The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-10

PITTSBURG, Pa, July 9-The great
est gathering Of labor leaders that
ever assembled in this country during
national 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 the United States.
Those present were Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
Of Labor; NJ. r. Ratchford, national
president of the United Mine Workers
of America; M. M. Garland, president
OF the Amalgamated Association of Iroa
and Steel Workers; Stephen Madden,
secretary of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation; J. M. Hughes, first vice presi-
dent of the Federation of Metal Trades;
NJ. j. Counahan, national secretary of
the Journeymen Plumbers association;
M. P. Carrick, president Of the
Brotherhood of Painters and Decora-
tors; L. R. Thomas, president of the
National Pattern Makers league; T. B.
Mahon, president of the Amalgamated
Association Of Street Railway EN-
ployes; Patrick Dolan, district presi-
dent Of the United Mine Workers Of
America, and William Warner, dis
trict secretary of the United Mine
Workers.
The conference was fixed for 10
o'clock this morning at the Monon-
gahela house, but, owing to the de-
tention of President Ratchford, who
missed connections and did not reach
Pittsburg until after O'Clock this
evening, it was nearly o'clock before
the meeting convened. The session was
secret and it was almost midnight be-
fore 1t was over. The press commit
tee, Messrs. Gompers, Ratchford and
Counahan, then gave out the follow
ing statement, in which was incor-
pCrated, they said, all that was done
at the conference. The manifesto fol-
lows:
After an informal discussion, reports were
made by MesSrs. Ratchford, Dolan and Wer-
ner in regard to the situation of the move
ment, and 1t was demonstrated that the
suspension was practically general In the
competitive bitumiouS coal district, extending
also to Kentucky and Tennessee, excepting
a few points in West Virginia. 1t was real
Zed that the situation in West Virginia re-
quired attention in order that the suspension
should become absolutely general and sue
cess assured. With that object in view, ac-
ton was recommended by President Comp
ers of the American Federation OF Labor,
and it determined upon, to overcome
this feature of the contest 1t was also de-
termined that every effort be made on the
part of those present to secure the co-opera-
tion and practical aid of organized labor for
the struggling miners. All the circumstances
warranted the firm conviction that the miners
will ultimately achieve victory, and to this
end the aid of labor and the sympathetic
ic Conscious
interest which the public has In contest
so widespread as that of the miners, 1t gives
us great satisfaction to know that the miners
have not been and are not now opposed TO
arbitration. We therefore urge and advise
that a conference be he'd by representatives
of the miners and operaotrs with the view or
arriving at a settlement Oh the Pleseht sus
pension. "
Notwithstanding the positive an
nouncement by the committee, that the
statement furnished he press covered
all the proceedings of the conference,
it is known that an organized effort
to secure a general suspension of min
ing in West Virginia was decided
upon. After a thorough canvass of the
situation it was unanimously agreed
that the West Virginia miners hold the
kew to the situation and without their
united support the success or the gen
eral movement would be greatly
jeopardlZed.
In furtherance of this determination
the officials present pledged themselves
to send into this field a full quota of
the best organizers in their several as
sociations. After adjournment, in re-
sponse to the question whether a 2
per cent assessment on all organized
labor as contemplated would be made,
President Dolan, of the Pittsburg dis
trict, said he thought such action would
eventually be taken. He would not
affirm whether the matter of assess
ment had been considered at tonight's
conference or that the question of a
general sympathetic strike had been
dis cussed.