The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-28
THE LABOR LEADERS.
In Session at Wheeling-Men and Or
orators Waiting the Result.

In Session at Wheeling-Men and OPP
orators Waiting the Result.
Wheeling, W. Va, July 2S.-What 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, 1t is the
conference Of labor leaders called last
week by President M. d. Ratchford
of the United Mine Workers, and ap-
proved by Samuel Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor, OF
which the miners organization is a
part. The purpose of the conference
Is to aid in a speedy and successful
termination of the great coal strike.
Sessions of the conference were held
during yesterday and last night.
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor; Frank
Morrison, secretary of the Federation;
M. D. Ratchford, president of the Uni
ted Mine Workers of America; w. O.
Pearse. secretary of the miners Or
ganization: P. H. Morrissey, grand
master of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen, and representatives from
about 20 other organizations were pres
ent.
Samuel Gompers was chosen to pre-
side, and Secretary Morrison, also OF
the Federation, was made secretary
Chairman Gompers called upon the
miners representatives to detail the
situation. They were also asked to
suggest in what manner the other la
boring 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. He did not
propose anything in the way of rec
concentrations as to what the organized
labor Of the country should do in aid
of the strike. preferring that important
subject to be left to the consideration
Of the conference, An appeal for aid
was made in a general way. In the
course of the remarks it was brought
out that the miners believe that the
hardest fight should be made at the
works Of the Cleveland and Pittsburg
Coal company DeArmitts mine) in
the Pittsburg district This was con-
sldered fully as important point as
the West Virginia district.
kilograms pledging financial aid for
the miners were received from nearly all
the heads of organizations that had not
been able to attend on account of the
short notice. Mr. Morrison says that
the chief aim of the conference will be
TO affect suspension of work in West
Virginia and at the DeArmitt mines.
The conference has not yet come to
the point of believing it necessary to
ask the firemen, conductors and brake
men to refuse to haul West Virginia
coal.
The conference adjourned at mid
night 1t was decided that President
Gompers should act as a committee of |
one In arranging for sympathetic mass
meetings all over the country on Aug. |
8. officers of the American Federation |
of Labor were requested to communi- |
cate with union organizations as to |
what shall be done to further the plan
outlined in last nights appeal. officers
Of the United Workers are to arrange
lne SyStelidllC WOTk OF lUu LABOR Or |
CARNATIONS in West Virginia, in which
state and In Pennsylvania renewed
efforts to make the strike general will
be made.
Men and operators in the Fairmont |
region await report of the Wheeling
with anxiety. No new de-
are reported in the region.
-
Out at the Governors Mine.
Altoona, Pa, July 2S-Five hundred
or more miners at Hastings have gone
out on strike because the operators Of
the Mitchell and Sterling mines re-
fused TO accept resolutions adopted by
the miners at their meeting held on
Saturday night. The Mitchell mines
do not pay the district price. The
Sterling mine pays the district price,
but Superintendent Nicholson is OBJ
noxious to the men because he has been
aeducting from their wages the price
|