The Red Cloud chief., 1897-09-03
ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE
No ~ snpathy strike e Lakeiy-Gatherias
Of Leaders.

Sr. Louis, Mo, Aug. Ale v. Debs
of Terrc Haute, Ind, NJ. d. R~atchford
Of Columbus snd W. d. Mahon of De-
troit were among the delegates TO the
labor conference who arrived this
morning.
Debs, who 10 not . representative Of
any organization. comes on the gen.
ernl invitation. He said: 'tOf course,
you know I'm out Of it to . certain
extent am no longer affiliated with
any labor body, but have come simply
as guest Of the conference under the
general call"
lis there any probability Of . sym
pathetic striker" was asked.
II hardly think so. In fact, these
delegates are not empowered to order
a strike. The can do nc more than re-
port back TO their respective bodies
the sen sc of the convention. Govern
men by injunction as exempliied in
the great struggle Of the miners has
been carried TO the extreme and the
people are revolving. l expect the
convention will take some very de-
! cided action in this matter. Mr.. Ratch-
ford has a plan which he will proba-
bly, present to the conference calling
upon every workingman and oma
in the country to contribute one cen
per day OF their wages to n fund for
the relief Of the striking miners. This
money, he thinks, will amount TO be-
tween 81, 900 and 80, 900 per day. Part
of this fund will be used to keep men
ut work among the strikers In the
Pittsburg district where the operators
propose to start their mines with ION
union men. In other words, the
camps there will be maintained with
the hope Of eventually influencing
those now at work 70 quit"
Am ong the other arrivals OF the
morning were James O'Connell, repre-
senting the city branch Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor, Chicago; s.
j. Mcscrall Of the Industrial Council.
Kansas City; Victor l.. Berger, with
credentials from the Social Democracy
Of Milwaukee, and Frederick +.
Heath, representing the street railway
men, also of Milwaukee,; w. ID. Ryan,
vice president Of the United Mine
Workers Of Illinois; Jacob Tszelaar,
who comes from the brotherhood OF
Painters. Chicago, and r. =. O'Neill Of
Rich Hill, Mo-; John Mitchell Of
Spring Valley, ILL.,, George Wallace Of
Scammon, Kan, and Joseph Pollard
Of Belle Vile, ILL.,. all members of
miners organizations.
Much disappointment was expressed
at headquarters this morning over the
non-arrival of Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation Of
Labor, but il is believed he will ye'
put in an appearance.
THE CONFERENCE OPENED.
When Chairman Steinbiss of tho 10.
al committee Of arrangements called
the general labor conference TO order
at 10 o'clock this morning only about
700 people were scattered about the
hall, not all Of them delegates. He
suggested that as the call for the con.
v~ention had been issued hurriedly,
and as many OF tho delegates were yet
unadvised as to the meeting place
and hour, there be an adjournment
until II o'clock. This was agreed to.
Shortly after ii o'clock the conven
tion was again called to order and w.
b. Prescott. president Of the Interns
tional Typographical Union. wal
chosen temporary chairman and w
G. Pearce of Columbus. Ohio, tempo
rary secretary. Prescott appointed
, the following as the committee or
, credentials: NJ. d. Ratchford, Jane.
O'Connor of Chicago, Of the machin
, lists; Grant Luce Of tho St Louis cen
trail labor organizations; j. T. Sover
, eign and w. D. Mahon.
Considerable controversy arose owe
the naming Of n committee on reso-
1 ton was not permanently organized
q was moved by one Of the delegates
. There were amendments that the con
vention adjourn until l o'clock an
, that the hour be made 9 o'clock. II
the midst Of this parliamentary tangl,
; Delegate Sovereign shouted: ~ an
D sick and tired of resolutions; this Is tn
a time for action. / move, Mr.. Chair
man, that the motion to appoint
/. committee on resolutions be amende,
, TO read 'on resolutions and plan Q
> action"
. This brought a food Of amer ment
> and motions, but the whole matte
! was finally tabled and the meeting ac
: journed until 3 o'clock to await tn
report OF the committee on creder
tials.
PIrTsBURo, Pa, Aug. 3l.-M. p. Cal
rick, president Of the Brotherhood c
\ Pail. ters and Decorators of America
says that a proposition is to be pre-
r scented Mt the St. Louis convention I
mobilize the unemployed of the cour
y try in the vicinity Of Pittsburg, In tn
event OF a determined effort on tn
d part of the operators to start III
:. mines with imported labor. 1t Is NJ
c d~erstood, he declares, that an apes
d will first be made to the railroad me
a OF the country. not as organization
Il but as individuals, to not handle CO,
r dug at non-union mines II this fai
II then the mob,liz,ng st Pittsburg Wi
r be considered These men, he say