Conference Of Labor Leaders

Wheeling, W. Va., July 27.- The conference of executive officials of the numerous labor organizations of the country, called to meet in Wheeling at noon, for the purpose of consideringways and means to win the great coal strike, assembled at Traders' Assembly hall with President Samuel Gompers in the chair. All outsiders were excluded, but a statement will be given out after adjournment. Reports received by the strike leaders do not bear out the situation they depicted Monday night on what they claimed were reliable advices that over one-half of the West Virginia miners were out, and it is seen that another and even more determined effort must be made to bring about a general strike in the West Virginia fields. The conferrees are now considering the advisability of levying a general assessment on all organized labor for the maintenance of the strike and striking miners. Some of the leaders say that in the event it is seen to be impossible to bring about a general strike in West Virginia the conductors, firemen and brakemen will be asked to refuse to man trains carrying the West Virginia coal. This measure, however, is a last resort and is a weapon that will probably not be used until nearly everything else is tried and fails. Already it is settled that one result of the Wheeling conference will be the flooding of the West Virginia coal fields with miners' organizers. The officials and organizers of nearly all the union orgaizations of the country will join forces with the United Mine Workers in the effort to organize the West Virginians and bring them out.