The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-30
Big Railroad Organizations Not to BE
Represented, but the Lead
Are Hopeful
NO SYMPATHY STRIKE LIKELY
ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE 10 ANAL
GAMATE ALL THE TRADES.
President DOlan Comes to Rntchford'a
Defense and Exposes Some
OF the Operators.


labor leaders on to-morrow's united labor
convention is tonight considerable of a
disappointment to the local committee on
arrangements, but they hope that to-mor-
rows arrivals will materially increase the
list of those expected. The most important
arrivals of the day were j. r. Sovereign,
general master workman of the Knights of
Labor; w. c. Pearce, secretary and treas
urer OF the United Mine Workers CT
America, Columbus, o.; r. Askew, secre-
tary of the National Mineral Miners Asso-
citation, Ishpeming. Mich, and Sylvester
Kelliher, formerly secretary of the A. r. u.
and at present publisher of the Social DEM
ocrat, Chicago. Mr.. Sovereign fought shy
of reporters until nearly IL o'clock to-
night, when he was cornered in the La
clede and submitted to an interview.
ut is simply impossible to forecast what
this conference will do" said Mr.. Sover-
eign. Nobody can tell what its outcome
will be. 1t seems to me, however" he con-
tinued, that all labor organizations realize
that the time has come for them to put
aside all petty jealousies and form one
grand amagamation. Whether this or
ganization will be effected here l cannot
even surmise. Organized labor has been
working for some time on the line of Sc
curing legislation which will benefit the
working classes, but it has brought us no
benefit. We will now get to work in an
endeavor to remove the cause of our fail
ure in legislative circles and hope for bet
ter results"
Branching off into the miners strike Mr..
Sovereign said: This miners strike is
nearer won than many people believe. If
ever there was a real grievance and a just
cause for striking it was in this strike, and
1 believe they will yet win
If" said Mr.. Sovereign in conclusion,
they don't win it is the last strike l will
ever go into on these lines"
What new plan of action Mr.. Sovereign
had he declined to say, The other arrivals
of the day were G.. c. Clemens. of Topeka,
Kan, who bears credentials from Chair
man Briedenthal, the State chairman OF
the Populist State committee of Kansas;
"A. II. Claiborne, of Springfield, Mo-; Il.
b. Webster, national treasurer of the Pa
triots of America, Chicago; Frank Ste
phens. the noted singe-tax advocate Of
Philadelphia; L. S. Dickey, treasurer Of
the National Single Tax League, of Chi
cago, and j. r. Finn, also of Chicago.
James M. Carson, president of the United
Mine Workers of Illinois, has been here
since Friday.
The local committees on arrangements
tonight after consultation with all dele
gates now in town. called q meeting Of all
labor representatives for 10 o'clock to-mor-
row at Masonic Hall to organize and ap-
point committee on credentials. The COM
mittee early in the week appointed a re-
ception committee of 100 and distributed
them at the Union Depot and different ho-
tells throughout the city to welcome the
delegates Their duties, however, have not
been onerous, yet they expect to have
plenty to do tomorrow morning. Grant
Luce, chairman of the committee on ar
rangements, said tonight that he had been
advised that Messrs Ratchford and Com
pers and one or two others had met in Co
lumbus and arranged a plan of action for
the conference which they Will present at
to~morrow's conference. President Dolan,
of the Pennsylvania miners, is also expect
ed, but Messers. Sargent, of the Brother
hood of Fireman. and Ramsey, of the Te-
legraphers, have wired that they will be
unable to attend. Mr. Debs viii arrive in
the morning on the Nandalia. A letter
from him to that effect was read at this
afternoons meeting of the Social Democ-
racy. He will be welcomed by a special
committee.
The objects of to-morrow's conference, as
far as can be ascertained from the various
opinions given out by the local committees
are to devise some means for the relief of
the striking miners of the country and TO
protest against government by inJunc-
tion," or, in the words OF the call itself,
''the object of the convention will be not
merely to protest against the usurpation
and tyranny of the courts, but to formu-
cipes of free government and put said
plans into practical operation"
Secretary II. w. Steinbiss, Of the Build
ing Trades Council of st. Louis, who has
the work of preparing for the convention,
said tonight THE object of the meeting
is to settle the miners strike We want JUS
tice, and we going to have it, but not
in Distance OF the principles of American
liberty. We are patriotic, and we want
what is for the best interests of the entire
country. ! received the CALL which was
issued by President Ratchford and Secre;,
tary Pcarce. 1t was indorsed by Samuel
Gompers president OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor; j. r. Sovereign, general
master workman Of the Knights of Labor,
and Engene V. Debs 1t was sent by Mr..
Pearce who asked me to help Mr.. Carson,
who was coming here to arrange the con-
Yention.
mo one knows yet at what time the
convention will meet. l think the great
est result of this meeting viii be- the unit
ing of all the labor organizations In this
country in one common cause. 1t VIII.
without any question, lead to the union or
All the labor organizations in one central
body in which united action can be taken
for the interests of labor on every Dues
tion that may affect their interest. / know
that an representatives of labor in st.
Louis are in favor OF such step.