The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-28
A NOTABLE GATHERING
ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT
OF THE LABOR ORGANI-
ZATIONS THERE.
PLANS .DISCUSSEO AND AGREED ON
The Leaders Have Strong Hopes That There
May he Favorable Action as a ReslIt
of Their Conference.

Wheeling, W. Va, July 27.-What is
declared to be the most important and
largest meeting of the heads of labor or
ganizations of America ever held is now
in session liz this city. 1t is the confer
ence of the sbor leaders called last week
by president Ratchford, of the United
Mine Workess, and approved by Presi-
dent GomperS, of the American Fedora
tion of Labor, of which the miners or
ganization is Il: part. The purpose of the
conference is to aid in a speedy and sue
cessful termination of the great coal
strike Sessions of the conference were
held during the day and tonight, but
until the night. session. but little had
been accomplished. The following labor
leaders are preseRt: Samuel Gompers, of
New York, president of the American
Federation of Labor; Frank Morrison,
Chicago, secretary of the Federation:
NJ u. Ratchford of Columbus, president
of the United Mime Workers of America!
W. c. Pears, Columbus secretary of the
miners organization; 7. Fl. Morrlssey,
Peoria, Grand Master of the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen; w. d. Ma
hon, Detroit. president of the Street Rail-
way Union; J. r. Sovereign, president of
the Knights of Labor; James ii. Sulli-
van. Baltimore, president of the Inter
national Association =of Decorators and
Painters; j. 3. Lennon, Bloomington.
ILL.,. president of the Custom Tailors'
Union: J. f. Mulholland, Toledo. presi-
dent Internationa Union of Bicycle
Workers; Jesse johnson, Nashville,
president of the Interna tional Printing
Pressmen's Union; Theodore Perry, First
viee-president of the Typographical I'm
ion; Robert Askew, Ishpeming, Mich.
secretary OF the Northern international
Mine Workers; VIM. Mckinney, La
Fayette. Ind. president of the Painters
Union: J. W. Rea, Chicago, president of
the Painters ard Decorators Union;
G. w. Perkins. Chicago, president Of the
Internationa Tobacco Workers Union;
Patrick Dolan. Pittsburg.= president OF
the Pittsburg District Miners; NJ. NJ.
Garland. Pittsburg. president Of the
Amalgamated Associat tion OF Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers; G. II. wilkins, Chi
cago, assistant Grand Chief Of the Order
of Railway Conductors: +. =. Sargent,
Peoria. ILL.,. Grand Master of :the Broth
erhood of Railroad Firemen;: Val FitZ-
patrick, Columbus. third vics-presidCnt
of the brotherhood of Railway Train
men: r. T.. Lewis, Bridgeport, Ohio, sec
retary of the Ohio Miners organization;
f. v Debs. Chicago. former head of the
American Railway Union; ]. Kunzeler,
Pittsburg secretary of the american
Flint Glass Workers Union; w II. Ri
ley, Wheeling, president of the National
Stogie Workers League; NJ. Z. Carrick,
Pittsburg. Secretary of the Painters or
ganiZation; F. J. COnoughap, OF Pits
burg. secretary and treasurer of the Ma
tional Plumbers and Gas Filters Onion.
The first session of the conference was
held at one o'clock on the arrival of
Messrs. Ratchford and Pears frons Co
lumbus. On motion of Mr.. Sovereign
Samuel Gompers was chosen to preside
and Secretary Morrison, also of the Fed
eration was made secretary.
Chairman Gompers then called uhOn
the miners representatives to detail sEe
situation. They were also asked to sJ:g-
gest in what manner the other laboriag
organization could give their aid. PreSi-
the conference at some length, stating
fully the causes that had led to the sus-
pension of work in the bituminous regions
and presented the conditions of the
miners who are taking part in the strike.
He did not propose anything in the way
of recommendations as to what the Or
ganized labor Of the country could do in
aid of the strike, preferring that impor-
tant subject to be left to the consideration
of the conference. An appeal for aid was
made in a general way. w. G. Pears,
Patrick Dolan and T. l.. Lewis also ad-
dressed the conference, speaking in the
same strain. In the course of their re-
marks it was brought out tnat the miners
believe that the hardest fight should be
made at the works of the Cleveland and
Pittsburg Coal Company Ode Armitt's
mines) in the Pittsburg district. This was
considered fully as important a point as
the West Virginia district. At this point
a recess was taken for dinner.
Upon reassembling at 2:30 O'clock the
conference again took up the strike ques-
ton. Messrs. Mahon, Rea and Debs, who
have been at work in the Fairmont dis
trict; Mr.. Askew, who is fresh from the
Norfolk and Western territory, and Mr.
Sovereign addressed the meeting, the lat
ter speaking at some length. The confer
ence was held behind closed doors. AT its
conclusion it was given out that a COM
nittee of five had been appointed to de-
wise plan for aiding the miners, which
Continued ON fourth page.)