The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-01

ST. LOUIS, Aug. S.-The delegates to
the convention of labor leaders were
slow in assembling this morning, and 1t
was nearly an hour after the time set
for the meeting before the body was
called to order. The delay was due to
the committee on resolutions, which
sent word that It was not ready to re-
mort The committee had been in ses-
sion almost continuously since three
o'clock yesterday afternoon, and at G
o'clock this morning they had not COM
pleted the 'plan of action" The COM
mIttee at midnight had practically
agreed upon recommending government
ownership OF mineral land rights.
"But." as one OF them remarked, there
is no telling what they will do with
that idea before morning"
One OF the members of the committee
fayors a committee with plenary power
10 appolnt a general labor committee Of
one from each state. and to call q ma
tIonal convention in western state In
case the miners and operators fall to
come together and settle their differ
ence. The delegates are growing I'M
patient, and are anxious to get away.
II was 10 o'clock when the committee
nm resolutions filed into the hall, and
the delegates were called TO order to
hear It's report. Mr.. Berger In present.
ing the resolutions, spoke OF the great
task the committee had before II. He
said the report about to be submitted
was the best the committee could do
under the circumstances. The platform
US presented yeads;
n 10 Platform.
Whereas, TAspresent strike of the
coal miners has asSIR demonstrated the
fact that our so-ca bed liberty is not
freedom, but is stupendous sham, un-
der which millions are degeneratlRg.
while hundreds of thousands-men. wo-
men and chlldren-are starving in how
els and on the public highway;
Whereas, This condition has become
permanent for a large and ever In
creasing number of our population, as
long as we permit n comparatively
small class OF legallzed exploiters to
monopollze the means Of production and
distribution for their private beneft-a
fact again obvious In case of miners:
Whereas, Appeals TO Congress and to
the courts for relief are fruitless, since
the legislative, as well as the executive
and judicial powers are under the con-
troll OF the capltallstic class, so that 1t
has come TO pass in this free country,
that while cattle and swine have a right
to the public highways, Americans, So
called freemen, have not.
Whereas. Our capltalistlc class, as Is
again shown In the present strike, Is
armed. and has not only policemen,
marshals. sherlffs and deputies, but also
a regular army and militia, in order to
enforce government by injunction, sup
pressing lawful assemblage, free speech
and the right TO the public highway;
while on the other hand, the laborlng
men Of the country are unarmed and
defenseless. contrary to the words and
spirit OF the constitution Of the United
States: therefore. be It
Resolved. That we hereby set apart
Friday, the third day OF September, 1897.
at Good Friday" for the cause of suf-
ferng labor in America and contrib
ute the earnings Of that day to the sup
port Of our struggling brothers. the NIL
ners, and appeal to every union and
every friend OF labor throughout the
country to do likewise.
Resolved. II The strike OF the miners
Is not settled by the goth DAY OF Sep
tember, 1897. and announcement made
to that effect by the President Of the
United Mine Workers, q general conven-
ton be held nt Chicago on Monday, Sep
tembcr q, 1897, by thc representatives
Of all unions, sections, branches, lodges
aud kindred organizations OF lnbOrIng
men and friends OF their cause FOR the
purpose of considering further meas.
ures in the interest Of the striking NIL
ners and laborlng men.
Resolved, That we consider the use Of
the ballot us the best and safest means
FOR the amellorntion Of the hnrdHhips
under which the laborlng class suffers
Resolved, That the public ownerahll
Of railroads and tclegraphs Is one ol
the most necessary reforms for oui
body polite.
Resolved, That we most omphaticnl,
ly protest against the government bs
injunction, which plays havoc with ever
such political liberty ms worklnEmcr
have Rayed from the steady eHereacA'
mcnt OF capitalism; and be II finally
Resolved. That no nation In which
the people are totally dlsnrmcd can long
remain a free nation, and therefore, w
urge upon all llberty-lovlnR citizens tC
remember and obey article OF the con
ftlutlon NJ the United States which
reads lR follows. "Tho right Of the poo
pie to keep and bear arms shall not bI
intrIngcd"
EiVsip piSeHssinA
As soon m the platform was before
the convention n dozen delegates wcr,
IN tholr feet, clnmorlng for recognition
ono delegate wanted to change the dat,
oi the Chicago conference 20 october
10, claiming the day proposed was too
early. Amendment was laid on the ta.
ole To be- taken up later,
Delegate Osborn. uf Atlanta, GA Oh
fCrod resolution to tho effect that \
was The sense Of the meeting that al
employed men IN the United state.
Hluull Apply Tor ndmlsO to the puol
house NJ their respective counties, So
action was taken ON this resolution nm,
Ihu convention wont OF into dUml
tory manner roHnrdInr the debate
hir Mlhon ~ Detroit, favored m.
limiting NJ debate ~ lyc minutes an.
inliH motion 10 That orucl lie anl.
further.
u am tired OF this thing of loltHa