The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-08-31
THE LABOR CONFERENCE
Gathering Of Leaders to Combat
Government by Injunction"
PRESIDENT RAToHFoRD's PLAN.

In1unctions.
st. Louis, Aug. 9t.-The conference OF
labor leaders was called to order yes
terday by Chairman Steinbers, Of the
local committee of arrangements, and
w. y. Prescott, president Of the Inter
national Typographical union, was
chosen temporary chairman. After the
/ appointment of a committee on Gre
dentials a recess was taken. The com
mittee made its report Immediately
| upon the assembling Of the conference
\ for Its afternoon session. IL 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
| Blowers, Building Trades Council of
| 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 "on resolutions and plan of action"
w. c. Pearce, 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. G. 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 q special session
of congress as 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. 1 believe, If sufficient time
were given, the president of the United
I States will call a 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. In
case of refusal" said Mr. Ratchford,
lmpressively, after an outburst of cheer-
Ing had subsided, 1T will then be time
to consider more extreme measures.
am In favor, if the president refuses to
call congress together, Of a complete
paralysis of business. I believe then
In a sympathetic strike"
Mr.. Pat O'Nelll, of Rich Hill, Mo-,
who said he represented 1900 unorgan-
lied picks" favored a labor revolu-
tlon. He was a socialist. he said, and
believed in the miners taking things
in their own hands If necessary. His
fiery harangue pleased the audience
greatly. Mr.. Sovereign put himself on
record as opposed to Mr.. Ratchford's s
plan. He believed this would be the
last convention to be held under pres
ent conditions, and that the crucial test
now confronted organized labor
Mr.. Mahon, of Detroit, said a resolu-
tion committee was useless. The con-
vention should vote on Ratchford s
proposition and then go home. The
power of the nation, he said, was in
the courts and If anybody was to be
injured let it be the courts. He was
opposed to Mr.. Ratchford sproposltion.
Mr.. Mahon, as did his predecessor,
took a fling at Senator Hanna, Mr.. Ma
hon saying the president would have Ia
, get Hannas consent to the convening
l Of congress.
James NJ 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.
Telegrams of greeting and protests
against government by Injunction
b were received from the Popullst exec
utive committee Of the Sixteenth CON
gressional district of Ohio, the Ger
man trades assembly of Philadelphia
and the Atlanta Federation of trades. A
polite request TO quit monkeying ant
= strike for single tax on land values
was then read from the Youngstown
20 O., single takers.
< Mr.. Ratchford took exception to Mr.
= Carson's statement that the Illinois
! miners had lost their strike. He said
Z 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 a fling at Miner Pat Reilly, he said
man who advocated the use Of Win
chesters had no place in the conven-
+ tion. Down our way" said Mr.. Ratch-
ford, miners don't know how to han
r die guns"
James Hogan, formerly Of the A. r.
u; General" Bradley, Of commonweal
fame, and General" Heinemann, a
Texas Populist, kept up the flow OF
j. words until o'clock, when the con-
ven on adjourned until today.
Although present in the convention
all day, Mr.. Eugene V, Debs did moi
speak, nor did he put in an appearance
e at the nights mass meeting, where III
was widely advertised to make an ad
l. dress, He is represented on the 1850
). lutions committee. however. by Mr
Berger, and as he has remained pretty
close to the gentlemen composing tha
committee, It Is safe TO say his "socia
r democracy idea VIII be represented.
4 To End the Strike.
Cleveland Aug. 31.-A pTomiRep
coal operator In the Pittsburg distrtc
said last night that the miners strikl
would probably be settled, temporaril!
at least, within the next 4s hours. tn,
operators have been quietly negotiating