Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-14

Woods Speak at a Church Festi-
val at Watson-Strikers Make
SomO Gains in the Kanawha
Valley -Dilcher and His Marchers
Move to New River-The Strike
Situation Generally.
Special TO the Register.
Fairmont, ". Va, August 1S.-This
morning President Michael D. Ratch-
ford. Of the United Mine Workers,
President Samuel Gompers, Of the Fed
Grafton Of Labor. Sovereign, O'Connen.
Rea. Jones. Mabon, Barnes, Woods anG
Davis held a conference in the Airing
ton Hotel, at Palatine. and many i'm
portant matters were considered.
Sovereign and others spoke on the
injunction and their remarks would
have been of great interest. but could
not be secured.
Mahon'S report was very favorable
to success and upon the strength Of it
and his own research here O'Donneu
predicts the West Virginia men will be
out by mex, Wednesday.
The situation in the Fairmont dis
trict, he says, has been a peculiar
one. Had the labor leaders known
more Of the character of the region
these big meetings at Monongah to-day
~ Asre tonight would have been held
Es5S weeks ago. We thought Debs and
= non, two never firing workers,
you'd have' no trouble in getting tfSm
ut." -
Sovereign when seenNsaid; Il do not
these quiet strikes. X like to see
men go in the battle WIN vim. A
le Of the $50" I have seenl in strikes
the h west would be a }ood fhins'I
the afternoon a parade Of over
hundred strikers was formed as
ESCORT u .t- readers, and marched
thiV lgh MOnongah to the grove where
the heating was held. There was
large attendance, the audience includ-
ing several deputy marshals, sent from
Parkersburg, lawyers representing the
operators. and some few operators
themselves. Ratchford was the first
speaker His address was on the usual
line, and contained nothing startling.
GQmpers spoke next, giving a history
nf tho aFrfl-o a. G.
nCmic questions that pertain 10 the
situation. He referred briefly 20 the in
junction and free speech, holding that
the courts are leaning toward the capi-
talistic side Of the controversy.
sovereign was the next speaker. He
closed with the following:
did not come TO MOnOngah today,
nor neither did my associates, to court
trouble. We do not intend 10 defy
the courts. However. l wish TO say
70 the operators, their lawyers. and
the Imarshals present, that they are
two kinds Of law in this country.
These are the common law, or the law
MGOd, and the civil law, or the code
civil action. The last named COM
ands Us to do what is right and pro-
bits us from doing what is wrong.
Ne come not TO violate the injunction
f the latter law. We come here in
iefense Of he orders Of Gods law
I'VE want to serve notice On.ithe
lawyers and marShals present that we
obey an injunction of Gods law. We
deny the right of any mine operator
10 hinder us in this acton. CAP
'plause)
The question was argued at Home
stead and Gods injunction was not
dissolved. (Applause) So we are here
with an injunction also. Cure is that
sacred injunction. (Applause.) God
gave YOU two hands TO fill your stOm-
ach and Ill the requirements Of his
injunction. (ApplauSe)
I'VE have free schools, free churches
Il was going to say free speech.
(Great applause. Cries Of Hardly"
'.NOO
The question can never be solved
except by giving the labOrers a fair
share of what they produce. We do
not mean 70 array the operators
against the miners. nor the miners
AGAINST the operators. Some Of them
(fhe operators) are in as bad a way
as YOU are and must squeeze YOU TO
death that they may live.
Upon this strike depenfs the fate
not cnly Of the miners, but or organ
ized labor. Remember this.
Mahon was the last speaker. his ad-
dress continuing till 6 o'clock. At the
conclusion OF the meeting, the leaders
returned 20 this city. where another
big meeting was held tonight Com
ners. Ratchford and Sovereign speak
ing. ,-.
Tonight O'Connell and Woods went
N the New England mines az Watson.
where they were the chief drawing
ard at-a Methodist church social.
having been invited 10 speak by The
church people.
Ratchford viii 20 20 Columbus IN the
morning. and Sovereign viii follow
sunday. GOmpers viii speak here
again tomorrow and win leave for
washington.
At the Monong-h mines to-day seven
move men came out and joined the un-
DEAD THE