The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-10
COMBINED EFFORTS

| 49, OANs
or the Labor Leaders of the Country En-
listed to Aid the slinsrs In Their Con-
test 20 Work on West Virginia Miners.
PITTSBURGH, July 9,-The greatest
gathering of labor leaders that ever as
sembled In the country during nation-
al strike was held In this city Tonight
TO devise means to assist the miners In
their contest for increased wages. The
conference was called suddenly, but the
officials responding represented nearly
every branch OF organized labor IN tha
United States,
Those present were Samuel Gompers,
presldent OF the American Federation OF
Labor; NJ. d. Ratchford, national presi-
dent OF the United Mine Workers OF
America; NJ. NJ. Garland, president OF
the Amalgamated Association of Iron
and Steel Workers; Stephen. Madden,
secretary at the Amalgamated Associa'
ton; j. NJ. Hughes, first vice president
OF the Federation OF Metal Trades; ".
j. Counahan, national secretary OF the
Journeymen Plumbers Association; NJ.
p. carrick, president Of the Brother
hood OF Painters and Decorators; j.. II,
Thomas, president Of the National Pat
tern Makers League; w, Il. Mahon,
president OF the Amalgamated Assocla-
ton of Street Railway Employees; Pat
rick Dolan, district president of the
United Mine Workers OF America, and
william Warner, district secretary of
the United Mine Workers
The conference was fixed for 10 O'Clock
A. L.. attaeW NJ MnnnnnnnnlA
House, but owing to the detention OF
President Ratchford, who missed con-
nectlon and did not reach Pittsburgh
until after 6 o'clock In the evening, II was
nearly o'clock before the meeting con-
yened.
The session was secret and 1t was al
most midnight before it was over The
press coElnittee. Messrs. Gompers,
,Ratchford and Counnhan, then gave out
the following statement, In which was
incorporated, they said, all that Was
done ut tae conference. The manifesto
follows:
"After an informal discussion reports
were made by Messrs Ratchford, Do
Ian and Warner In regard to the situa-
ton of the movement, and It was DEM
onstrated that the suspension was
practically general In the competitive
bitutnlnous coal district, extending also
to Kentucky and Tennessee, excepting
few points In West Virginia, 1t was
realized that the situation in West Vir-
ginla required attention In order that
the suspension should become absolute
ly general ana success assured. With
that object in view action was rec
commended by President GOmpers, OF
the AmerIcn Federation of Labor and
II was determined upon to overcome
this feature OF the contest II was also
determined that every effort be made Oh
the part of those present to secure the
cooperation uud practical aid of or
ganized labor for the struggling min
ers. All the circumstances warranted
the firm conviction that the miners will
ultimately achieve victory and to this
end the aid Of labor and the sympathet-
lc public Is invoked. Conscious Of the
great interest which the public has In
contest so widespread as that OF the min
ers It gives us great satisfaction 10 know
thai .ne miners have not been and are
not now opposed to arbitration: we
therefore urge and advise that n confer
ence be held by representatives OF the
HfiftEh AM 'fitFhtsAS "hRh hifN WIN VI
arriving at settlement OF the present
suspension"
Notwithstanding the positive an
nOuncement by the cOmmltte that the
statement furnished the press covered
all the proceedings of the conference,
II is known that an organized effort to
secure general suspension Of mining
in West Virginia was decided upon.
After thorough canvass Of the stua-
ton II was unanimously agreed that tho
West Virginia miners held the key to
the situation and without their united
support the success OF the general
movement would be greatly jeopar-
died.
In furtherance Of this determination,
the officials present pledged themselves
to send into this field fun quota Of the
best organizers In their several assocla-
tons
After adjournment, In response to the
question whether a two per cent as
sessment on all organized labor MS con-
tOmplated would be made, President
Dqlan. of the Pittsburgh district said he
thought such action would eventually
be taken He would not admit. how
ever. that the matter Of assessment ha6
been considered at to-nlght's conference
or that questions OF general sympa-
thetic strike had been discussed.