Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-08-25
MINE WORKERS
Issue "a Cali for "A Conference OF Organized
Labor. ia B" Held I'm 81 Louis August so.
Ia Consider the Miners strike.

ing issued lht call Tor the conference
of organized labor 70 be- held at 1t.
Louis. August 80.
Following Is the call for the confer
ence:
To organized labor. It's various divisions and
subdivisions. and 20 all reform. SOCIAL cduca-
uonal and scientific bodies who condemn
government by injunction aud the use OF
force 10 coerce the people and deprive them
OF their right, a. American citizens
COLUMBUS. o. Aug ~ 80
To the Organized Labor OF the Country.
Greeting The great miners strike has gone
beyond a struggle for living wages crisis In
the affairs OF the nation has arrived In which
all patriotic people must determine whether
they Will accept and consent to live under the
rule OF an oligarchy OF wealth. or whether I'M.
institution OF free government. the right, of
free speech and peaceable public uSsembIaye
are TO be preserved.
The present struggle has assumed a contest
Tor the preservation OF civil liberty and consti-
tutional rights.
The tyranuical and un- American iuiluctions
OF the federal and state courts are revolution
airy against the first principles Of free govern
ment and derogatory to the inherent rights Of
the masses endangering the public peace and
destroying the personal security and indiyid-
ual liberties OF the common people.
inc courts have deserted the temple al
justice. ind now stand forth the defiant bull
wark OF confederated capital Their arbitrary
rulings nave set up one standard OF rights for
the rich and another FOR the pOor They de
cree that capital is always right and labor al
ways wrong. They have made 10 unlawful for
starving working people 20 appeal apainSt
tyrannich treatment. present grievances or
propose Just and pcaccablr terms for the re-
dress Of inNuncrable wrongs
The present great miners strike il an ex-
precision OF discomfort that originated in pov-
crty and starvation. u was born in the sorrow
ana restitution Of hungry women and children.
10 was the last protest OF Impoverished and en-
shaved labor and ~ presents to the world a
cause ~ righteous and humane n~ ever Inspired
the souls Of Christian people. The philan-
thropic heart OF this great nation has respond
cd IN sympathy with the miners appeal for the
right to receive respectable Iivinp for the
most arduOu- ana hazardous labor iu the
world Their appeal for small share OF the
wealth they create and for the right To enjoy
some OF the fruits OF advanced civilization
mas responsive chord cvcrA where loo the com
monality Of mankind. and n IL were a struggle
n'twcen miners and mine operators only
liberty would triumhh over oppression indus
trv over greed and right over wrong without
the necessity OF this call.
Hut i is no longer mere struggle between
cmployc and employer. The Judiciary has AS
~umed the indcfenSiblc claims of the oDerator.
ana the struggle is between tyrannical courts
and the whole people. The courts. although
under oath to serve the rich and poor
alike. have volunteered Ia defend th,.
A
against the God given rights OF the Door aud
now threaten to turn the Gatiiug guns and the
WinchcStcrs Of criminals and thugs against
al VINO dare 10 protest against their deS pic
a"'' restraining orders. The Judiciary is
prONtitutcd to the bidding OF opDre.-
NiNc capital. has placed the rights of
property above the rights Of persons and
has Disseminated against the many in the in
tcrcSt Of the few.
That 10000 miners should be condemned to
% nd .ft
trary rulings OF the courts is an insult In "A
hcnehcient Creator. an outrage upon free gov-
eminent. and a disgrace To the Christian civin-
Mtion under which we live.
The recent inIunctiOnS and their extreme an
phcation against the lawful rights of the poor
the arrest and Incarceration OF hundreds OF in
hocent, lhoueu~iHe people. the general employ
ment of armed thugs 10 ovcrawc. harns. and
cdercc the miners have so cXuSpcratcd the
people In localities where applied that We. feel
that we can no longer be- res pon~iblc for the
public peace. and To- the end that - lust and
equitable settlement OF differences between en-
ploycr> and employs may be effected the public
peace the liberty of the masses. the sacred inn
stltutionN OF free government preserved. and
the courts e~toppcd from these outrageous
pcrvcr>ion~ Of constitutional rights we appcaI
10 thdt higher. more humane and patriotic
court the great plain people who i'm time,
OF uoubl" have always proven the Just arbi-
tiers Of every difference between diversified i'm
mcnt Of human society. We appeal To tb,.
interviewing people Of this great nation to
send accredited delegates to -. Louis Mo
where % mass convention will be held Mouduy
August 10 1897. The object of the convention
VIII not DE To merely protest against the uNur-
patton and tyranny OF the courts but 10 FOR
mulate plans to compel return To the pruci-
pies OF free government. ana put said plans into
practical operation
our people have suffered all the evils that are
e. ui hg al for I,.. 9
submitting to iulunction~ Of court and cownrdly
entrcating our miners 10 return 10 the novels
OF misery and shame. or appealing To- the pa
triotic hearts OF America to consider our cause
ana render a verdict in accordance with the
just claims OF suffering humanity We have
chosen the latter and will accept tho verdict
with that fortitudc ana resignation becoming
every lbertN-loving patriot Of this great ma
This call has been .ndorscd by Samuel Com
pcrN. president American Federation Of Labor
Is. Of L.
PIrTsBU RGH, Pa. Aug. 2l.-The coal
operators in their meeting Friday
night after waiting in vain for an an
swcr from President Ratchford To their
telegram asking for conference here
Saturday to arbitratc the strike qucs.
ton. issued thc following statement to-
the public shortly after midnight
The operators now have exhausted every ef-
fort to make amicable settlement but the
miners refuse either 10 meet iu conference or
to arbitrate The position taken by RatcEfprd
occasions great surprise Co the operators lie
insists Boz bringing Zoo all competitive states
when ne knows the operators Of other states
under no circumstances VIA attend 70 Joint con
ference
I'm making this demand Mr. Ratcbford is
seeking to delay q settlement leo hope that hr
may bring 20 hi, aid AN The labor ORGANIZATIONS
Of the country and as~um" such political iuffr-
ence a. will frighten the politicians into insist
ing upon settlement OF the strike without re-
CARDS to the merits of the case
lie has always insisted that the Pittsburgh
district i- the KEY TO the situation and the on
orators hold out 10 him am olive branch from
which is suspended the key be- >ough, Nir
Ratchford - using the Pittsburgh miners 49, q
cat IS paw 'o scratch political chestuut> on the
Idle coal iippleS BOO this district
Mr. RatchfOrd must arrange q conference. ,f
once for arbitration OF the troubles iu the
Pittsburgh coal district or be- must stand a,.
cused Of inconsistency and in,iuccrity Public
opinion will certainly hold him responsible for
the restitution which must Inevitably prevail
lu me d~irc' during Che coming winter"
The Geriache Antarctic Expedition.
BErssELs. Aug r. DR. Cook. an
American. viii join the steamer Bel
Ricia. carrying the Gcrlachc Antarctic
expedition. az Nontcvidcu 10 i- ca
pected that the Bclgicia will arrive at
Graham'~ land early in December. She
Is provi stoned FOR two wears