Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-07-29
LEADERS CONFER.
A Large Gathering of Heads Of La.
Dor Organizations at Wheeling.
The MANIFESTO ISSUED BY Then.
The Operators Also Hold u Meeting 1t
Pittsburgh-Synopsis Of the Resolu-
ti0ns-The Strike Making No
Roadway In West Virginia.

labor organizations OF America evel
held Is now in session In this city. Il
is the conference OF labor leaders called
last week by President M. D. Ratch
ford, OF the United Mine Workers, ant
approved by President Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor Of
which the miners organization is 9
part. The purpose Of the conference
is to aid in speedy and successful ter
mination of the great coal strike.
Chairman Gompers called upon
the miners representatives to detail
the situation. They were also asked
to suggest in what manner the other
labor 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 btuminous regions and presented
the conditions OF the miners who are
taking part in the strike. W. c. Pears,
Patrick Dolan and 7. l.. Lewis also ad-
dressed the conference. The confer
ence was held behind closed doors.
At its close it was given out that u
committee of five had been appointed
to devise a plan for aiding the miners,
which would be reported at the night
session. kilograms pledging financial
aid for the miners were received from
nearly all the heads of organizations
that mad been unable TO attend on ac-
count of the short notice. The follow
ing manifesto was issued from the con-
ference room last night.
A wall OF anguish, mingled with desperation,
arises from the bowels Of the earth, and the
miners cry for relief for some degree OF justice
touches the responsive chord In the hearts and
consclences Of the whole people, Drudging OF
wages when employed, which are inadequate
and portend misery. starvation and slavery
the miners are confronted with condition by
which their scant earnings are denied them ex-
cept through the company pluck me stores"
which 0utshylock the worst features OF the ne
iarious system and IRE u stigma on the es-
cutcheon Of our country and blot on our CIV
ulzution
We, the representatives OF the trades unions
and Of al organized labor Of the United States,
In convention assembled TO consider the pend
Ing struggle Of the miners for wages sufficient
to enable them to live and to enjoy at least
some degree Of the necessitics Of life, are de-
"a utn To ~ ON ~
starvation In which they are now engulfed We
feel assured that oil men and women who love
their families or who have one spark OF human
sympathy for their fellows cannot fail to give
all the aid In their power to enable the miners
to win their present buttle.
We denounce the issuance Of lnjunctions by
the Judges Of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and
other states as wholly unjustlied, unwnrranted
and unprecedented, more especially In the ab-
sence of any exhibition or manifestation OF
force on the part Of the outraged miners. We
call on the governors Of West Virginia aud
upon the governors Of all other states and Of
iii public officials for full and ample protection
In the exercise Of our rights Of free speech and
public assomblage We recommend that indlg-
nation mass meetings be held throughout the
entire country to give expressions TO the con-
domination OF the unwarranted Injunction IN IN
eerng w .ae ,ee
natSv md support to the mine workers to the
utmost extent
We hereby call upon each national ana inter-
national orsanlsa.on o. lupor 10 s,na re :,
Itn,,ad Wophsrs ~ No orr organizers in West vIr.
rinia, Pennsylvania and such other states rs
may be necessary Fully imbued with the he
role struggle when ,ne miners Sre aA INK TOT
pu,o ,or "uSao " AND ,or o,v,ll,o,on md ,or
the consciousness Of the justice of their cause
and Of the responsibility OF their actions we
sal upon tne worRn , o, our country umny,n 70
Struggling fellow workers Of the mines and to
unite in defense Of our homes, our rights, our
citizenship ind our country
THE MEETING OF OPERATORS.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July U.s. Ninety
nine coal companies mines located IN
the Pittsburgh district, were repre-
sented at the coal operators uniformity
meeting mere yesterday w. r. MUIR
ray called the meeting to order at
1880. After electing Marshal IL. Reno
secretary OF the meeting committee
was appointed to take up the proposed
uniformity agreement revise IT to suit
the changed conditions IN It's hrst
formulation and report to the confer
ence. The committee reported the old
uniformity agreement with the new
clauses and preamble prepared by the
visiting arbitrators. The resolutions
favored q speedy adjustment OF the
strike; favored the principle of uni
"a a.,
bluhuOlo liiuuV vi ulnuputsN NNikubN