The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-09-04
THE LABOR CONFERENCE
is NOT PROMISING
Owing to Discord Among the Dele
gates Not Much Can Be
Accomplished.
WERE BUSY LONG INTO THE NIGHT
Fourteen Labor Organizations Are
Represented and None Can
Agree Upon Any Plan
Of Action.

ST. Louis, Sept. 1.-The committee
on credentials made its report imine-
diatcly upon the assembling of the
conference for its afternoon session.
II was shown that lightweight dele
gates, representing the following or
carnations, were represented: Unit
ed Mine Workers of America. the So
cial democracy, the American Federa-
ton OF Labor, the Stone Makers In
tcrnational union, Brotherhood of
Painters and Decorators, brotherhood
OF Bottle Blowers, building trades
council of ST. Louis, the Patriots of
America, international brotherhood
of Track Foremen. the Single Tax
League of America, Central Labor
Council of Cincinnati, the Information
al Typographical union, the peoples
party of Kansas and the Industrial
Order of Freedmen.
The report, after some discussion,
was adopted. 1T was decided, however,
that delegates be recognized as com
ing from the particular organization
they represented instead of the gen
eral body. The report showed also
the presence of one woman delegate,
Mrs. Mary Jones of Chicago, who rep
%resents the social democracy. The
temporary organization was then
made permanent and the chairman
read the call for the convention.
The chairman then named as the
committee ION resolutions and plan of
action" w. c. Pearce, of the miners;
w. ID. Mahon of the street railway
men; Victor Berger of Milwaukee,,
who represents the social democracy,
in whose favor Mr.. Dcbs declined; e..
(. Clemens of Topeka, representing
the populists, and James r. Sover-
eign.
For an Extra Session Of Congress.
Mr.. Rntchford then took the floor.
He went over the miners strike from
its inception to the present day and
dwelt particularly upon government
by injunction" He pleaded for prompt
action, and, coming to the point of his
argument, advocated Il special session
OF congress as the best, and, in fact,
the only relief. y believe" said Mr..
Ratchford, "a special session of con
gress is necessary to define the rights
of the people of this country-if they
have any. | believe that if sufficient
time be given the president of the
United States will call n special session
OF congress to act on the matter of in
functions and find means OF relief from
the existing troubles in the labor
world.
In case OF REFUSAL said Mr.. Ratch-
ford. imprcssively, after an outburst
OF cheering had subsidized. ''it will then
be time to consider more extreme
measures. | am in favor. if the presi-
dent refuses TO call congress together,
OF a complete paralysis. of business. |
believe then in "A sympathetic strike"
Pat O'Neill of Rich Hill, Mo-. who
said he represented 1.5o0 '%'unorgan-
lied picks" favored Il labor revolution.
He was a socialist, he said. and be-
lieved in the miners taking things in
their own hands if necessary. His
fiery harangue pleased the audience
greatly.
Mr.. Sovereign put himself on record
rs opposed 10 Mr.. R~atchford's plan.
He believed this would be the last con
vention to be held under present con
ditions and that the crucial test now
confronted organized labor.
Mr.. Mahon of Detroit. said a resolu-
tons committee was useless. The con
vention should vote on Ratchford's
proposition and hen go home. He
was opposed to Mr.. Ra%tchford's propo-
sition. Mr.. Mahon, as did his prede-
cessor. took a fling at Senator Hanna.
NE. Nii'iioh SUI 'ne Pfesiaeht "ouid
have To get 1tanna's consent to the
convening of congress.
Thinks the Battle Lost in Illinois.
James NJ. Carson, president of the
iannth +hn nan1;,;ann -, q. ~
n,iaars ~ ~ s+nta anh a a"i,n'A ~, ~
i;arnd IL, No. u1o,,ll Iva a =; ~ 49,
,,a,Is. wv"
To,no,.u ;. ~ oroot,, ,na .,
against governments by Injunction
were received from me populist eNecu-
1--WE committee OF the SlNteenth CON
Sresslohal uistrlet OF 'ihlo. the Ger
man RACES asseiitS OF lhiiadelphia
ana lhe AtiAhta feueration OF Trades.
MI. i~tatchtord took exception to MIR.
1arsons statement that the Illinois
miners had lost their strike. lie said
the miners were winning their strike.
and furthermore, his men were not
asking tins convention tor aid. They
wanted this gathering to eradicate. if
possible, the f. power of injunction.
Taking Il ling at Miner Pat O'Neill, he
said a ma who advocated the use of
WinchcSters had no place in the ON
vention. "Down our way, said Mr..
ltatchford, miners dont know how to
haadle guns.
James Hogan. formerly of the A. X.
T., and now representing the social de-
mocracy OF Chicago. General" Brad
ley OF commonweal fame, and Gen