The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-17
FIRST PART OF 1T.

This is the first part OF my statement as writ.
ten by Little and this | said would agree To
sign my name to. But that the following part
| did not wish to state sign my name to-
Here is the last part: 81 believe that organized
labor should stand by its friends in every politi
cal fight, and fully realize the importance of the
men selecting the candidates who are known to
be friendly to their interests l contcnded that
this part could he interpreted to mean that
wished our members to enter the political fight
an organization II could also have been in.
tcrprctcd to mean that was against certain
candidates and favorable to others.-~
Mr. Little got angry and said if I did not sign
1t all | need not sign any, and said that OH the
following sunday he would print the whole of it
and say that refused to sign it. Then said:
You have professcd friendship in coming on this
mission, and now, because refuse TO allow YOU
to put words in my mouth you reveal your true
attitude and really intend to try and iniure me.
You can go ahead and fight me and we will see
who comes out best. l have made simple state.
ment of truth, which no one can contradict, and
therefore do not fear your attacks" lie then
said that he would print the part of the state.
mcnt l approved or stating it came from me,
but would pint the other separate with the
statement that had refused to sign it,
This he failed TO do. showing that his object
was not to assist either myself or the organiza-
ton but to try and assist his own political
schemes. lie states that | proposed that he
write statement. That is not true. I simply
told him to report my words as an interview,
and only gave him paper when he asked for it,
| never was foolish enough to agree to sign any
thing which he might write until | saw what it
was. His hatred OF Mr.. Conncll made him think,
| suppose, that no one had night 10 do any
business with him.
In view Of the assistance rendered by Mr.. Con.
nell to our movement, fell morally obliged 10
give true statement of the facts, when told that
false stories were being circulated which said
that William Connell was one OF the greatest oh.
saclcs in the settlement of the recent strike and
was asked if the contrary was not true and for 4
true statement If ! do any business with any
operator | shall not be ashamed to admit ii. As
Mr.. Conncll Was the president Of the Individual
Operators association, he was able and did call
both Them and the larger operators together and
caused a proposition to he submitted which ended
the strike,
QUESTION AT ISSUE.
Tie question al issue should be whether AZ
officers of the mine workers we We're justified in
accepting the services oi Air. Connell as an in.
termedary or not, II SO, then as a business
proposition we were justified in acknowledging
such service
Mr.. Little LEFT my home and a few hours later
| returned 10 Wilkes Barre TO meet Nir. Mitchell,
who came on later train. Little Was on the
platform and again proposed that | put state
ment in the press concerning my previous state
ment and threatened that ii, before = O'Clock
Saturday afternoon, one WAS not forthcoming he
would proceed against me. This | treated with
the contempt it deserved, and expected that, ac.
cordng 10 his threat, he would have the question
aired in the Scranl oman the nest sunday. This
he Jailed TO do but began berating labor leaders
in general.
Mr.. Little has done more than amy other man
that | know OF To try and bring the organization
into politics. lie has different occasions sent
his reporter out Ia visit the local unions or
leaders of the locals, to have resolutions oi sym.
patty endorsed By them, | myself have been 4
recipient of printed resolution OF this kind
accompanied by letter, asking that | Try and
have il passed uroraby upon by our locals, and
on another occasion have been asked by his rep.
resenlative 10 publicly express sympathy for him
when in prison.
Much can he said ii necessary OF the method
which he used 10 try and insure. throug. the aid
OF the mine workers, the success OF his political
schemes In recent article, under the name Of
William Williams" he suggests that in the next
convention the leader of the mine workers be
thrown out, would remind Mr.. Little that the
last time resolution was introduced in our dis.
tSct convention TO clMorse the scrantonan it
was thrown our, several delegates stating that il
MAS not a ht paper TO introduce into our homes