The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-26
DISCUSSION ON DEsS
And His Meeting Here Next Month
Occupied the Trades Assembly at
It's Meeting Sunday Afternoon.

Inc OlAlo Ndlley LEhQeb q AADur Al
sembly held a regular meeting ycster-
day afternoon, which was occupied
chiefly in acting on the Debs meeting
here next month. and on 1t . lengthy
and spirited discussion ensued.
President Bauer stated that L. W.
Rogers. representing Eugene v. Debs.
had called on him last week. and after
interviewing local labor leaders. April
"a was selected as the date for the
Debs lecture. Debs is to lecture on
Labor and Liberty"
Mr.. Tracey. of the executive board,
detailed the inability to get a hall for
the lecture. and he proposed an open
air meeting. Delegate Gnlies was in
favor OF abandoning the lecture IL 1t
could not be given indoors.
After some discussion the assembly
decided on an. indoor meeting, by a
vote OF IA to 10. Following this, Dele
gate Jackson moved that Eugene Debs
be instructed ito stay where he Is at"
Delegate o'Leary, In seconding the
jackson motion, scored Debs for not
coming to Wheeling during the street
car strike when requested to come at
any price. Mr.. oLeary said: Now
Debs wants to come here for 800 be-
cause he has an open date. and he
sends his manager to this city to boom
things so he can cabbage the 800"
Secretary Thomas said he failed to
see any need for Debs. The secretary
thought the assembly was treated TO
considerable eloquence every two
weeks. Labor had no grievances; ev-
erything was moving peacefully hence
there was no occasion for Debs visit.
Vice President Byrne then moved to
reconsider the motion that called for
Debs on April %.
The fact that the assembly's treasury
would have to bear the expense Of the
lecture caused several delegates to OPP
pose the project.
Delegate King suggested that the
delegates contribute out of their pock-
cts. or make levy on the locals Mr..
King offered to contribute 81.
Secretary Thomas agreed with this
plan and he agreed to give 81. He was
afraid politics would creep out in the
Debs matter, and Mr.. Thomas regret
ted that politics doomed up occasionally
in the assembly. The speaker said he
understood Mr. Debs was now on lee
ture tour. with a view Of squaring W
promissory notes he made in a recent
financial trouble.
Mr.. Tracey was sure $50 men could be
found who would each contribute 81,
Mr.. selvey saying the cost would be
about $50.
Arguments pro and con went on for
some time and there was quite divis-
ion of sentiment on bringing Debs here,
chiefly on the ability of the assembly's
treasury to defray the expenses.
Mr.. Hays said the assembly had sew
enty-nlne delegates, and he added that
If there was one who wouldn't contrib
ute dollar to hear Debs he would like
to see him.
"wen, here's one" said Gabriel
Jackson, tapping his chest. II don't
pay to hear him talk politics."
At this salute there was a storm Of
cries and laughter and President Bauer
quleted 1t with his gavel. Mr.. Hays
said he understood Debs was to speak
on Labor and Liberty" and that his
remarks would not have any connec-
ton with his vice presidential aspira-
tions on the Socialist ticket.
The motion to reconsider the Debs
lecture was finally put and defeated.
Then President Bauer appointed the
finance committee as committee on
arrangements, with the power Of secur-
ing the necessary funds and holding the
meeting in a hall or the open air, the
committee to report decisively at the
assembly's next meeting, two weeks
hence.
Communications were read from Gov
ernor G. w. Atkinson and Chief Mine
Inspector j. W. Paul, with reference to
the assembly'S recent letter to
these gentlemen requesting a thorough
investigation of the Red Ash mine dis
aster, in the New River district. Both
letters were explicit and they were re-
ceived and ordered filed. Inspector
Pauls letter stated that the investlga-
ton disclosed the fact that the men
entered the mine on the morning of the
explosion before the fire boss had made
his rounds to test for the presence of
gas and evidence given by miners and
experts showed that the explosion orig
mated in that part of the mine where
the fire boss had not yet reached that
morning on his inspection tour; also.
that workman left the mine at mid
night the day previous and had failed
to close a door. A newspaper clipping
containing an account of the inquest
and investigation accompanied Inspec-
tor Paul's letter.
A motion by Mr.. King, seconded by
Mr.. jackson, to contribute SIS to the
Red Ash mine suffers, was lost. A mi
ner delegate said the Red Ash was a
BLACK sheep" mine. Other delegates
said the assembly's treasury was too
low at present.
The Debs matter was revived on Ga.
brlel JaclIson's query as to why Debs
was travelling around the country
"Gabe" feared politics was back of it.
President Bauer said Debs incurred lie.
gal expenses while he was in Jail and
he was seeking to obtain money to pay
or those debts.