The Portland daily press., 1897-07-10
LABOR LEADERS MEET.
Biggest Gathering Known Assemblies
at Pittsbnrg.
MEET TO ASSIST MINERS IN
STRUGGLE FOR HIGHER WAGES.

Conference Secret and Lasted Until Mid
sion is Genearl Except in virginia-An
Labor Organizations May Be Assessed.
. Pittsburg, Pa, July 9.-The greatest
gathering of labor leaders that ever as
sembled in this country during a strike,
was held in this city tonight to devise
means to assist the coal miners in their
contest for increased wages. The officials
represent nearly every branch of orga-
nized labor in the United States. Those
present were Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor; NJ.
d. Ratchford, president of the Mine
Workers of America; M. NJ. Garland,
president of the Amalagmated Associa-
tion of Iron and Steel Workers; Stephen
Madden, secretary of the Amalgamated
association; J. M. Hughes of the Fedora
ton of Metal trades M. j. Counahan,
national secretary Of the Journeymen
Plum bers' association; NJ. P. Carrick,
president of the Brotherhood of Painters
and Decorators; L. r. Thomas, president
of the National Pattern Makers league;
W. B. Mahon, president of the Amalag-
mated association of Street Railway en-
ployes; Patrick Dolan, district president
of the United Mine Workers of America,
and VIM. Warner, district secretary of
the United Mine workers.
The session was secret and it was al
most midnight before it was over. The
press committee, Messrs. Gompers. Ratch
ford and Counahan then gave out the fol-
lowing statement in which was incorpo-
rated, they say, all that was done at the
conference. The manifesto follows
After an informal discussion reports
were made by Messrs. Ratchford, Dolan
and Warner in regard to the situation
of the movement and it was decided that
the suspension was practically general
in the competitive bituminous coal dis
tricts extending also to Kentucky and
Tennessee, excepting few points in West
Virginia. 1t was realized that the situ-
alton in West Virginia required atten-
tion in order that the suspension should
assured. With that object in view aot-
ion recommended by President Gompers
of the American Federation of Labor,
was taken, and it was determined to over
come this feature of the contest. 1t was
also determined that every effort be
made OH the part of those present to Sc
cure the cooperation and practical aid
miners All the circumstance warranted
the firm conviction that the miners VIII
finally achieve victory and to this end
the aid of labor and the sympathetic pub
lie is invoked. 1t gives us great satis-
faction to know that the miners have not
been, and are not now opposed to arbi
tration. We therefore urge and advise
that conference be held by the repre-
sentatives of the miners and the opera
tors with view of arriving at a settle
ment of the present suspension.
Notwithstanding the positive announce
ment by the committee that the state
ment furnished the press covered all the
proceedings of the conference it Is
known that an organized effort to secure
general suspension of mining in West
Virginia was decided upon. After a
thorough canvass of the situation it was
unanimously agreed that the West Vir-
tion and without their united support
the success of the general movement
would be greatly jeopardized.
In furtherance of this determination,
the officials present pledged themselves to
send into this field full quota of the
best organizers in their several associa-
tions.
After adjournment in response to the
question whether 2 per cent assessment
as contemplated. President Dolan of the
Pittsburg district said he thought such
action would eventually be taken.
The surprise of the day came when Dan
R. Hanna, the manager of M. A. Hanna
Il Co., received a message stating that
every miner employed at the company's
mines had gone out.