The morning news., 1897-07-28
STRIKE HACKERS IN SESSION.
GATHERING OF LABOR LEADERS
AT WHEELING A BIG ONE.

the object of the Meeting-TcIc-
grams PIedGing Financial Assis-
tRnce Received From the Heads OF
Many OrgnnizntiOns-Mnss Meet
inGs to he Held All over the COun-
try-EnOrts in West Virginia and
Pennsylvania to he Increased.
Wheeling, w, Va. July 27.-What is de-
clared to be the most important and larg-
est gathering Of the heads of labor organ-
izations 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. Ratch-
ford of the United Mine Workers, and
approved by President Gompers Of the
American Federation of Labor, of which
the miners organization is a part.
The purpose of the conference is to aid
in a speedy and successful termination of
the great coal strike Sessions of the con-
ference were held during the day and to-
night. but until the night session, littia
had been accomplished.
The following labor leaders are present.
Samuel Gompers Of New York, president
Of the American Federation of Labors
Fred Morrison Of Chicago, secretary OF
the federation; NJ. D. Ratchford of Colum-
bus, president OF the United Mine Workers
! Of America; w. c. Pearce of Columbus
| secretary Of the miners organization; Pc
II. Morrlssey of Peoria, ILL.,, grand mas
ter OF the Brotherhood Of Railway Train
| men; W. d. Mahon Of Detroit, president
Of the street railway union; J. r. Sover-
egn, president OF the knights of Labor;
James II. Sullivan of Baltimore. president
of the International Association of Decor
ators and Painters; ]. B. Lennon of Bloom-
ington. H.. president OF the customs tall
ors' union j. f. Mulholland of Toledo,
| president of the International Union of
| Bicycle Workers; Jesse Johnson OF Nash
vile. president of the International Print
| ing Pressmens Union; Theodore Perry Of
| Nashville president of. the International
| Typographical Union Robert Askew OF
Ishpeming. Mich, secretary Of the North
ern Mineral Mine Workers; William Nc
| Kinney of Lafayette, Ind, president of the
| painters union; j. w. Rea. chairman of
| painters and decorators union; G. w.
| Perkins Of Chicago, president Of the
| International Tobacco Workers Unions
! Patrick Doan of Pittsburg, president of
| the Plttsburg district miners; M. NJ. Gar
| land Of Pittsburg, president OF the ANAL
| gamated Association of Iron and Steel
| Workers; G. II. wilkins of Chicago, as
| sistant grand chief Of the Order Of Rail-
way Conductors; r. +. Sargent Of Peoria,
| H., grand master of the Brotherhood of
| Railroad Firemen; Val Fitzpatrick Of Co
| lumbus third vice president Of the Broth
erhood Of Railway Trainmen T. L. Lewis
Of Bridgeport, o., secretary of the Ohio
| miners organization; u. V. Debs of Chi
| cago, former head Of the American Rail-
way Union; ]. Kunzeler Of Pittsburg, Sec
retary of the American Flint Glass Work.
ers Union; W. II. Riley Of Wheeling, pres
ident of the National stogie Workers
League; p. J. Couraghan Of Pittsburg,
secretary and treasurer Of the National
Plumbers and Gas Filters Union.
The nrst session of the conference was
| held at / o'clock, on the arrival Of Messrs.
Ratchford and Pearce from Columbus. On
| motion of Mr. Sovereign, Samuel Gompers
was chosen to preside. and Secretary Nor
rison. also OF the federation, was made
| secretary.
Chairman Gompers then called upon the
miners representatives TO detail the situ-
alton. They we're also asked to suggest
in what manner the other labor organiza-
tions could give their aid
President Ratchford of the miners adj
dressed the conference at some length,
stating fully the causes that had led to
the suspension Of work In the bituminous
regions, and presented the conditions OF
the miners who are taking part In the
the way OF recommendations as to what
the organized labor of the country should
do In aid OF the strike, preferring that i'm
portant subject be left to the considera-
tlon of the conference. An appeal for aid
was made In a general way.
W. c. Pearce, Patrick Dolan and T. l..
LOWS also addressed the conference.
speaking In the same strain. In the
course OF their remarks II was brought
out that the miners believe that the hard
est fight should be made at the works OF
the Cleveland and Plttsburg districts.
This was considered fully as Important
point as the West Virginia district. At
this point 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 al work IN the Fairmont dis
trict, Mr. Askew, who is fresh from th0
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.
AZ it's conclusion Il was given out that
a committee Of Ave had been 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 una
BILE 10 attend on account OF the shoEt no
tice. Mr. Morrison says that the chief aim
Of the conference will be to effect a sus-
pension Of work in West Virginia and at
the DeArmt mines. The conference has
not yet come 70 the point Of believing II
necessary to ask the flremen. conductors
or braSemen TO refuse 70 haul West Vir-
ginia coal.
Tho conference reeonvened tonight at
5 o'clock.
Wheeling W. Va, July 27.--The con-
ference adjourned just as the capitol
clock struck the midnight hour, having
been IN session since 8 o'clock. II was
decided that President Gompcrs should
act as a committee OF one IN arranging for
sympathetic mass meetings an over the
country on Aug. 8. The officers OF the
American Federation Of Labor were re-
qucatcd TO communicate with union or
ganlzations as 70 what shall be done TO
further the plan outlined Ia to-night's ap-
peal
Tho officers OF the United Mineworkers
are TO arrange for the systematic work OF
ono hundred labor organizers Ia West Vir-
ginin, IN which state ana In Pennsylvania
lIfYu "a