The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-28
FIRST SESSION
OFths Conference Siest,-sAmusl GOmpers
Made Chairman,

The first session of the big conference
was called to order in Trades Assembly
Hall, on Market street, shortly before /
O'Clock. after the arrival OF President
Michael d. Ratchford and Secretary w.
C. Pearce. OF the United Mine Workers
OF America, who came In from the In
terror of the Ohio on the CleVland. Lo-
rain & Wheeling railroad Nearly all OF
the labor leaders whose names are CIV
en- elsewhere, responded to the call
made by President Samuel Gompers, OF
the American Federation OF Labor, who
acted as temporary chairman, on mo-
tion of Grand Master Workman James
r. Sovereign, OF the Knights OF Labor,
Mr.. Gompers was unanimously called
to the chair OF the conference and he Is
to preside throughout its meeting Sec
rotary Morrison. Of the American Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor, was made secretary
OF the conference. A press committee,
composed of Messrs Gompers, Ratch-
ford and Morrison, was then chosen,
through which all information of the
proceedings OF the conference comes, for
1t is being held behind closed doors.
EX-President Michael +. Tighe, Of the
pllb Nullt9 lIduta anu IAhbl .NssNHl-
bly,, was chosen serGeant-at-arms OF the
conference.
After the roll had been made up,
Chairman Gompers called upon the rep
resentatives OF the United Mine Work
ers to state the case, condition of af-
fairs at present, nHd the prospects for
success. The chairman also asked the
miners representatives to make sug-
gestlons as to the best manner In which
the other labor organizations can lend
assistance In the struggle now being
waged by the miners.
President Ratchford, the head of the
strike, addressed the conference at con-
siderable length, stating fully the
causes which led to the recent general
suspension OF work In the bltuminoug
mining regions Of Ohio. Pennsylvania,
Indiana and Illinois. and the partial
suspension In the West Virginia fields
He detailed the situation OF the men.
their low wages, which are not sufficient
for subsistence and other abuses 60
which they have been subject He did
not care to advance anything In the
way OF special recommendation to the
conference. preferring to leave that i'm
portant matter 10 the consideration and
action Of the conference. A general APP
peal for assistance. however. was made
by the miners president, during which
he warmed to his subject and made Il
powerful and convincing speech that
made a deep impression on the labor
leaders who listened throughout with
unbroken attention,
Secretary W c. Pearce. OF the ma
tional miners organization; Secretary
Thomas L. Lewis. OF the Ohio organi-
zatlon, and President Patrick Dolan,
Of the Pittsburgh district miners. also
addressed the conference and spoke In
about the same strain. Mr. polan be-
lieved that the most important point.
the point where the efforts OF the
strikers should be concentrated is at
tha works OF the Cleveland & Pitts
burgh tDe Armltt) Coal Companr In
the Pittsburgh district This he consid-
cred Of even more importance than
making the strike general In the West
Virginia fields.
After the miners had given their story
In detail the conference adjourned, and
the leaders dispersed to the hotels for
dinner.