The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-28
LABOR LEADERS CONFER.
MEETING TO DEVISE PLANS TO
ASSIST STRIKING MINERS.
Claim Public Support For the Mem etlngs
Called TO Denouuce Abuses.

Wheeling. July 2s.-What is declared
to be the most important and largest
gathering Of the heads of labor organ
izations OF America ever held is now In
session in this city. 1t is tho conference
Of labor leaders called last week by
President Nj. ID. Ratchford Of the United
Mine Workers. and approved by Presi-
| dent Gompers OF the American Fedora
ton Of Labor Of which the miners or
! ganization 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 the day and last night, but
until the night session was held little
had been accomplished.
Samuel Gompers was chosen to pre-
side, and Secretary Morrison, also Of the
Federation of Labor, was made Sec
retary.
Chairman Gompers called upon the
miners representatives to detail the
situation. They were also asked in
what manner other organizations could
give their aid. President Rachford of
the miners addressed the conference at
some length, stating the causes thai
had led to the suspension of work in
the bltuminous mines, and presented
the conditions of the miners who are
taking part in the strike. He did not
propose anything in the way Of recon.
mendations as to what the organized
labor of the country should do In aiL OF
the strikers preferring that that import
ant subject be left to the consideration
OF the conference. An appeal for aid
was made in general way
w. c.. Pearse, Patrick Dolan and T.
L. Lewis also addressed the conference,
speaking in the same strain. In the
course of their remarks 1t was brought
out that the miners believe that the
hardest fight should be made at the
Cleveland and Pittsburg Coal company
(De Armitt's mine) in the Pittsbure
district This was considered fully as
important a point as the West Virginia
district.
Messrs. Mahon, Rea and Debs, who
have been at work in the Fairmont dis |
trict; Mr.. Askew, who is fresh from the |
Norfolk and Western territory, and Mr. |
Sovereign addressed the meeting. the |
latter speaking at some length The
conference was held behind closed doors. |
kilograms pledging financial aid fol |
the miners were received from nearly |
all the heads of organizations that had
been unable to attend on account OF
the short notice. Mr.. Morrison says
that the chief aim of the conference will
be to effect a suspension of work in West |
and at the De Armitt mines |
The conference has not yet come to :he
point o believing thfat it will be neces.
sary to ask the firemen, conductors and
brakemen to refuse to haul West yir.
ginia coal.
The night session of the conference
opened at 8 o'clock. The special com.
nittee to devise ways and means to aid
the miners made its report. The -,or1
which was adopted. is ar appeal to the
s,,mn'ry ~, to assisi the .,srers.
,irht g. -. ~;carned at mid.
I's ~ - va decided that President
'vh'pe" should act as a committee OF
< in arranging for sympathetic mass
Gil over the country on Aug. 5.
officers Of the American Federation OF
Labor were requested to communicate
With union organizations as to what
shall be done to further the plan cut
lined in last nights appeal. Officers OF
The United Mine Workers are to arrange
the systematic work Of 100 labor organ
zers in West Virginia. in which state
and Pennsylvania renewed efforts to
make the strike general will be made. |
The railway brotherhoods, except the |
engineers, are in hearty sympathy with |
the movement to make the strike effec-