The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-10-04
MINERS ON PARADE.
Monster Labor Demonstration
at Wilkesbarre, Pa.
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MITCHELL.
= Convention of Anthracite workers
TO he Held to Take Action In
Regard 10 the Recent Of
fers of Operators

greatest labor demopstration ever held in
Northeastern Pennsylvania. The weather
was favorable for large turnout. The
sun shone brightly all day, and It was
more like day in June than October.
Early in the morning the steam and
electric roads began hauling the people
into the city, and many thousands came
ON foot from the nearby towns. The
buildings along the route of the parade
were decorated with flags and bunting,
and the city presented holiday appear
ance
The parade, headed by President
Mitchell and the officers of the national
executive board, started little after 2
O'Clock, and it required an hour and 20
minutes to pass given point. 1t is esti-
mated that there were fully $4,000 men
and breaker boys in line. The great bulk
of the paraders was made up of stalwart
men, As rule they were well dressed.
and some of them from their appearance
might be taken for body of farmers.
They did not march with precision. but
were dense mass of humanity. They
walked six, FIVE and four abreast. The
music was furnished by about 40 brass
bands and drum corps.
M,ny banners and transNarencics were
carried by the mon. Among the most no.
ticeable were these: I'VE want our din
ner pals filled with substantial food. not
coal barons' taffy;" I'VE are fighting
cause that is just and right" "Stand by
President Mitchell and the union;" Our
union must be recognized" I'VE will no
longer be slaves" "2,24O pounds for
tom I'VE want two weeks pay"
The breaker boys carried banners
vx.h hi..h l.
must work" Save us from the whims
of the sheriff and deputies;" Down with
oppression; we will stand by Mitchell"
The parade passed over the principal
streets of the city, and thousands of peo-
pie lined the sidewalks. Here and there
an enthusiastic admirer of President
Mitchell would break through the lines
and insist on shaking hands with him.
The, men from pittston had float with
four men representing Coal Barons."
They We're drinking what purported to be
champagne. Directly following was a
float with miners dining on bread and
water. y stretcher was carried contain
ing dummy representing miner who
had just lost his life in mine
President Mitchell reviewed the great
army of marchers on the river common.
He was generously applauded by the
marchers. Business was at a standstill
in the city all the afternoon. The super
intendents of the coal companies and
their clerks viewed the parade from their
Office buildings. One coal man said it
was very creditable demonstration.
Following is President Mitchei's speech
in part
"A man would indeed be devoid of feel
ing if he were not proud to have the op-
portunty to stand before a multitude
like this which is making a fight for
which it believes to be Just.
am proud to know that you are COM
posed of coal miners and their families
l am proud to know that you command
in this hight the respect of the clergymen,
that you have the sympathy of the pub
lie and that the great American press
has said with one voice that your cause
Is a righteous one No man would go
further to avoid a strike than |, but
when all honorable methods fail then |
favor strikes. | went to New York to
call on the operators at the sacrifice of
personal dignity to get hearing. but
the men who employ you turned me away
and even refused to receive committee
Of their own men for the purpose of talk
ing over%the differences.
THE greatest strike in the history Of
the world is drawing to a close. AL
ready the great coal carrying railroads
have agreed to increase your wages 10
per cent, which is great victory in it.
self. True, 1t is enough, but it does not |
satisfy us, but the time is not far dis |
tant when the anthracite coal miners will |
receive as much for their labor as any !
other class of workmen in the world.
"In this struggle do not place absolute |
faith in John Mitchell or any other one |
man. Put your faith in the organization. |
Work hard for its prosperity, for the |
stronger it is the better you are armed |
for the struggle in which you are now |
engaged This stE;e shall not be de- |
clared off by me. 1t shall not be ended |
until convention of anthracite miners |
shall so decide Every union and every
colliery will be asked to send one or more
delegates TO n convention to determine |
the question for themselves. Your inter-
ests are greater than mine. | shall not |
decide the question of your going back to |
work. You must vote on that yourself. | |
will not pretend to determine your fate
or that of the 100000 who are directly |
affected by this struggle
Mr.. Mitchell then briefly reviewed the |
Of the miners during the past |
40 years and said that the miners cannot
expect to have all the evils which have
been heaped upon them during the last
half century of unorganized labor righted |
NJ once. Continuing Mr.. Mitchell said: |
Il firmly believe that victory will he |
achieved by the men standing together.
Do not let one of you move until all |
move. II you stand together we will !
achieve a greater victory than was ever |
attained by labor in the anthracite coal |
region. If nothing else is achieved than |
the taking OF the young boys who today |
yelled as | passed them in the parade |
that Mitchell is all right" out of the
breakers and placing them in the schools.
the future will show that Mitchell was |
all right. | am firmly of the belief that |
the mothers Of the breaker boys nightly |
pray TO the Ruler OF the universe TO de-
eide in favor of the men, so that their
boys can go to the schools
"A miner should receive for his wages |
Ss much as any man on earth, so that he |
himself can build n homo On tha nraSor+ /