The record-union., 1897-08-31
CONFERENCE OF
LABOR LEADERS,
The Convention at ST. Louis Be-
gins Its LahOrS.
Eighty Eight Delegates, Representing Four
teen Organizations, Present.
Not Believed That Amy Definite
Result in the Way of Settle
ment of Present Labor Difficult
ties VIII De Attained BY the
Conference.


ties VIII BE Attained BY the
Conference.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 3O-The conference
of labor leaders, which began this
morning, had a busy day, and to-
night the end is in sight What the
conference has accomplished, if any
thing, is in doubt. II is not believed
that the leaders have attained any
definite result, and, in fact, the Presi-
dent of one of the national organiza-
tions admitted that the failure of the
conference was foregone conclusion.
4 should feel very much chagrained,"
said this gentleman, "if [ had any part
in the convening of this conference"
The Committee on Resolutions and
Plan of Action was at work all after
noon and tonight, and this evening
Mr.. Sovereign announced that they had
formulated plan, but declined to give
any details.
The PLATFORM it is expected, will be
submitted to the convention tomorrow
morning. The fourteen different or
ganizatiOns represented in the conven-
ton make an unwieldy body, and it is
evident that all of them cannot be sat
isfied with a platform formulated by
five men representing as many branch
es of organized labor.
Mr.. Ratchford's plan OF petitioning
President Mckinley to convene Con-
gress in extra session to enact measures
providing for a settlement of the
present labor difficulties, or, as he put
/ it, ito define the rights of citizens. if
any" did not meet with the approval
he had hoped for, and it is not now
believed that the plank will be incor-
porated in the platform.
Although present in the convention
all day, Mr. Debs did not speak, nor
did he put in an appearance at to-
nights mass meeting, where he was
widely advertised to make an address.
He is represented on the Resolutions
Committee, however, by Mr. Berger.
and as he has remained pretty close to
the gentlemen composing that commit
tee it is safe to say his Social De-
moeracy' idea will be represented.
IT is thought adjournment will be
reached Some time tomorrow
CONVENTION PROCEEDINGS
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 30-E: v Debs of
Terre Haute, Ind; M. d. Ratchford of
Columbus, o., and w D. Mahon of De-
troit were among the delegates to the
conference who arrived this morning
TN out of it to a certain extent"
said Debs. "I am not longer affiliated
with any labor body, but have come
simply as a guest of the conference un-
der the general call"
Mr. Debs did not venture an opin-
ion on the probable outcome of the con-
ference.
rs there any probability of a SYM
pathetic striker" was asked.
Il hardly think so. In fact, these del
egates are not empowered to order a
strike. They can do no more than re-
port back to their respective bodies the
sense of the convention. Government
by injunction" Mr.. Debs went on, ''as
exemplifed in the great struggle of the
! miners, has been carried to the ex-
treme, and the people are revolving. I
expect the convention will take some
very decisive action in this natter
Mr.. RatchfOrd has a plan which he
will probably present to the conference.
calling upon every workingman and
! woman in the country to contribute 1
{
for the relief of the striking miners
This money. he thinks, will amount to
between 81. coo and 50 600 per day. Part
of this fund will be used to keep men
at work among the strikers in the Pitts
burg district, where the operators pro-
pose to start their mines with non
union men. In other words. the camps
there will be maintained with the hope
& a..
work to quit.
Among the other arrivals of the
morning We're James O'ConnelI. repre-
senting the city branch of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. Chicago; A.
S. Merrill of the Industrial Council,
Kansas City: Victor L. Berger with
credentials from the Social Democracy
Of Milwaukee, and Frederick F. Heath,
representing the street railway men,
also of Milwaukee: w. D. Ryan. Vice
President of the United Mine Workers
of Illinois; Jacob Tazelmar, who comes
from the Brotherhood of Painters, Chi
cago. and r. P. O'Neil. Rich Hill, Mo:
John Mitchell. Spring Valley. ILL.,;
George Wallace, S. Cannon. Kansas,
and Joseph Pallard of Belleville ILL.,. all
members of miners organizations.
Much disappointment is expressed at
headquarters over the non-arrival Of
Samuel Gompers. but it is believed he
viii be in st. Louis this afternoon or
tonight.
AS to what the convention would do
none of the delegates seen this morn
ing was willing to forecast There is no
denying the fact that the Social De-
mecracy' movement. headed by Mr.
Debs. has large following and it would
not be a surprise to see that new vent
ure gain control of the meeting
An effort will be made to amalgamate
all labor bodies represented. and to this
end resolution looking to the appoint
ment of a General Conference Commit
tee win be presented some time during
the convention by Mr.. Steinbiss of St.
Louis
My idea is" said Mr. Steinbiss. ito
have one or two delegates from each
branch of organized labor form Cen
eral Conference Committee. While I
hardly think such a committee, if ap-
pointed by the conference. will do any
thing at this meeting, they will get to-
gether later. BY that time our ideas
will have crystallized and some definite
platform upon which a general ANAL
gamation of labor could stand would be
formulated. 1t is bound TO come. We
must be united"