The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-10
HELP FOR STRIKERS
FEDERATION OF LABOR COMES TO
ASSISTANCE OF THE MINERS.
Greatest Conference of Labor Leaders
Ever Held in the United States
Meets at PittsburG.
NO SYMPATHETIC WALKOUT
LEADERS DETERMINE TO WIN THE
BATTLE ON ORIGINAL PLAN.
IndOrsed, but Operators
Not FavOrable-Bureau of Labor
at Washington May Act.

PITTSBURG, Pa, July 9.-The greatest
gathering of labor leaders that ever assem-
bled in this country during a national strike
was held in this city tonight to devise
means to assist the miners in their contest.
for increased wages. Fully 100000 men
were represented by their chiefs The con-
ference was called suddenly, but the Off
| cials responding represented nearly every
branch of organized labor in the United
States. Those present were Captain Com
pers, president of the American Federation
of Labor; NJ d. Ratchford, national presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea; NJ M. Garland, president of Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel Work
ers; Stephen Madden, secretary of the
Amalgamated Association; J. M. Hughes,
first vice president of the Federation of
Metal Trades; NJ. ]. Counahan, national
secretary of the Journeymen Plumbers AS
ISOLATION; NJ. p. Carrick, president of the
Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators;
L. r. Thomas, president of the National
Pattern Makers League; w. B. Mahon,
president of the Amalgamated Association
of Street-railway Employees; Patrick Doan,
district president of the United Mine Work.
ers of America, and w. NJ. Warner, district
secretary of the United Mine Workers
The conference was fixed for 10 o'clock
this morning at the Monongahela House,
but owing to the detention of President
Ratchford, who missed connection and did
not reach Pittsburg until after o'clock
this evening, it was nearly o'clock before
the meeting convened. The session was Sc
cret and it was almost midnight before it
was over. The press committee, Messrs.
Gompers, Ratchford and Counahan, then
gave out the following statement, in which
was incorporated, they said, all that was
done at the conference. The manifesto fol-
lows:
After an informal discussion reports
were made by Messrs. Ratchford, Dolan
and Warner in regard to the situation of
the movement and it was demonstrated
that the suspension was practically gen
eral in the competitive bituminous coal
district extending also in Kentucky and
Tennessee excepting a few points in West
Virginia. 1t was realized that the situation
in West Virginia required attention in order
that the suspension should become abso-
lurely general and suceess-was assured.
With that object in view action was recon-
mended by President Gompers of the
American Federation Of Labor, and it was
determined upon to overcome this feature
of the contest. 1t was also determined that
every effort be made on the part of those
present to secure the cooperation and
practical aid of organized labor for the
struggling miners. All the circumstances
warranted the firm conviction that the min
ers will ultimately achieve victory and to
this end the aid of labor and the sympa-
thetic public is invoked
Conscious of the great interest which
the public has in a contest so widespread
as that of the miners ii gives us great salts
faction to know that the miners have not
been and are not now opposed to arbitra-
ton. We. therefore, urge auo advise that
a conference be held by representatives of
the miners and operators with the view
of arriving at a settlement OF the present
suspension"
Notwithstanding the positive announce
ment by the committee that the statement
furnished the press covered all the proceed
ingS of the conference, it is known that an
organized effort TO secure a general suspen-
sion of mining in West Virginia was de-
cided on After a thorough canvass of the
situation it was unanimously agreed that
the West Virginia miners heid the Key TO
the situation and without their united sup
port the success of the general movement
would be greatly jeopardized. In further
ance of this determination the officials pres
ent pledged themselves to send into this
field a full quota of the best organizers in
their several associations.
After adjournment III response to the
question whether a 2-per-cent assessment
on all organized labor as contemplated
would be made President Dolan, OF the
Pittsburg district, said he thought such
action would eventually be taken. He
would not admit, however that the matter
of assessment had been considered at to-
nights conference or that the question of
general sympathetic strike had been dis
cussed.
TO supplement the. conference of this
evening a special meeting of the State La
Dor League has been called for Sunday
night in this city, at which further means
of support will be devised. The operators
in the meantime are viewing the conditions
calmly and profess to be in nowise alarmed
at the ultimate success of their cause.