Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-30
LABOR CHIEFS CONFER
Meeting That Is to Decide the
Course Of the Mine Strike
low u Session.
WHAT IT WILL DO Is NOT Known.


tatively in That Regard-Sovereign Is
Observation-Disclosures Of Many Minds Ar
irving TO Attend -Firemen and Telegra-
ers Stay Out-Further Statements a. to
the Recent Conference Over tho Pitts
burg District Troubles.
st. Louis. Aug. 30.-The attendance of
labor leaders upon the united labor con-
vention at this writing is considerable Of
disappointment to the local committee
on arrangements. The most important
arrivals Of yesterday were ]. r. Sover-
e!gn; W. c. Pearce. secretary and treas
urer Of the United Mine Workers Of
America: r. Askew. secretary Of the
National Mineral Miners association,
Ishpeming. Mich, and Sylvester Kelli-
her. formerly secretary Of the A. r. U.
anc at present publisher OF The Social
Democrat. Chicago. Sovereign fought
shy Of reporters until nearly II o'clock
lat night, when he was cornered in the
Laclede and submitted to an interview.
1T is simply impossible to forecast what
this conference will d." said Sovereign.
Nobody can tell what its outcome will
be. 1t seems to me, however that all
labor organizations realize that the time
has come for them to put aside all petty
9eaiousies and form one grand amalga-
nation. Whether this organization will
De enected here / cannot even surmise
Hints at Legislative Action.
organized labor has been working for
come time on the lire Of securing leg
islation which will benefit the working
| clQSRp0 h,f ho
We will now get to work in an endeavor
to remove the cause OF our failure in leg
tlative circles and hope for better re-
suits" Branching of into the miners
strike Sovereign said: This miners
strike is nearer won than many people
believe. II ever there was a real griey-
ance and just cause for striking it was
In this strike. and l believe they will yet
win II they don't win 1t is the last
strike l will ever go into on these lines"
What new plan Of action Sovereign had
he declined to say.
Will BE Many Sided Gathering.
Other arrivals CT the day were G. C..
Clemens, Of Topeka. Kan, who bears
credentials from Chairman Brieden-
thai. the chairman Of the Populist
state committee Of Kansas; A. H. CIai-
borne, OF Springfield. Mo-: E. B. Web
ster, national treasurer OF the Patriots of
America. Chicago; Frank Stephens, the
noted single tax advocate Of Philadel-
phia: l.. s. Dieckey, treasurer of the
National Single Tax league of Chicago.
and J. Il. Finn. also of Chicago. James
n. Carson. president Of the United Mine
Workers OF Illinois, has been here since
Friday. Debs arrived this morning and
was received by a special committee.
Grant Luce. chairman of the committee
on arrangements. said that he had been
advised that Ratchford and Gompers
and one or two others had met in Co.
lumbus and arranged a plan Of action
Tor circumference which they will Ere
sent.
Objects OF the Conference.
The object CT theconfererce. "a far "a
can be ascertained, are to devise some
menas for the relief Of the striking min
ers Of thecountry and to protest against
government by Injunction" Secretary
II. w. Stein bliss, Of the Building Trade
Council, OF st. Louis. who has the work of
preparing for the convention, said: I'VE
want Justice and we are going to have
1t. but not in defiance Of the principles Of
American liberty. We are patriotic and
we want what is for the best interests of
the entire country. The greatest result
OF the meeting will be the uniting Of all
OF the labor organizations in this coun-
try In one common cause. 1t will with
out any question lead to the union Of
all the labor organizations in one central
body. in which united action can be
taken for the interests Of labor on every
question that may affect their interest.
1 know that all representatives Of labor
in st. Louis are in favor of such STEP"