were large number Of ladies. .
semhled in Masonic hall last night
listen TO addresses by prominent lab
leaders brought to the city by the ca
ference. On the stage were number
the most notable Of the delegates to I
conference
Grand Master Workman Sovereie
who presided, made an .impassioned q
dress. in which he said that the lab
ing men of this country were face
face with the last great problem Of c
ilixation-- their rights and liberty
free speech. He predicted that the G.
ference would result in the issuance
an esiict that would lead to new I
Of liberty to the laboring classes
America.
Among the other speakers were Fra
Stevens. who said that the only SO
tion of the question was single tax;
d. Mahon, q. c. Clemens, Owen Mil
and NJ. d. Ratchford, who was the Il
n