The herald., 1897-08-31

tomorrow morning. The fourteen diff
ferent organizations represented in the
convention make an unwieldy body, and
1t is evident that all of them cannot be
| satisfied with platform formulated by
five men representing as many branches
of organized labor.
Ratchford's plan Of petitioning Presi-
dent Mckinley to convene congress in
extra session to enact mea sures provid-
| ing for the settlement of the present
| labor difficulties, or, as he put it, ''to de-
| fine the rights of citizens, if any," did
not meet with the approval he had hoped
I for and 1t is not believed that the plank
will be incorporated in the platform.
| Although in the present convention ali
! day. Mr.. Debs did not speak nor did he
put in an appearance at tonight's mass
meeting, where he was widely adver-
tised to make an address. He is repre-
sented on the resolutions committee,
| however, by Mr.. Berger, and as he has
remand pretty close to the gentleman
| composing that committee 1t is safe to
| say his Social Democracy" idea will be
represented.
| 1t is thought adjournment will be
| reached some time tomorrow.
EVENING ORATORY
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Aug. 3o.-Less than
1000 people, among whom were a large
number Of ladies, assembled in Masonic
hall tonight to listen to addresses by
prominent labor leaders brought to the
city by the conference. There was much
enthusiasm shown When it became
known that Eugene v Debs, president
of oioI
speak there were signs of disapproval
and loud cries for that noted leader. On
the stage were a number of the most
notable of the delegates to the confer
ence, among them being James R. Sow
ereign, grand master workman of the
Knights of Labor; M. D. Ratchford,
president of the National Mine Workers
union; G. c. Clemens, the Populist
leader Of Topeka Kas.; w. D. Mahon,
president of the Street Railwaymen's
union; John Lloyd of Chicago, a repre-
sentative of Debs' Social Democracy,
and Frank Stevens of the Delaware
Single Tax league.
Grand Master Workman Sovereign,
who presided, made an impassioned
address, in which he said that the labor
ing men of this country were face to
face with the last great problem of civil
ization-their rights and liberty of free
speech. He predicted that the confer
ence would result in the issuance of an
edict that would lead to a new era of
liberty to the laboring classes of Amer
lea.
The presiding officer then called for
Eugene " Debs, and John F. Kelly an
nounced that the Social Democracy
leader was busy with the committee on
resolutions and could not attend the
meeting. He sent word, however, that
after the presentation of the report of
the committee he would make an ex-.
preston of his views on the question be-
fore the conference.
John W. Lloyd of Chicago spoke in his
stead. He said the injunction was the
last nail in the coffin of freedom and
Justice and predicted that there would
never be an effective strike until every
wheel of industry of the country was
| stopped.
Among the other speakers were Frank
Stevens, who said that the only solu-
ton of the question was single tax;
w. D. Mahon, G. c. Clemens and M. ID.
Ratchford, who was the last on the pro-
gram.
SANGUINE HOPES
CLEVELAND, O., Aug. SO.-A promi-
nent coal operator in the Pittsburg dis
| trict said tonight that the miners strike
would probably be settled temporarily,
at least. within the next forty eight
hours.
STARVING MINERS
DENVER, Col, August 3O.-A special
to the News from Lebanon, Ind, says:
An immense meeting was held tonight
at the opera house. in behalf of the starv-
ing coal miners in Indiana. Judge Thos.
j. Terhune made sta tement of the con-
diton of the miners as he found it while
making his investigation as Governor
Hunts special commissioner. In the
course of his address he said: There are
5000 families in state of destitution-
30 900 people who are literally starving.
A few years ago they received s1.25 per
ton; now the average price paid is about
80 cents per ton. A good miner can make
81 a day, and is allowed to work two or
three days each week. They are COM
pelled to trade at company stores, and
the prices they pay are left entirely to
the mine operators. The miners admit
that they cannot live on the present scale
of wages"
A large subscription to the relief fund
was raised.
IN A MUDDLE
PITTSBURG, Pa, Aug. 3O.-The stu
alton in this district may be said to be
in a muddle. 1t is known that when
President Dolan left for the ST. Louis
convention he was the bearer of an i'm
portant proposition to be submitted to
President Ratchford, which asks the
privilege of starting some of the mines
1t has the sanction of the district offic-
ials and only needs the consent of the
higher officials.
COLORADO GOLD