New Ulm review., 1900-10-17
Mitchell's Address.

declared that 1t would not end unless a
majority of the delegates representing the
anthracite miners agreed to its teTmina-
ton. We repeatedly announced that we
would not undertake to decide the future
happiness or misery the veal or woe of the
100000 persons dependent upon the anthra-
cite coal industry for a livelihood. We be-
lieve that the men who mine coal, that the
men who work in the colleries, that the
boys who work in the breakers, should all
be consulted before the officers of Your
union declare the strike at an end. Learn
ing that the operators had posted notices
at their mines offering advance of ten
per cent. on the wages formerly paid, we
deemed it our duty to call CONVEX ntion and
permit the miners to pass judgment on the
question of its acceptance or rejection.
In considering the proposition of the
operators I want the delegates attending
this convention to be calm and dispassion-
ate, to consider the question in all it's
phases, to measure carefully the chances
of success and the possibilities of defeat
should the strike be continued. You must
not reach conclusions hastily you must
not overestlmate your strength, and on the
other hand, you should take every precau-
tlon to protect yourselves against the
avariciousness of your employers, who.
regret to say, have shown no disposition
to treat you fairly in the past, and who
have never shown any regard tor the well
fare of those who produce their wealth.
For the first time in many years the
operators have recognized your demands
for better conditions OF employment, and
have offered an advance of ten per cent. in
your wages. l am we'll aware that this ad-
vance is not satisfactory to you. You
have felt, and with justice. that definite
period OF time should be named during
which this advance should remain in force
Your experience where wages are based
on sliding scale has been SO unsatistac-
tory to Won that Won hp1ieye that ha
sliding scale method of determining wages
should be abolished, you also believe tina i,
the laws of Pennsylvania should be obeyed
by the coal companies, and wages be paid
twice each month, you reservins the right
OF spending your earnings wherever you
choose. Whether it is believed best at this
time to insist upon a compliance with all
your demands is a question which you who
are most interested, are called upon to de-
eide
Nov, gentlemen, permit me to admonish
you to consider seriously the course you
intend to pursue. The eyes of the Ameri-
can people are centered on the city of
Scranton to-day, anxiousy awaiting the
result of this convention. l do not wish you
to accept one cent less for'your labor than
it is possible for you to secure. l do not
wish the great organization which has
been built up among you to be wrecked and
ruined through any mistake of mine or
yours. If you legislate wisely and jul
diciously, I can destiny brighter and
happier for you and for those who will
take your places when you have passed
away. l can see d future where the little
boys will be in atte ndance at school in
stead OF wasting their young lives away in
the breakers. helping TO earn livelihood
1or their parents. l can see future where
pleasant homes and happy, smiling faces
of the wives and mothers will be in vivid
contrast with the conditions of to-day
NO Further Concessions.
Wilkes barre, Pa, Oct. 13.-The op-
orators of the Wyoming valley are
watching with interest the proceed
ings of the Scranton convention. The
representatives of the big coal COM
panies here still insist that no further
concessions would be made to the men
and that if the offer of ten per cent.
increase is rejected the strike is des-
tined to go on. The offer of the op-
orators having been refused, the com
panies will endeavor to operate their
mines with new men. Should the
strikers interfere, then the state will
be called upon to protect those men
who are willing to work