The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-28
OTHER SIDE AT WHEELING.
Most Noted Labor Leaders of the
Country Meet and Formulate
an Address

an Address.
Wheeling w. Va, July 2S.-What is
declared to be the most important and
largest meeting of the heads of labor
organizations of America ever held, is
now in session in this city. 1t is the
conference OF labor leaders called last
week by President NJ. D. Ratchford of
the United Mine Workers, and APP
proved by President Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor of which
the miners organiza ton is a part. The
purpose of the conference is to aid in
a speedy and successful termination of
the present coal strike. Sessions of the
conference We're held during yesterday
and last night, but until the night ses-
sion was held, little had been accom-
pliShed.
The following leaders were present:
Samuel GOmpers of New York, presi-
dent of the American Federation of La
Dor; Frank r. Morrison of Chicago, sec
rotary of the federation; NJ. d. Ratch-
ford of Columbus, president of the Uni
ted Mine Workers of America; w. C
Pears of Columbus, secretary of the
miners organization; p. H. MoTisey of
Peoria, Ill, grand master of the Broth
Mahon of Detroit, president of the
Street Railway Union; James r. Sow
ereign, president of the knights of La
Dor; James r. Sullivan of Baltimore,
president of the International AssOcia-
ton of Decorators and Painters; J. B.
Lendon of Bloomington, Ill, president
of the Custom TailorS Union; J. F. Null
holland of Toledo, president of the In
ternational Union. of Bicycle Workers;
Jesse E. Johnson of Nashville, Tenn,
president of the Interna tional Printing
Pressmen's Union; Theodore Perry of
Nashville, president of the Information
al Typographical Union; Robert Askew
of Ispheming, Mich, secretary of the
North Mineral Mine Workers; William
Mckinney of Lafayette, Ind, president
of the Painters Union; j. w. Rea of
Chicago, president of the Painters and
Decora tors Union; G. w. Perkins OF
Chicago, president of the International
Tobacco Workers Union; Patrick Do
Ian of Pittsburg, president of the Pitts
burg District Miners; M. M Garland OF
Pittsburg, president of the Amalgamat-
ed Association of Iron, steel ana I'm
assistant grand chief of the Order OF
Railway Conductors; f. T. Sargent or
Peoria Ill, grand master of the Broth
erhood of Railway Firemen; Val F1tZ-
patrick of Columbus, third vice presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen; T. w. Lewis Of bridgeport
O., secretary of the Ohio Miners organ
ization.
e. V. Debs, former head of the Amer
lean Railway union.
]. Kunzeler of Pittsburg, secretary of
the American Flint Glass Workers
w. H. Riley of Wheeling, president of
the National Stogie Workers league.
NJ. P. Carrick of Pittsburg, secretary
of the painters organization
P. J. Connaughton of Pittsburg, sec
rotary and treasurer of the National
Plumbers and Gas Filters union.
The first session of the conference was
held at 1 O'Clock, on the arrival of
Messrs Ratchford and Pears from
Columbus. On motion of Mr.. Sovereign,
Samuel Gompers was chosen to preside
and Secretary Morrison of the fedora
ton was made secretary.
The conference was held behind
closed doors. At its close it was given
81, unit q. of "a
appointed to devise a plan for aiding
the miners, which would be reported at
the night session.
kilograms pledging financial aid for
the miners were received from nearly
all the heads of organizations that had
been unable to attend on account of the
the chief aim of the conference will be
to effect a suspension of work in West
Virginia and al the De Armitt mines.
At the night session of the confer
ence the special committee to- devise
ways and means to aid the miners made
its report. The report is appeal to
the country to assist the miners.
The full text of the manifesto is as
follows:
"A wall of anguish, mingled with des-
peration, arises from the bowels of the
earth and the miners cry for relief, for
some degree of justice, touches the re-
sponsive chord in the hearts and con-
sciences of the whole people. bridging
at wages, when employed, which are
ton and slavery, the miners are con-
fronted with condition by which their
scant earnings are denied them, except
through the company pluck me
stores" which out-Shy1Ock the worst
features of the nefariOus system, is a
stigma on the escutcheon of our coun-
try and a blot on our civilization We,
the representative of the trades unions
and of all organized labor of the United
States in convention assembled to con-
slider the pending struggle of the min
ers for wages sufficient to enable them
to live and to enjoy at least some de-
gree of the necessities of life, are de-
termined to forever put stop to the
state of starvation in which they are
now engulfed.
1.-The deplorable condition of the min
ers is well known to all our people.
They live in novels, unable to buy Suf-
cient bread to ward off starvation.
in many cases not sufficiently clothed
to- cover their nakedneSS, and their
children unfit to attend school because
of a lack of food and clothing, making
them a danger to the future stability of
our republic We feel assured that all
men and women who love their fami-
lies or who have one spark of human
to give all the aid in their power to en-
able the miners to win their present
battle. The miners have been restrain
ed by injunction when exercising their
fundamental right of public assembly
and free speech to present to the world
their grievances. We as American
citizens resent this interference with
| the rights guaranteed to US under the
! constitution. In the ordinary affairs
of life, all enjoy privileges and rights
which constitutions neither confirm nor
| denv but the guarantee of the right of