The herald., 1897-08-31
A PROGRAM
LAID OUT
To Secure All the Rights
of Labor
DETAILS NOT MADE PUBLIC
FEAR is EXPRESSED THAT 1T
WILL NOT WORK
Work of Labor Leaders at st Louis
Said to Be Foredoomed to
Failure
Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
ST. LOUIS, August 3o.-Among the
delegates to the conference this morning
were E. " Debs Of Terre Haute. M. d.
Ratchford Of Columbus and W. D. Ma
hon of Detroit. Debs said that while no
longer affiliated with any labor body,
he came simply as a guest Of the con-
ference under the general call. He
would not venture an opinion OF the
probable outcome of the conference.
Ratchford will probably present his
plan of calling upon every man and wo-
man in the country to contribute l cent
per day of their wages to fund for the
relief of the striking miners. This. he
thinks, will amount to $4,000 per diam.
None of the delegates are willing to
forecast what the conference will do.
Chairman Steinbiss of the local Com
mittee of Arrangements called the con-
ference to order at 10 o'clock, but only
about 100 people were then in the hall,
and as there seemed to be some misun-
derstanding as to the time and place OF
meeting, recess was taken for one hour
and committee was appointed to make
the rounds of the hotels and notify dele
gates.
Shortly after II the conference was
again called to order, and W. B. Prescott,
President of the international Typo
graphical Union, of Indianapolis, was
chosen Temporary Chairman, and w. c.
Pearce of Columbus Secretary. After
appointing a Committee on Credentials
the conference adjourned until p. m.
A wrangle ensued upon the motion of a
delegate that Committee of Resolutions
be appointed, and in the midst of the
parliamentary wrangle Delegate Sow
ereign shouted: I'm sick and tired of
resolutions. This Is the time for action" !"
He moved to amend the motion to ap-
point a Committee on Resolutions to
read: "On Resolutions and Plan of Ac-
tion." The whole matter was finally
tabled.
The committee on credentials made its
report Immediately on the assem- bling
of the conference for its afternoon ses-
sion. 1t was shown that SS delegates
were present, representing the following
organizations: Union Mine Workers Of
America, Social Democracy, the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, the Stonemak-
ers' International union, Brotherhood OF
Painters and Decorators Brotherhood OF
Bottle blowers, Building Trades council
of 81. Louis, the Patriots of America, the
Brotherhood of Track Foremen, the
Single Tax League of America, Central
Labor council of Cincinnati, the Interna-
tional Typographical union, the People s
party of Kansas and the Industrial Or
der of Freemen.
Teh report after some discussion, was
adopted. 1t was decided, however, that
delegates be recognized as coming from
the particular organization which they
repre- sent instead of the general body.
The general report showed also the pres
ence of one woman delegate, Mrs. Mary
Jones of Chicago, who represents th4
Social Democracy. The temporary or
ganization was then permanent and the
chairman read the call for the conven-
ton.
1t was moved and seconded that COM
mittee on resolutions be made up from
one member from each orgarza ton
named, each delegation to choose their
member. This was amended by Dele
gate Stephens of Philadelphia to read:
"And plan of action"
Mr.. Mahon of Detroit objected to this
committee as unwieldy, and said he was
perfectly satisfied to leave the matter
of resolutions to committee of five to
be selected by the chair. He amended
the resolution to that effect Mr.. Ma
hons amendment was carried on a di-
vision. as was the amendment of Mr.
Stephens. The chairman then name i
as the committee on resolutions and
plan of action" w. G. Pearce of the
miners, w. D. Mahon of the street rail-
road men. Victor Berger of Milwaukee,
who represents the Social Democracy
IN whose favor Mr.. Debs declined G. C.
Clemens CT Topeka, representing the
Populists and James r. Sovereign.
Mr.. Ratchford then took the floor He
went over the miners strike from its in
ception to the present day. and dwell;
particularly upon government by in
junction" He pleaded for prompt ac-
ton and, coming to the point of his argu-
ment, advocated a pecial session, of CON
gress as the best and, in fact, the only
relief.
MI. Sovereign put himself on record as
opposed to Mr.. Ratchfords plan. He be-
lieved this would be the last convention
to be held Under present conditions, and
that the crucial test now confronted or
sanized labor
AT midnight the committee went into
session at the Laclede in an endeavor to
prepare something tenable to report to-
morrow.
Tonight the end is in sight. What the
conference has accomplished, if any
thing, is in doubt.
1t is not believed the leaders have at
tanned any definite result, and, in fact
the president of one of the national Or
ganzations said the failure of the con-
ference was foregone conclusion.
Il should feel very much chagrire d. !"
said this gentleman, "if I had any part
in the conven ton of this conference"
The committee on resolutions and
plan of action was a work all the after
noon and tonight, and this evening Mr..
Sovereign announced that they had
formulated plan. but declined to give
any details. The platform, it is expect