Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-26

acted.
The regular meeting OF the Ohio VAL
| ley Trades and Labor Assembly was
| principally devoted to discussing a mo
/ ton endorsing the action Of the exc
| cutive board to arrange Tor an address
by Eugene v. Debs at a public meeting
in Wheeling next month. Those I'M
der the impression that his visit might
have some connection with politics and
others who have been assured that he
will speak solely In the interests of
organized labor carried on a warm de-
bate and as a result the motion car
ried and a committee was appointed
/ to make the necessary arrangements
for a public meeting.
The meeting was called to order by
| President Bauer and the roll call was
responded to by a large number of del
egates.
A discussion then arose as to the
| a~dvisability of placing 4 personal boy
colt upon a certain brand of stogies
| owing the fact that the are being a
| ufactured by machines and on motion
| each and every delegate was instruct
| ed to state the case of the stogie makers
to his respective local and use his in
fuence to induce organized labor not
to purchase the proIact of the COM
pany in question.
One of the delegates asked for infor-
nation concerning the threatened
strike of the carpenters and was given
an answer to the effect that an agree
ment had been reached between the
contractors and the carpenters at a
meeting held recently.
The president then announced that
L. w. Rogers, in the capacity OF adj
vance agent for Eugene V. Debs, the
noted labor leader, arrived in the city
during the past week and met with
some of the officials of the assembly
with a view of arranging for a meet
ing to be addressed by Mr.. Debs in
Wheeling on the evening of April 9th,
upon the subject, Labor and Liberty"
Delegate Tracy, who was called upon
to more fully enlighten the delegates
as to the arrangements, announced that
at the meeting Of the executive board
of the assembly the proposition had
been accepted and he had been vested
with the authority to secure a suit
able place for the meeting. Mr.. Tracy
also stated he had been unable to find
a hall large enough that could be Sc
cured for the night. Delegate Boes
moved that the assembly endorse the
action of the executive board and there
was a prompt second. Remarks being
in order, another delegate expressed
himself in favor of Debs coming to
Wheeling only upon the condition that
a hall be secured for the meeting.
Delegate Tracy next took the floor and
in order to relieve the delegates Of any
false impression as to the object of Mr..
Debs' visit to Wheeling stated that Mr..
Rogers had assured the assembly Of
ficials that Mr.. Debs would not speak
on politics or of his candidacy of the
Socialistic party. Boss motion was
finally adopted and it was later moved
that the meeting be held On the out
side.
A number Of delegates spoke in turn,
some favoring an indoor meeting and
others recommending an open air
meeting, and the discussion became
lively and interesting. Delegate Sims
thought that if the meeting could be
held on the outside and the treasury
could stand it, it would be better for
the interests of organized labor. The
treasury was not thought to be in fit
condition for an outside meeting,
and the motion was lost by a vote Of
IA to Is. Delegate Gabriel Jackson
then moved that Debs remain where
he is, and the motion was lost. He
then asked what he was to be brought
here for, and this brought another
delegate to his feet, who explained that
Debs' visit would be solely in the in
terests of organized labor.
Vice President Byrne next moved
that the motion to endorse the action
of the executive board Of the Assem-
bly, be rescinded. This not only en-
livened the debate, but brought about
a complicated state of affairs. Dele
gate Connolly thought it was the duty
OF the Assembly to provide mean for
holding the meeting, and another dele
gate strongly opposed the Assembly
preventing Debs from coming and also
recommended that an outside" meet
ing be held. Secretary Thomas said
he regretted that politics vas again
cropping out In the Assembly, and adj
yised that a committee be appointed
to raise funds for the meeting, as the
treasury was not in condition TO bear
the necessary expenses. Delegates
Sylvis, Sims, O'Leary and others also
spoke of the Assembly's-inability to
meet the expenses, and thought it
unlikely that the necessary funds
could be collected. Delegates BoeS said
~ 1.-&,;, 10 oo.,IJ ra{ca e1En Cor