The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-28

ample and portend misery, starvation
and slavery, the miners are confronted
with condition by which their scani
earnings are denied them except
through the companypluck stores, when
out-Shylock the worst features OF this
nefarious system, Is a stigma ON the es-
cutcheon OF our country and blot ON
our civilization,
We, the representatives Of the trades
unions and of all organized labor OF the
United States, in conference assembled
to consider the pending struggle OF the
miners for wages sufficient 10 enable
them to live and 10 enjoy at least some
degree of the necessities Of life, are de-
termined TO forever put a stop to state
Of starvation in which they are now en-
quilted.
1ne deplorable condition OF the mlner1
IL well known TO all Of our people. They
live In novels, unable to buy sufficient
bread to ward off starvation, In many
cases not sufficiently clothed to cover
their nakedness. and their children un'
fit 10 attend school because OF lack Of
food and clothing, making them dan
ger TO the future stability OF our repub'
lie.
We feel assured that all mon and wo'
men who love their own families, %
who have one spark Of human sympathy
for their fellows, cannot fail to give all
the aid In their power 10 enable thu
miners to win their present battle.
The representatives of the miners
have been restrained by injunction when
exercising their Fundamental right OF
public assembly and free speech TO pre-
sent 10 the world their grievances, Wei
as American citizens. resent this inter
ference with the rights guaranteed to
us under the constitution
In the ordinary affairs Of life all enjoy
privileges and right which constitu-
tons neither confer nor deny, but tht
guarantee of the right of free public
assembly and free speech was intendes
to give opportunity to the people or any
portion OF them to present the grlev-
anceg from which they suffer and which
they aim to redress.
We denOunce the issuance of injunc-
ton by the judges of West Virginia,
Pennsylvania and other states as wholly
unjustIfed, unwarranted and unprece-
dcnted, more especially In the absence
OF any exhibition or manifestation Of
force on the part of the outraged miners,
We call upon the governor OF Wcst
Virginia and upon the governors Of all
other states and on all public officials
for full and ample protection In the eX,
ercIse of our rights of free speech and
public assemblagt We have no desire
Ia trcspass upon the rights of anyone.
and we demand protection In tho eNer'
else Of those rights handed down to us
l., -
We recommend that Indignation meet.
lngs be held throughout the entire coun'
try TO give expression TO the condemnaI
tlon of the unwarranted Injunction in'
terfcring with the free rights of free
assemblage and free speech, and we alsh
extend sympathy and support TO the
mine workers to the utmost extent,
We hereby call upon each national
and international organization OF labor
to send representatives to act for and
by the direction Of the United Mine
Workers rs organizers In West Virginia,
Pennsylvania and such other states as
may be necessary.
Fully imbucd with the heroic struggle
which the miners are making for pure
womanhood and innocent childhood, for
dcccncy, for manhood and for civiliza.
ton. and with the consciousness Of the
Justice OF their cause and Of the respon.
slbility Of their actions, we call upon
the workingmen OF our country TO lend
all possible assistance to our suffering,
struggling fellow workers Of the mines,
and to unite in defense Of our homes. oug
rights, our citizenship and our country
In pursuance Of the plan outlined In
the appeal, 1t was decided that sympa-
thctic mass meetings shall be held sim
ultaneously all over the country on the
evening OF Thursday, August .. Chair
man Gompers was selected as a COM
mittee OF one In charge of the matter.
He win name speakers for every city
and town of Importance IN the country,
The officers of the several unions af-
fllnted with the American Federation
Of Labor were requested 70 transmit
letters to their local unions and to
building trades councils with reference
10 what Is proper to do In view OF the
appeal made last niuht,
officers Of the United inc Workers OF
America were requested-and have CIV
en- their pledge-tO undertake a systc-
matte method OF agitation. It was de-
cldod to place the organizers In West
Virginia and IN the portions OF Western
Pennsylvania where the miners are not
vet striking President Gompers said
after the conference had adjourned that
he believed that within week one
hundred organizers, those Of the mine
workers and the other organizations
that took part In the conference would
be at work in West Virginia and West