Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-26

The general committee OF seven,- OF
the Ohio Valley Trades Assembly, who
have in charge the arrangements for
the meeting this evening to be address
ed by Eugene V. Debs, of Chicago, has
partially concluded arrangements for
mass meeting to be held at eight o'clock
this evening, at the west front Of the
City Hall. Owing to the absence from
the city of Mayor Butts, his permission
could not be secured, but no difficulty
is anticipated in this respect. If the
meeting is not held there, it will be
held at the corner Of Seventeenth and
Chapline streets.
A chairman for the meeting had not
been chosen last night, but the COM
mittee will meet at $3.50 o'clock this
morning to complete arrangements.
T. l.. Lewis yesterday received a tele
gram from Debs, stating that he will
arrive in the city about 4;30 o'clock
this afternoon. He will be met at the
depot by a reception committed from
the Assembly. The meeting in the
evening will no doubt be largely at
tended, as there will be general desire
to see and hear Mr.. Debs.
The following Associated Press tele-
gram was received Saturday night, but
was crowded out of the Sunday issue:
Washington, July 24.-President
Gompers, Of the American Federation
of Labor, to-day sent kilograms to Off
GERS of thirty-eight national trade
unions, calling for a conference to be
held at Wheeling, w. Va, at noon
Tuesday, July 9th. This was done in
response to telegram from President
NJ. D. Ratchford, lof the United Mine
Wr6orkers of America, in which he Gays
that peaI estie' assemblage and free
speech have been forbidden and sup
pressed in West Virginia
Following is the call sent out by
President Gompers to the officers Of
national trade unions:
President Ratchford, of the miners,
Just wires that peaceable assemblages
and free speech have been forbidden
and suppressed in West Virginia. In
compliance with his request | Invite
you to a conference to be held at
Wheeling, w. Va, July 9th. Similar
invitation is extended to executive OFF,
GERS of all national trade unions. No
duty is more important than attendance
at this conference. The very presence
of all to whom this is addressed will
arouse the miners to their full duty and
decide the contest in their favor. II
your presence is Impossible, send rep
resentatives."
President Gompers aso sent dis
patch to Mr.. Ratchford informing him
that the call had been sent out, and
expressing the hope that the miners
will be victorious.
Officers of thirty-eight unions were
invited to attend, it being impossible
for representatives Of all the unions TO
reach the place of meeting at the time
decided upon. @
Commenting on the above telegram,
the Cincinnati Enquirer Of yesterday
said:
1.-THE dispatch is in its very wording
a national call to arms in aid of the
miners. If the conference shall decide
to force the issue by calling out the
LOCO. 900 or more of trade unionists affil-
lated with the great national body such
action could only have one result. 1t
would paralyze and bring to an absolute
standstill for the time being at least
almost every industry and occupation
in the land. The telegram of President
Gompers was addressed to Martin Fox,
President of the Iron Molders' Inter-
national Union. and Jacob Schmalz.
General Secretary of the Musicians AS
ISOLATION, the only two national officers
resident in this city. They will both
probably leave for Wheeling to-mor-
row morning in answer to the summons
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