Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-30
LIKE COXEY'S IDEA
Proposition to Mobilize Army of Un-
employed at Pittsburg.
WILL Be PRESENTED At ST. LOUIS
E. V. Oebs Among the First to Ar
rive at the Conference.
G GOMPE NOT PRES SENT

rick. president of the brotherhood of
Painters and Decorators of America says
that a proposition is TO be presented at
| the St Louis convention to mobilize the
| army of the unemployed of the country
in the vicinity of Pittsburg. in the event
| of determined effort on the part of the
operators to start the mines with imported
labor.
1t is understood. President Carrick says
that an appea, will first be made to the
railroad men of the country. not as or
ganiZations, but as individuals. to not ham
die coal dug at non-union mines. If this
fails, then the mobilizing in Pittsburg will
be considered.
These men, he says will not come here
TO destroy property, or take part I'm riot
or insurrection. but will be here to show
that this is peaceful battle. and that the
working classes are as unit I'm crying for
relief
Deb. Arrives at st. Louis.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. August 3o-E. V Debs
of Terre Haute. Ind: NJ. ID. Ratchford of
Columbus and w. ID. Mahon of Detroit
were among the delegates to the labor con-
gress who arrived this morning and regis
tered at the Laclede Mr. Debs. who is
not representative of any organization,
comes on general invitation, and will, of
course, give his advice if called upon.
III course, you KNOW i m out OF II, said
Mr.. Debs this morning. Il am no longer
affiliated with any labor body. but have
come simply as guest of the confer
ence."
Mr.. Debs would not venture an opinion
on the probable outcome of the confer
enoe.
us there any probability of a symna-
thetic striker" was asked.
Il hardly think so. In fact. these dele
sates ere not empowered to order n strike.
They can do no more than report back 10
their respective bodies the sense of the
Convention
Government by injunction" Mr. Debs
went on 10 say. las exemolified in the
great struggle of the miners. has been car
iied to the extreme and the people are
revolving. / expect the convention will
take some very decisive action in this
matter
Mr.. Rntchford Has q Plan.
"Mr. Ratchford has a plan which he will
probably present to the conference calling
upon every workingman and woman in
each county to contribute one day of their
| wages to further tie relief OF the striking
n iners. This money. he thinks, will
amount 10 between $1,000 and 5000 per
day. Part OF this fund will be used 10 keep
men at work among the strikers in the
Pittsburg district, where the operators pro-
pose to start their mines with non-union
men. In other words. the camps there win
be maintained with the hope of eventually
ii Il
Among the other arrivals of the morning
we're James O'Cornell. representing the
1 city branch of the American Federation OF
Labor Chicago; :. ]. Meserall of the H.
dr strial Council. Kansas City; Victor l..
Berger. with credentials from the social
democracy of Milwaukee, and Frederick L.
Heath. representing the street railway
men. also of Milwaukee: W. ID. Ryan. vice
president of the United Mine Workers OF
Illinois; Jacob Tazeaar. from the Brother
hood of Painters, Chicago. and II. =.
o'Neill, Rich Hill Mo-: Jonn Hichell.
Spring Valley. H.; John Wallace Scammon,
Kas.. and jos. Pollard of Beleviile ILL.,, all
members of miners organizations.
Disappointed at Gompers' Absence.
Mrch disappointment was expressed at
headquarters this morling over the nom
arrival of Samuel Gompers, but II is be-
lieyed he will yet put in an appearance.
Ii was reported last night that Mr. Com
pers had conferred with Mr.. Ratchforl
at Columbus and that he would be present
at today's meeting. 1t is believed Mr..
Gompers will be in St Louis this after
noon.
to refreshingly cool weather this morn
irg. As 20 what tie convention would do
none of the delegates seen this morning
was willing to forecast. There is no de-
nying the fact that the social democracy
moN cement, headed 10y Mr.. Debs, has
large following, and ii would not be sur
prise to see that new venture gam con-
troll of the meeting. IL Is known, how
ever, that an effort viii be made TO ANAL
60 all the brotherhoods represented
and TO this end a resolution looking 10 the
appointment of a general conference COM
mittee will be presented some time dur
ing the convention by Mr.. Steinbus of St.
Louis.
MY idea is" said Mr. Steinbus this
morning, Ito have one or two delegates
from each branch of organized LABOR form a
general conference committee. While
hardly think such committee If appointed
by the conference will do anything at this
meeting, they will ge: together later. BY
that time ours will have crys iallized, and
some platform upon which general ANAL
samation of labor could stand would be
formulated. We must be united"
1t is not expected that the convention
will do anything today beyond perfecting
organization and appointing committees on
credentials.
Convention Called to Order.
Chairman Steinbus Of the local commit
tee of arrangements called the labor con-
ference to order at 10 O'Clock About one
hundred people were scattered about the
hall, not all of them. however, being dele
gates. Mr. Steinbus suggested that as the
call for the convention had been issued
hurriedly, and as many of the delegates
were yet unadyised as to the meeting place
and hour an adjournment be taken until
Ii O'clock He named a committee TO go
to the different hotels and inform all dele
gates that tfre convention was about to as
sc mble, and a recess was taken. 1t is prob
able that the men who called the conven-
tion-Messrs. Ratchford, Pierce, Davis.
Carson, Dolan, KerLedy, Stephenson and
Dilcher-will be chosen as the committee
on credentials.
Shortly after IL O'Clock the convention
was again called to Order W. B. Prescott.
president of the National Typographical
Union of Indianapolis, was chosen tenn
porary chairman, and A. M. Pearce of Co.
lumbus temporary secretary. Mr.. Prescott
then appointed the following as a commit
tee on credentials: Mr.. Ratchford, Jas.
O'Connell of the machinists, Chicago:
Grant Luce Of the st. Lols Central Labor
organization, ]. R. Sovereign and w. ID.
Mahan.
Considerable controversy arose over tho
naming Of a committee resolutions,
which, although the convention was not
permanently organized, was moved by one
of the delegates. There were amendments
to the effect that the convention adjourn
till 1 o'clock. and that the hour be made
o clock. and in the midst of this parlia-
mentary tangie Delegate Sovereign shout
ed: I'm sick and tired of resolutions; this