The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-10-13
PARADE AND MASS MEETING.
President Mitchell Speaks to Ten
ThOusnnd People.


SCRANTON, Pa, Oct. 1O.-Thou-
sands of striking mine workers march
ell in review through the crowded
streets Of this city today and showed
their loyalty to the cause for which
they have been battling for the past
three weeks. Not only did the strikers
manifest loyalty to their principles, but
showed the confidence they had in their
leader, John Mitchell, who came here
to participate in the parade and to
address the men in mass meeting. The
national presidents welcome was an
| exceedingly flattering one. 1t was the
greatest labor demonstration that has
ever taken place in the Lackawanna
valley. Thousands of miners and their
families came to the city from all towns
within L radius Of 20 miles. The city
was generously bedecked with the ma
| tional colors and most Of the business
places were closed in honor of the oc-
casion.
The Demonstration Hogan
with the arrival of President Mitchell
from Shamokin shortly before o'clock.
He was met at the station by local
reception committee and crowd of
several thousand persons. Owing to
Mr. Mitchelps late arrival the parade
was not started until 2:30 o'clock. The
strike leader, with James Moir, the
mayor OF Scranton, rode in a carriage
at the head of the line. Then came a
solid column of workingmen so long
that it took al hour and fifteen minutes
to pass a given point. AS in the other
ha1 in f1,n
the past ten days, many Of the boys
employed in the breakers preparing
coal for the market, were in line. There
were also innumerable banners carried
by the men bearing notices and other
Inscriptions setting forth their griev-
ances. The parade was dismissed at
the circus grounds on the outskirts of
the city where the big mass meeting
was held.
1t Was Estimated.
that more than 10000 persons were
gathered around the speakers stand,
when Fred Dilcher, OF Ohio, member
OF the executive board of the United
Mine Workers, who acted as presiding
officer, introduced the national presi-
dent of the Mine Workers union. When
Mr.. Mitchell in his speech told the
miners that the proposition Of the
operators to advance wages 10 per cent
was not enough the spontaneity of the
cheering was surprising and almost
startling. He followed this up by de-
claring that the mine officers ought to
abolish the company stores and the
sliding scale and that they should pay
the men their wages semi-mOnthly as
| the Pennsylvania laws direct. With the
mention of each grievance there would
come an outburst of applause from the
men.
Mr.. Mitchell Refuted the Charges
that the strike was inaugurated in the
interests of politicians and also denied
that bituminous interests had anything
to do with the present contest He
declared that if any soft coal was ship.
ped into the anthracite market as a
substitute it was coming from the nom
union bituminCus coal fields Of West
Virginia. He gave the non-union men
now on strike in the anthracite coal
fields great credit for suspending work
along with the union mine workers.
He said there was only 5000 union men
| III the anthracite region on the day
when the strike began. but 10000 men
nave obeyed the order to strike.