The morning news., 1897-08-31
WILL BE A FLAT FAILURE.
DELEGATES TO TIE ST. LOUIS
MEETING ARE DISAPPOINTED.

hut Takes no Part-The Wet
| Blanket Is Thrown on Much En-
! thusIaSm.
! St Louis, Mo-. Aug SO.-The conference
| labor leaders which began this morning.
| had a busy day, and what the conference
| has accomplished, il anything, is in doubt
IL Is not believed that the leaders have
attained any definite result and, in fact,
the president of one Of the national or
| ganizatlons said tonight that the failure
of the conference was a foregone conclu-
sion.
should feel very much chagrned, said
this man, if l had any part in the calling
of the conference. The committee on res
oluuon and plan Of action was at work
all the afternoon and evening and to-
night. Mr.. Sovereign announced that they
had formulated a plan, but declined to
give any details. The PLATFORM it is ex-
pected, will bessubmitted to the convention
tomorrow morning
The fourteen different organizations rep
resented make an unwieldy body and it is
| evident that all of them cannot be salts
fled with a platform formulated by five
men representing as many branches of or
ganized labor.
Mr.. Ratchford's plan Of petitloning
President Mckinley to convene the con-
gress in extra session to enact measures
providing for the settlement of the present
/ labor difficulty or as he put it, 30 define
the rights of citizens, If any" did not meet
with the approval he had hoped for and it
is not believed the call will be incorporated
in the contemplated platform. Although
present in convention all day, Mr.. Debs
did not speak, nor did he put in an APP
pearance at the nights meeting where he
was widely advertised to make an ad-
dress. lie is represented on the committee,
however, by Mr. Berger, and as he has re-
mained pretty close to the gentlemen COM
posing that committee, it is safe to say
! his 'social democracy ideas will be rep
resented
1t is thought adjournment will be had
some time tomorrow
The only work accomplished at the morn
ing session was the naming of a commit
tee on credentials. This committee made
| its report Immediately upon the assembling
| of the conference for its afternoon. IL
| was shown that eighty eight delegates,
representing the following organizations,
ers of America, the Social Democracy, the
| American Federation of Labor. the Stone
Cutters International Union, Brotherhood
of Painters and Decorators, Brotherhood
Of Bottle Blowers, Building Trades Coun
ell of st. Louis, the Patriots of America,
| International Brotherhood of Track Fire
men, the Single Tax League OF America,
Central Labor Council of Cincinnati, the
International TypOgra phical Union, the
Peoples Party of Kansas and the Indus
trial Organization Of Freemen.
The report after some discussion, was
adopted. IL was decided, however that
delegates be reported as coming from the
particular organization they represent in
stead OF the state.
The report shows also the presence Of
one woman delegate, Mrs. Mary Jones
of Chicago, who represents the social
democracy. After considerable discussion
the following committee on resolutions
and plan of action was named: w. G.
Pearce Of the miners; w. j.. Mahn of the
street railway men, Victory Berger of Mil
waukee, who represents the social democ-
racy, in favor Of Mr.. Debs, declned G.
c. Clemens Of Topeka, representing
j. r.. Sovereign.
Mr. Ratchford then took the floor. He
dwet on Government by Inquisition."
He pleaded for prompt action, and COM
ing to the point Of his argument, advo-
Gated a special session OF congress as the
best and in fact, the only relief. / be-
lieye said Mr. Ratchford, a special ses-
sion OF congress Is necessary to define
the right OF the people OF this country If
they have any. j believe if sufficient
time were given the President of the
United States would call "a special ses-
sion of congress to act on the matter Of
injunctions, and find means to relieve the
existing trouble in the labor world. In
case of a refusal, said Mr.. RatchfOrd. inn
pressvely after an outburst OF cheering
had subsidized Il will then be time to con
slider more extreme measure. ! am in
favor. If the President refuses TO call con-
gress together, on a complete paralysis of
business, ! believe then In a sympathetic
trike."
Mr. Pat O'Neil Of Rich Hin, Mo. who
said he represented l,50O unorganized men.
favored "A labor revolution. lie was q So
ciaist. he said. and believed in the min
ers taking things In their own hands II
necessary. His fiery language pleased the
audience greatly.
Mr. Sovereign Put himself on record as
opposed 10 Mr.. Ratchford's plan lie be-
lievod this would be the last convention 10
De held under present conditions, and that
the crucial test now confronted organized
labor.
Mr.. Mahon OF Detroit said "a committee
was useless. The convention should vote
on RatchfOrd's proposition and then 20
home.
kilograms OF greeting ana protests
against government by injunction" were
received from the populist executive COM
mittee OF the sixteenth congressional dis
trict % ohio. the German Trades Assem-
bly OF Philadelphia, and the Atlanta Fed
Grafton of Trades.
A polite request 10 quit monkeying and
strike Tor single tax on land values" was
read from the youngstown. o.. Single
Takers. ana the talk went on.
Mr. Ratchford took exception 10 Mr..
Cars0n's statement that the Illinois min-
crs had lost their strike. ile said the
miners were winning their
strike. and furthermore his men
were not asking thlH convention
for lld They wanted this gathering
40 eradicate. N possible tho Injunction.
taking a fling ~ Miner Pat 0Rellly. tHe
said "A man who advocated the use Or
WlnchnHtrfa had no place in the couven-
zion. Down our way miners don't know
how 60 handle guns"
Jas. Hogan formerly Of the American
Railway Union, and nov representing tho
H0clal democracy ~ Chicago. Con. llrad.
HNu uF numfnurwUlI ffma. HuH Man ENnfNf