The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-24
The GREAT MINING STRIKE,
President RatchiOrd Of the Union Nine
Workers TO GOmpeTS.
A DRAMATIC APPEAL FOR HELP.
West Virginia is the Field of Action and
There the striking Forces Are to be Cons
verged-Call for Meeting of Labor
Leaders ~ Wheeling,

FAIRMONT, w. VA, July On j..
RatC hfOrd, president of the Union Mine
Workers Of America, telegraphed the fol-
lowing letter to Samuel GOmpers, presi-
dent of the American Federation Of Las0r
tonight at wa. hington, ID. C.:
con the fair soil Of West Virginia,
pcacoable assenbiage has been forbidden
and free speech suppressed, crisis is
upo nus which must be met II we would
escape total slavery. The great mining
strike now extends over five States. ono
hundred and fifty thousand raners and
their families. almost a million souls, dre
involved Public sentiment is over
whelmmgiy with us.
only the holl0w. hcartioss sentiment Of
corporate cani;ai. echoed by its vulgar
parrot. the 50 lsldizcd press i5 opposed 90
us. The acute stage has been reached.
This is no longer @ strike for justice but
a struggle against starvation.
Every atom OF nobility I'm human nature
impels us % rise 10 the emergency ana
by performing our duty as becomes men,
rescue the miners Of the country from
the cruel grasp Of bondage ard their
wives and children from the toriures OF
famine.
THE FIELD OF ACTION
"Wost Virginia is the field of action and
here our forces must be converged. The
miners here are eager, anxious 70 join in
our movement for their emancipation
but are retained by the fear of discharge
and eviction.
"They are as much the property Of their
masters as were the black slaves before
the guns OF Sumter thundered the doom
OF chattel slavery. Here upon the soil
made sacred hy Thomas jefferson and
Patrick Henry tho slavery OF labor has
become universal
"The patriotic cry Of the imprisoned
Henry. Give Me Liberty, or GIVE Ne
Death is once more In order. The united
hosts Of organized labor must come To the
rescue. The millions Of sturdy crotts-
men Of our country must be aroused.
therefore call upon you in behalt or me
struggling miners TO convene all tho chiol
executive officers Of All national labor
organizations az Wheeling' w Va on
Tuesday. July 9th. for the purpose OF
meeting this crisis and achieving victory
for the cause NJ labor
AN URGENT CALL.
No duty which any labor official may
have al this time Is TO be compared in
Importance 10 this great demand. and IL
is. therefore hoped and expected that
each and all Of them will attend in per-
son. This IS not the time 10 consider
differences between organizations, li dll-
ferences there be- and no man who has
our cause at heart viii raise that qucs-
tion.
The call TO duty IS 10 all organized
labor and the chief executive OF each or
sanization is expected to give the confer
ence the benefit Of his personal presence.
If this battle is won. organized labor m
every department will be immeasurahly
strengthened: but If lost, the cause VIII
be set back al least ten years.
Never have the American people so
unanimously supported a labor strike.
Fully so per cent. are with us, and VIII
support our cause TO the end
EUPREME OPPORTUNITY.
This is the supreme opportunity 10
strike the blow for Industrial liberty. ana.
n ignored. the doom Of labor Is sealed,
and we trusted leaders must bear the
odiurn OF our cOwardly inacuon. The
very presence of the combined leadership
Of labor I'm this State viii waken the
hosts 10 duty. The down-troddcn miners
will take heart. and, as II hv magic, will
stand erect and assert their rights as
men. The unity Of labor is all that IS
REQUIRED 10 decide this contest in favor
Of the miners in favor of justice ana
in favor Of humanity"