Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-07-14
LABOR LEADERS
Il" secure the Cooperation and Practice
Ala at orgsniIcd Labor for che strur-

To secure the Co-oper.tIoa and Pr.r,,..
Ala "t ORGANIZED Labor for the strur-
CLING Miners
PirlSBURGH, Pa, July lo.-The
greatest gathering OF labor leaders
that ever assembled in this country
during national strike was held in
this clty Friday night to devise means
TO assist the miners in their contest
for increased wages The con ercnce
was called suddenly. but the officials
responding represented nearly every
branch u, organized labor in the
United States.
The conference was fixed for 10
o'clock Friday morning. ut the Monon-
gahela house, but owing TO the deten-
ton of President Ratchford. who
missed connection and did not reach
Pitts burgh until after o'clock Friday
evening, II was nearly o o'clock before
the meeting convened.
The session was secret and il was
almost midnight before it was over.
The press committee. Mcssrs Gompcrs.
Eatchtord and Counahan, then gave
out the following state mcnt, in which
was Incorporated, they said, all that
was done NJ the conference. The man
ifcSto follows:
After an informal discussion re-
ports were made 10y Mcssrs. Ratchford.
Dolan and Warner in regard to the
situation of the movement, and IL was
demonstrated that the suspension was
practically general in the competitive
bituminous coal district, extending also
to Kentucky and Tennessee. excepting
a few points in West Virginia II was
realized that the situation in West
Virginia required attention in order
that the suspension should become ab-
solutcly general and success assured
With that object in view, action was
recommended 10y President Gompcrs.
of the American Federation of La
Dor and IL was determined upon To
overcome this feature of the con-
test. 1t was also determined that
every effort bc made on the part OF
those present 10 secure the co-opera-
ton and practical aid OF organized la
Dor for the struggling miners. An the
circumstances warranted the firm con-
viction that the miners will ultimately
achieve victory and TO this end the aid
OF labor and the sympathetic public is
invoked. Conscious of the great interest
which the public has in contest SO
widespread As that of the miners gives
us great satisfaction TO know that the
miners have not been and are not now
opposed TO arbitration. We therefore
urge and advise that "A conference be
held by representatives OF the miners
and operators with the view of arriy-
ing at settlement of the present sus-
/ pension"
Notwithstanding the positive an
nouncement by the committee that the
statement furnished the press covered
all the proceedings of the conference,
/ 1t Is known that an organized effort to
secure general suspension OF mining
/ IN West Virginia was decided upon
| After a thorough canvass OF the situ.
alton, 1t was unanimously agreed that
the West Virginia miners held the KEY
10 the situation, and without their
united support the success of the gen
eral movement would be greatly
jeopardized
1t is known that concerted action
Will be taken at once to make the sus-
pension of mining in West Virginia
complete, which move, II successful,
Will Kill off the most effective enemy
the strikers have to encounter 1t
was this field that broke the strike
in '94 and no effort will be spared
TO bring it into subsection at this
time.
To supplement the conference of
Friday evening, a special meeting of
the State Labor league has been called
for sunday night IN this city at which
further means of support will be de-
vised. The operators in the meantime
are viewing the conditions calmly and
! profess to be in no wise alarmed at
the ultimate success of their cause.