Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-07-29
APPEAL FOR AID.
All Union Labor Asked to Baci. the
Striking Miners.
MEETING OF OPERATORS CALLED.
Strikers Encamped Near the Allison and
Boone Mines to Persuade Workers
to Quit-Nliners' Meetings
More Men 60 Out.

hbb"VNis We wv, VuiJ ~
Ratchford, president of the United
Mine Workers Of America, telegraphed
a letter to Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
last night at Washington. 1t said in
part:
On the fair soil CT West Virginia peaceable
assembage has been forbidden and free speech
suppressed. A crisis Is upon us which must be
met II we would escape total slavery The
| great mining strike now extends over five
states; 10000 miners and their families, almost
100000 souls, are involved. Public sentiment
| Is overwhelmingly with us. Only the hollow.
| heartess sentiment OF corporate capital, echoed
| by Its vulgar parrot the subsidized press, is
opposed to US The acute stage has been
reached. This is no longer strike for justice,
but struggle against starvation. Every atom
OF nobility In human nature impels us to rise to
the emergency and by performing our duty as
becomes men rescue the miners from the cruel
grasp OF bondage, and their wives and children
from the fortunes Of famine
West Virginia Is the field OF action and here |
our forces must be c0nverged. The miners
here are eager for an excuse to Join in our /
movement for their emancipation, but are re-
strained by the fear Of discharge and eviction.
They are as much the property of their masters
as were the black slaves before the guns Of
Sumter Numbered the doom Of chattel slavery
Here upon the soil made sacred by Thomas
Jefferson and Patrick Henry, the slavery
OF labor has become universal. The patriotic
cry Of the imprisoned Henry, Give me lib
erty or give me death, is once more in order
The hosts Of organized labor must come TO the
rescue. The millions Of sturdy craftsmen OF
o.: own country must be aroused l. there
fore, call upon you, In behalf Of the struggling
miners. to convene all the chief executive off,
GERS Of all national labor organizations at
Wheeling, W. Va, July n, for the purpose OF
meeting this crisis and achieving victory for
the cause Of labor
The very presence Of the combined leader
ship OF labor In this state will awaken the hosts
to duty. The down-trodden miners will take
heart, and as II by magic will stand erect and
assert their rights as men The unity of labor
is all that Is required to decide the contest In
favor Of the miners, In favor Of justice and In
favor Of humanity
MEETING OF OPERATORS CALLED.
PlTTsBRuGH, Pa, July 24-The situa-
ton in this district has not materially
changed. The efforts of the arbitra- 4
ton commission have been so far sue
ressful that call for meeting of
operators on Tuesday next has been 7
issued. The Canonsburg region has \
produced no sensational features. The [
miners are still encamped v
near the Allison and Boone mines to n
persuade workers from going to work, I
out as the hearing in the injunction n
'ase was postponed from yesterday b
afternoon until Monday, there is little 4
LANCER OF any conflict at present, be- n
,ause the mine owners have announced a
hat their mines would remain closed a
Town until after the hearing. i
There are vague rumors of march T.
IN the mines Of the New York e. Cleve- "
and Gas Coal Go. There is no doubt 0
lmong those that are in a position to
inow that such move is contemplate
ID, but just at what time is kept a pro- y
ound secret. While all of this is go
ng on, the Turtle Creek, Sandy Creek =,
nd Plum Creek mines are working u
teadily and without interference ~ ~
MINERS MEETINGS. =,
FAIRMoNr W. Va, July 9l.-Yes- ~ y
erday was the agitators' day, In III
he morning the miners at IIite's mines al
anne out, as did also 40 others at the W
hafts, and 1t is reported that some are I'll
ut at the New England mines. A sue 81
essful meeting was held at Willow III
rec schoolhouse in the afternoon by pp'
'ebs, Ratchford and Mahon. Three III
undred of the Monongah miners ac- "
by their wives and children III
nd preceded by a band, marched
trough the broiling sun to an
ltermediate point between Mono. til
ah and Fairmont, where they Co
ere met by delegation of miners ha
'om llite's and other mines. Monon- II
ah Coal Co. officials were also present. ov
a the evening Debs, Ratchford and st
lahon held a meeting that was at an
,nded by about 1000 people. The KIN
|onongah miners attended in body, bl,
arching six miles through the coun- COZ
y. Ratchford leaves at 5:l5 to-day for
O,
MORE PENNSYLVANIA MINERS OUT. Pa
ALTOONA, Pa, July 2A-All the coal tr,
ines but one in the Northern Cam in.
ria region, which includes the open. Bo
.gs along the Susouehanna extension nm
the Cresson " Ulearneltt railroad, -.
osed down yesterday, the men, about 81 e.
300 in number, going out on strike. ".