The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-07-31
MANIFESTO ISSUED.
A Big Meeting of Heads OF Labor
Bodies at Wheeling.
Condition of the Miners Graphically Set
FOrth-Injunctions by Judges De-
nOunccd-- Strikers in the East
Making Little Headway.

WHEELING, w. Va, July 2S.-WhaI
is declared to be the most important
and largest gathering of the heads OF
labor organizations of America ever
held is now in session in this city. Il
is the conference of labor leaders called
last week by President NJ. ID. Ratch
ford, of the United Mine Workers, anC
approved by President Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor, OF
which the miners organization is Z
part. The purpose of the conference
is toad in a speedy and successful ter.
mination of the great coal strike.
Chairman Gompers called upon
the miners representatives to detail
the situation. They were also asked
to suggest in what manner the other
labor organizations could give their
aid. President Ratchford, of the min
ers, addressed 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 strike. w. c. Pears,
Patrick Dolan and Il. l.. Lewis also ad-
dressed the conference. The confer
ence was held behind closed doors.
At its close it was given out that
committee of five had been appointed
to devise plan for aiding the miners,
which would be reported at the night
session. Telegrams pledging financial
aid for the miners were received from
nearly all the beads of organizations
that had been unable to attend on ac-
count of the short notice. The follow
ing manifesto was issued from the con-
ference room last night:
wall of anguish mingled with desperation.
arises from the bowels Of the earth, and the
miners cry for relief for some degree OF justice,
touches the responsive chord in the hearts and
consciences OF the whole people Drudging at
wages. when employed which are in nadequnte
and portend misery, starvation and slavery,
the miners are confronted with q condition by
which their Sc1nt earnings are denied them. eX-
cept through the company pluck me stores,"
which Outshylock the worst features of the ne
farious system and are stigma on the es-
cutcheon OF our country and blot on our civ
ilization.
We. the representatives OF the trades unions
and OF all organized labor of the United States,
in convention assembled to consider the pend
ing struggle OF the miners for wages sufficient
to enable them to live and to enjoy at least
some degree of the necessities OF life, de-
termined to forever put stop to state of
starvation in which they are now engulfed We
feel assured that all men and women who love
their families or who have one spark OF human
all the aid in their power to enable the miners
TO win their present battle.
We denounce the issuance OF injunctions by
the judges of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and
other states as wholly unjustiled, unwarranted
and unprecedented. more especially in the alb
sence of any exhibition manifestation OF
force on the part of the outraged miners. We
call the governors of West Virginia and
upon the governors OF all other states and OF
all public officials for full and ample protection
in the exercise of our rights of free speech and
public assemblage. We recommend that indig-
nation mass meetings be held throughout the
entire country to give expressions to the con-
demnation OF the unwarranted Injunction in in
terfering with the free rights OF free assem-
blage and free speech. and we also extend SYM
pathy and support to the mine workers to the
utmost extent
We hereby call upon each national and inter-
national organization Of labor to send repre-
to act for and by the direction of the
United Workers organizers in West Vir-
ginia, Pennsylvania and such other states as
may be necessary. Fully imbued with the he
roic struggle which the miners are making for
pure womanhood and innocent children. for de-
cency. for manhood and for civilization. and for
the consciousness of the justice of their cause
and of the responsibility of their actions, we
call upon the worl<ingmen of our country to
lend all possible assistance to our suffering
struggling fellow workers of the mines, and to
unite in defense of our homes, our rights, our
and our country
Strike Making No Headway.
WHEELING, w. Va, July 2s.-The
coal strike in this state did not show
much change yesterday. AT Fairmont
the Monongah mines added number
of men to their working force yester-
day, making 100 men employed, about
of the force before the
strike. Eighty men came into the
fields from Connellsville yesterday and
were put to work in the various mines.
All the Watson mines are working
full, as are the CASTOR. Montana, New