The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-31
THE LABOR CONFERENCE
Gathering Of Leaders to Combat
Government by Injunction"
PRESIDENT RAToHFoRD's PLAN.

PRESIDENT RAToHFoRD's PLAN.
The Miners Lender Would HIVE the
President Call an Extra Session of
Congress to Act on tho Matter OF
Injunctions.
st. Louis. Aug. 31.-The conference of
labor leaders was called to order yes
terday by Chairman Steinbers, Of the
local committee Of arrangements, and
w. B. Prescott, president of the Inter-
national Typographical union, was
chosen temporary chairman. After the
appointment Of committee on Gre
dentials recess was taken. The COM
mittee made its report Immediately
upon the assembling of the conference
for its afternoon session. 1t was shown
that IS delegates, representing the fol-
lowing organizations, were present:
United Mine Workers OF American,
Social Democracy, American FEEDER
alton of Labor, Stonemakers' Interna-
tional union, Brotherhood of Painters
and Decorators, Brotherhood of Bottle
st. Louis, Patriots of America, Inter-
national Brotherhood of Track Fore
men. Single Tax League, Central Labor
Council of Cincinnati. International
Typographical union. Peoples party Of
Kansas and the Industrial Order of
Freedmen.
The report, after some discussion.
was adopted. The report showed the
presence of one woman delegate, Mrs.
Mary Jones, of Chicago, who repre-
sents the Social Democracy. The tenn
porary organization was then made
permanent, and the chairman read the
call for the convention. On motion, the
chairman then named as the commit
tee ION resolutions and plan Of action"
w. C. Pearca. Of the miners; w. d.
Mahon, OF the street railway men;
Victor Berger, of Milwaukee, who rep
resents the Social Democracy. in whose
favor Mr.. Debs declined; G. c. Glenn
ems, of Topeka, representing the Pop.
ulists. and James r. Sovereign.
Mr. Ratchford then took the floor
He went over the miners strike from
its Inception to the present day, and
dwelt particularly upon government
by injunction. He pleaded for prompt
action, and coming to the point of his
argument, advocated special session
of congress az the best. and in fact
the only relief. II believe" said Mr..
Ratchford. "a special session of con-
gress is necessary to define the rights
of the people of the country-if they
have any. I believe. If sufficient time
vAor ha nP ha I,it taI
States will call special SESSION of con-
gress to act on the matter Of injunc-
tions, and find means Of relief from the
existing troubles in the labor world. III
case of refusal" said Mr. Ratchford,
tmpre ssively, after an outburst of cheer
ing had subslded. ''it will then be time
to consider more extreme measures. l
am In favor, ii the president refuses to
call congress together, of complete
s. paralysis of business. l believe then
In sympathetic strike"
Mr.. Pat O'Neill, of Rich Hill, Mo-,
who said he represented 1880 unorgan-
lied picks" favored "A labor revolu-
tion. He was a socialist, he said, and
believed in the miners taking things
in their own hands If necessary. His
greatly. Mr.. Sovereign put himself on
record as opposed to Mr.. Ratchford' 8
plan. He believed this would be the
last convention to be held under pres
-. ant conditions and that the crucial test
now confronted organized labor.
Mr.. Mahon, of Detroit, said a resolu-
tion committee was useless. The con-
yention should vote on Ratchford's 8
proposition and then go home. The
power of the nation, he said. was in
the courts, and II anybody was to be
Injured let 1t be the courts. He was
opposed to Mr.. Ratchford'sproposit
Mr.. Mahon, as did his predecessor,
took fling at Senator Hanna Mr.. Ma
hen saying the president would have to
get Hanna's consent to the convening
nj congress.
James M. Carson, president Of the
Illinois miners. then recited at length
the conditions confronting the miners
of his state. and said he believed his
men would be beaten in two weeks.
kilograms of greeting and protests
against government by Injunction
were received from the Populist exec
utive committee of the Sixteenth con-
rressional district of Ohio. the Ger
man trades assembly of Philadelphia
md the Atlanta Federation of trades. A
polite request to "qult monkeying and
strike for single tax on land values
was then read from the Youngstown.
o., single takers.
Mr.. Ratchford took exception to Mr..
Carsons statement that the Illinois
miners had lost their strike. He said
the miners were winning their strike,
and Furthermore his men were not ask
Ing the convention for aid. They
wanted this gathering to eradicate, II
possible, the power of injunction. TAX
Ing fling at Miner Pat Reilly. he said
q man who advocated the use of Win
chesters had no place in the conven-
hon. Down our way" said Mr.. Ratch-
ford. miners don't know how to ham
ale guns"
James Hogan, formerly of the A. r.
D.; General" Bradley, Of commonweal
fame, and General Heinemann a
Texas Populist. kept up the flow of
words until o'clock, when the con-
vention adjourned until today.
Although present in the convention
ali day. Mr.. Eugene v. Debs did not
Bpeak, nor did he put in an appearance
st the nights mass meeting where he
vas widely advertised to make an ad-
dress. He Is represented on the reso'
buttons committee. however. by Mr.
Berger, and as he has remained pretty
close 10 the gentlemen composing that
committee. 1t Is safe to say his social
democracy" idea will be represented.
To End tho Strike.
Cleveland, Aug. 31.-A prominent
conl operator In the Pittsburg dist let
said last night that the miners strike
would probably be settled. temporarily
at least, within the next As hours, tbs