The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-01


ford, and this was agreed to,
Mr.. Osborne introduced an amend
ment to the platform to the effect that
the country should take care of Its un-
employed, the striking miners and 9th
er laborers Of the country, apply to the
authorities OF their respective counties
for admission to the poor house, and
again oratory was In full swing, There
was no particular attention paid TO the
motion before the convention and dele
gates turned themselves loose. Mr..
Clemens, member OF the committee on
resolutions and who was expected to
bring In a minority report, enllvened the
proceedings by witty speech,
This Is the tamest aggregation OF
witty animals ever saw together" was
Mr.. Clemens salutatlon to the conven-
tlon. He expressed dissatisfaction at
the mild measures presented for the re-
lief OF the labor troubles in general, and
said he was ashamed TO go home and
tell his people what they were trying
TO DO, or what they had done,
"Glve me liberty" said Mr., Clemens
with much gravity, "or Ill take up u
collection"
Mr., Pat O'NeilI, the Rich Hill, No.,
miner, said he inferred from the talk
that there were two resolutions. one
was Resolved, That the miners be
paupers," and the other Resolved,
That the miners were paupers." Mr..
O'Nelll took up the entire ten minutes,
but offered no amendment.
Mr.. Mahon pleaded for something
practical and quick action. He wanted
relief for the suffering miners. Let tho
theories come later. He was opposed TO
Mr., Osborne's poor house resolution,
and said: Let us put up our dollars
for the miners"
Mr.. Ratchford took the convention to
task for getting Off the subject. He
said the miners did not ask for aid, that
was not the object OF the convention.
He protested against Mr.. Osborne's res
olutlon, and said the conference should
endeavor to settle the paramount ques-
tion OF government by injunction.
Mr.. OsbOrne's amendment was lost
unanimously and the attempt to change
the date of the collection for the strlk-
ing miners from September to TO- was
defeated.
Mr.. Clayborne, of Springfield, Mo-,
moved to strike out the second resOlu-
tlon OF the platform, calling for the
mass convention In Chicago.
II. NJ. Williams, OF st. Louis, present.
ed substitute for Mr.. CiagborHe's mo-
tlon to strike out the plank calling for
the Chicago convention. convenlng a
labor congress in ST. Louis, September
20 Without action the convention ad-
journed until O'Clock.
The delegates were eager for work,
and the afternoon session was set In
motion promptly at o'clock. After
considerable talk, In which Mr.. Will
iams, n ST. Louis delegate. endeavored
10 have the coming convention held in
st. Louis, and three or four attempts
to change the date OF the conference, il
was decided that the matter should re-
main as introduced in the platform,
and the labor congress will be held in
Chicago on Monday, September q.
Proper Use oftho Ballot.
The third plank in the platform was
amended by the use of the word
proper" before the "use of the ball
lot and the resolution now reads MS
follows:
"Resolved, That we consider the
proper use OF the ballot as the best and
safest means OF amelloration of the
hardshlps under which the laboring
class suffers"
Mr.. Clemens, OF Kansas. moved that
the last two resolutions in the plat
form be considered simultaneously.
He favored their adoption. Mr.. Web
ster, or St. Louis, wanted to know II
these milk and water" resolutions dis
posed OF the important matter Of gov
ernmont by injunction. 'If this is so, !"
Mr.. Webster continued, ANY judge
could say through an Injunction get
off the earth, you have no right here.
then reply to the courts You lle.'
Mr.. Webster went on at great length
and gave his views on the Injunction
matter. He wanted Congress to inves-
tlgate this matter
why" said Mr.. Sovereign, this
convention has rejected proposition
looking to this very end. Even II Con-
gress did give us the rights We want,
the courts of the country would still
have the power Of Injunction and they
could then throttle us. The convention
should inform the world that II this
matter is to he tested the miners should
break all injunctions.
Mr.. Sovereign said he was willing tc
go TO fail in support of his idea. 1T is
time" said Mr.. Sovereign, ito hrinG
the miners and courts face to face In
this matter and force an Issue. Fiji up
the Iall with yiolators OF injunctions
and when the men who started this
movement are lnCarcerated thousands
will be found to take their places,
(Cheers) The laboring people can vote
for years but nothing can be accom-
nlished. Let us reorganlze this govern
,nent" shouted Mr. Sovereign. Let III
stand up and assert ourselves Behind
those Iniunctions stand gattling guns
and Winchesters. but we fenr them not,
Let us hold up the flag and tear down
the courts. We stand on our dignity
from this time on" shouted Mr.. Sow
ereign.
Drbs Rrenks Loose.
The convention broke Into wild cheer
ing, which developed In minute into
spontaneous coll for Mr.. DcbB, the fn'
nous labor leader and avowed head oil
the Social Democracy Of this country
| who had not uttered n word since the
| convention opened, but who had not
missed a minute OF It's proceedings, rose
| from his seat and camc slowly 10 the
platform. When the cheering ceased
Mr.. Dcbs began a speech which was in.
terrupted ut the end OF nearly every
scntence by cheering and hand clap.
ping. He said:
81 believe the gravity Of the indus.
trial gltuntlon In this country In well
understood. 1t is quite evident the dct-
cgntcs TO this convention are cognl2ant
OF The fact that civil liberty Is dead In
| America. have gnld and say again fol
the last time have appealed 90 tht
courts FOR Justice and shall appeal to
them no more. The American Railway
t'nlon expended forty-ilvc thousand
dollars to have the question ot civil