The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-31

man and every friend of abor through
out the country to do likewise.
Resolved (2), That if the strike of the
miners is not settled by the goth day of
September, 1897, and announcement
made to that effect by the president of
the United Mine Workers, a general
convention be held at Chicago on Mon
day, September q, 1887, by the repre-
sentatives of all unions, sections,
branches, lodges and kindred organiza-
tions of laboring men and friends of
their cause, for the purpose of consid-
ering further measures in the interest
OF the striking miners and labor in gen.
eral.
Resolved (3), That we consider the
use of the ballot as the best and safest
means for the amehoration of the hard
ships under which the laboring class
suffers.
Resolved "a, That the public own
ership of all mines and railroads is one
of the most necessary reforms of our
Resolved 90, That we most emphat-
ically protest against government by
injunction, which plays havoc with
even such political liberty as working
men have saved from the steady en-
croachment of capitalism; and be it
finally
Resolved (6), That no nation in
which the people are totally disarmed
can long remain a free nation, and
therefore we urge upon all liberty-lov-
ing citizens to remember and obey arti-
Gle of the constitution of the United
States, which reads as follows:
The right of the people to keep and
bear arms shall not be infringed'"
As soon as the platform was before
the convention dozen delegates were
on their feet clamoring for recognition.
One delegate wanted to change the date
of the Chicago conference to October
early.
The amendment was laid on the table
to be taken up later.
Delegate Osborn of Atlanta, Ga, Of
a to 49,
1t was the sense of the meeting that all
employed men in the United States
should apply for admission to the poor
house of their respective counties. No
action was taken on this resolution and
the convention went off into a deSultory
manner regarding the debate.
Mr.. Mahon, of Detroit, favored the
limiting of debate to five minutes, and
made motion to that effect. He said
further: Il am tired of this thing of
talking and talking and the advance
ment of political ideas through labor
conventions
Mr.. Mahon's motion was amended to
read ten minutes by Mr.. Ratchford, and
this was agreed to.
Mr.. OsboKn introduced an amendment
to the platform to the effect that as
the country should take care of it's un-
employed, the striking miners and 9TH
er laborers of the country apply to the
authorities of their respective counties
for admission to the poor house, and
again oratory was in full swing. There
was no particular attention paid to the
motion before the convention, and the
delegates turned themselves loose
Mr.. Clemens of Kansas, a member of
the committee on resolutions and who
was expected to bring in minority
report. enlivened the proceedings by a
witty speech.
This is the tamest aggregation of
wild animals ever saw together was
Mr.. Clemens SalutatiOn to the cOnVen-
ton.
He expressed dissatisfaction at the
mild measures presented for the relief
of the labor troubles in general, and
tell his people what they were trying to
do or what they had done. ''Give me
liberty" said Mr.. Clemens, with much
gravity, "or I'll take up a collection
Mr.. Pat O'Neil, the Rich Hill, Mo-,
miner, said he inferred from the talk
that there were two resolutions. One
was resolved that the miners should
be paupers, and the other resolved
that the miners were paupers." Mr..
O'Neil took up the entire ten minutes,
but offered no amendment.
Mr.. Mahon pleaded for something
practical and quick action. He wanted
relief for the suffering miners. Let the
theories come later. He was opposed to
Mr.. Osborn's ''poor house, resolution,
and said, Let US put up our dollars for
the miners"
Mr.. Ratchford took the convention to
task for getting off their subject. He
said the miners did not ask for aid;
that was not the object of the conven-
ton. He protested against Mr.. Os-
borns resolution and said the confer
ence should endeavor to settle the para
mount question of government by in
junction. Mr.. OSbOrn'S amendment
was lost unanimously and the attempt
to- charge the date of the collection for
the striking miners from September 3
to 10 was defeated.
Mr. Claiborne of Springfield, Mo-,
moved to strike out the second reso1u-
ton of the platform calling for the
Voa n
H. NJ. Williams of st. Louis presented
a substitute for Mr.. Claiborne's motion
to strike out the plank calling for the
Chicago convention, conVening a labor
congress in st. Louis September 20.
without action the convention took