The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-01
Conference AdjournS to
Meet Shortly at
Chicago.
Exciting Scenes and Incidents
Mark the Close of the
Session.
Debs Electrifies the Vast Assem-
blage With HIS Fiery Elcquence
Of Speech.

OIL. LOUIS, Mo, Aug. 5l.-Ine conIer-
ence of labor leaders which has been In
session here two days finished its work
this evening. The meeting was product
i've of several sensational speeches ana
many resolutions, yet no decisive action
was taken in the principal matter 1or
which the gathering was summoned-the
adjustment of government by inJunc-
ton.
The convention, which has been an
nounced as the last of its kind to be held,
while ad juurning sine die, has merely post
poned action on the matters before
it for three weeks, as call
for similar convention, to be
held in Chicago, Monday, September Il,
wac issued. True it is, the convention
orders its chairman. Mr.. Pomeroy of the
International Typographical Union, 10
request President Mckinley in the name
of the convention to call special meeting
of Congress for the purpose OF defining
the authority OF Judges in the matter OF
injunctions," but as the President will
hardly receive the communication In time
to convene Congress in three weeks, even
should he consider the matter favora bly,,
the Chicago gathering may take action
which would render tc-dsy's move VOID or
decide 10 act in another manner.
Mr.. Debs and social democracy doml-
mated the convention, and the famous
labor leader carried the gathering off its
feet this afternoon in one OF his charac-
teristic speeches.
A resolution introd uced by Mr.. Mahon
of Detroit calling upon all miners now at
work to desert their posts and termlng
them enemies of human liberty so long as
they remained on duty was adopted. Mr..
Mahon had another resolution prepared
asking the convention to call for 100 vol
unteers to 60 into the town of Pocahontas.
Va, on the 18th of Septe mber, and there
hold meeting ''in defiance OF the Mayor
of that city. who had set himself up in
opposition TO the God-given and ancient
right of free speech" but at the last
moment concluded not to present it. The
resolution will proba bly, come to the front
al the Chicago convention.
Mr.. Ratchford who was especially
pleased with the convention instructions
regarding the request for the converting
of Congress, hurried away tonight TO Co.
lum bus, where he will attend a conieren ce
of mine-workers and operators. Mr.. Debs,
and in fact all the leaders, are gratitied at
the result of the conference.
a; 10 o'clock this morning the commit
Zee on resolutions Fl ed into the hall and
the delegates were called to order 10 hear
its report.
Mr. Bergen. presenting the resolutions,
spoke OF the great task the com mittee
hal before it. He said the report about
to be submitted was the best the com nit
tee could do under the circumstances.
Whether it would suit was the question.
The platform aims prin cipaily at the obo-
ition of government by injunction, and
after long prelude reciting the griev-
ances of the laboring masses and the de-
plorable condition OF the striking miners,
presents the following resolutions:
Resolped a., That we hereby set apart Fri
day, the Sd day OF September, 1897, good
Friday. for the cause of suffering la Dor III
America and contribute the earnings OF that
day TO the support OF our struggling brothers,
the miners, and appeal to every union man
and every friend OF labor throughout the
United States to 90 likewise.
RESOLVED ~. That if the strike OF the miners
is not settled by the Goth of Septem Der, 1897.
aud an announcement made TO that effect by
the president of the United Nine workers a
general convention will be held at Chicago
on Monday, Septe N Der 81, 1897, by the rep
resentatives OF all unions. sections, branches,
lodges and kindred organizations of laboring
men and friends OF their cause, for the pur-
pose of considering further measures in the
interest of the striking miners and labor in
general.
ReSOlued (3), That we consider the use OF
the ballot as the best and safest means for the
smelioratio of the hardshlps under which
the laboring classes suffer.
Resolued ~, That the public ownership OF all
railroads is one of the most necessary reforms
of our body polite
Resolred (5), That we most emf hatically pro-
test against government by injunction, which
plays havoc with even such political liberty
as workingmen have saved from the steady
encroschment of capitalism, and be it finally
ResoEued TO-, That no nation in which the
people are totally disarmed can long remain a
free nation, and therefore we urge upon all
hberty-loving citizens to remember and obey
article IL OF the cons titutiop of the United
States, which reads as follows: "The right of
the people to keep and bear arms shall not be
infringed"
Alter much discu sion and without
action the convention took a recess until
2 o'clock.
The delegates were eager for work an d
the afternoon session was set in motion
promptly at o'clock. After considerable
talk Mr.. Williams, st. Louis delegate,
endeavored to have the convention held in
st. Louis. 1t was decided that the matter
should remain as inlrod iced in the plat
form and the labor congress will be held
IN Chicago on Monday, Septem Der 81
The third plank in the platform was
amended by the use Of the word proper
before use OF the ballot" and the resolu-
ton now reads as follows:
RESOLVED, That we consider the proper use OF
the ballot as the st and safest means for the
amelloration of the liardships under which
the laboring class suffers.
Mr. Webster of ST. Louis wanted to
Know II these "milk-and-wate resolutions
disposed Of the pertinent matter of gov
eminent by injunction. He wanted
congress to investigate this matter.
why" said Mr.. Sovereign, 'this con.
ventlon has rejected a proposition looking
to this very end. Even if Congress did
give us the rights We want, the courts of
The country would still have the power OF
injunction and thew could then throttle