The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-27
Labor Lsadars Assembling to Discuss the
Coal Mine Strike Situation.
COAL FAMINE CONSIDERED IMPROBABLE,
Debs Hand 10 .Spenk In Open Air
Strike fn Wcsi Virginia IsrncticnlIy
"-iniunction- 10 Prevent III.
terence IA incrs Arc No, I.ookinw
For Trouble.
Wheeling, w. Va, July &c. 1897

IhonSh the strike leaders g.:.hcring
mere Tor to-mo:rnw'S conference deny the
reports that the efforts for n general
strike in The Fairmont legion are a fail
uFe. the coal that is coming 10 Wheeling
from falrmont on the Baltimore ana
ohio anu sent West and to tho Lakes by
the three coal-car!ying roads ccntcr;n:r
mere. shows that the output at Fairmout
Is increasing. The shipments to-day and
sunday nave been lager than for any
day during the past week To-day the
baltimore and Ohio sent abnu. 100 clrs
West and 80 or as cars were sent North
on the two roads. 50 far there has been
no interference with the passage Of the
coal trains in the Eastern Ohio district.
lne indications are that to-morrow's
conference of labor leaders,. made up OF
the executive officers Of the various or
ganizaions ccntcred under the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor will he largely
attended. Among to-day's arrivals nrc
F.n"cnc V. Dcbs, head Of the Social De
mocracy: Vice President iRca, Of the
decorators and Painters: President Ma
hon. OF the Street Car Workers: prcsi-
dent Samuel Gompcn, of the Fedora
lion, and President Ratchford. Of the
United Mine Workers. President Sovc-
reign. Of the Knights Of Labor. will ar
rive from Washington in the morning
There is some difference Of opiniun MS
10 the result Of the conference Deb5
ana Mahon tonight claim that the pub
llShcd reports Of the st!ikc being Il fail
nrc at Fntrmons are incorrect Dchs
says he is in possession of reliable adj
vices to the effect that the strixeir, to-
day received heavy accesSlonS If the
efforts OF the agi;ators in West Virginia
nave really beer 4 failure, ii is believed
tonight that the railroad conductors,
f,rcmen and brakemen will be asked TO
refuse 10 handle Wra, Virginia coal.
There is some talk of Il general sympa-
ihctic strike. hut this does not meet
with anything approa ching even par
tial favor. y boycott Of West Virginia
coal in the event that the mincas OF this
state decline to join the strike will be
discussed al the confercnc, tomorrow.
DEBS FEELS ENCOURAGED.
Eugene V Dcbs made HIS appeorancc
in Wheeling this afternoon and was
met by large crowd AT the railroad
station. Tonight he addressed mass
meeting in the central part of the city.
The efforts to secure the public building
square for the meeting failed. and the
meeting took place square away.
IN speaking of the situation in the
Fairmont coal fields, DebS said he felt
cncour<ed 4 number of men Joined
the strikers there on Sunday, ana others
are expected to follow. He slys tho Of
forts of the organizers would have been
more successful but fOg the fact that
the operators, as he claims, prevented
their men from attending the meetings
Practical slavery exists. in the ITai!mont
mining region.
Although the press may report the
miners as living under favorable condi-
tions in the Fai-mont region" said
Dcbs. II have collected data from
farmers miners and store keepers. which
shows that the mining companies cheat
their employees In the mines. ut the
scales, and in the company store. The
intimidation prac;iced by the opera tors'
has prevented many from joining the
strike. bu: we are hopeful Of uitimat tc
success In West Virginia"