The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-15
RIDICULOUS IDEA
OF ANOTHER STRIKE
Organizer Benjamin James, of the
United Mine Workers Referred
to the Matter in Speech
in West Scranton.

National Committeeman benjamin
James, Of the United Mine Workers of
America, addressed mass meeting of
miners in st. David's hall, West Scran
ton, last evening, and spoke in Il very
hopeful vein of the existing conditions
in the anthracite regions. He advo-
Gated the perfecting of the local or
ganiZatiOns and stimulated the men
with the thought that the eight-hour
work day for them was not far dis
tant.
In concluding his remarks he took
occasion to remark that he may not
be with them much longer and urged
his hearers to have implicit confidence
in their leaders and to select capa Bile
men to conduct their business along
business lines. In conversation with Il
Tribune man. Mr.. James ridculed the
published statemant regarding the al
legged strike among the miners next
April, and in his address spoke in part
as follows:
MY friends, l am pleased to be
among you once again and to know
that you are so we'll organized in The
Lackawanna valley. This is something
l have looked forward to for several
years. When l witnessed the trouble
at Latmcr on Sept. 10, 1897. l made Il
firm resolution to always do what I
| could for the cause of labor. 1t was
then l started out to build up an Or
ganization that would relieve the con-
dition of the anthracite miners and
eradicate some of the wrongs they en-
dured.
"At that time there We're bur LOO
members in our organization in the
Lehigh region, but today over 100000
| are in the ranks and recently we gained
| the grandest victory ever recorded for
organized labor in America. When
| first came here. less than two yaafS
ago, there was not AN organization ot
mine workers in existence. The men
! had lost confidence in organized labor,
| they believed thcy could not get any
body to serve the interests of the
masses.
But today, | am proud To say, they
have scored grand victory. and. nu-
merically speaking, the miners are tho
strongest labor organization in exist
ence. You must remember, however,
that your organization can easily go
down by it's own weight, if not prop
erly managed. Every man who foIsnt
the battle IL entitled tn honor and
credit. and ii would he vain in mo tn
say it was due entirely to the officers
| of your organization.
| do not expect any trouble ON
| April |. and if the operators take care
| Of themselves they won't have any
| trouble, The talk about operators
| preparing for IA strike is absurd The
probability is that they will arbi-
| trate whatever grievances may arise
| instead of inviting trouble. The crafts
| that suffer most are the least organ
| iZed ana are continually striking If
we are forced into Il strike again it
| will he because we have not built M
| our defence.
| II do moi look for a fight because
| ] believe the operators will be willing
TO continue the ten per cent. increase,
and possibly later on will grant addi-
| tiOnal concessions. l believe that IL
| our organization Is thoroughly per-
| fected, strikes will be a thing OF the
| past. l belive the general public will
| realize that the proper way 10 settle
| all disputes will he by the operators
and employees meeting together on the
| same floor and discussing questions OF
| Importance to them.
| Capital has full sway in our coun-
try in every line of industry, and il
labor don't awaken to the true con-
dition of affairs, what is going to be
come Of us? Labor will not receive
any consideration whatever unless or
ganized. Steer clear of politics in
your organization, but you must be
thoroughly organized to demand JUS
tice. 1t appears To me II we cannot
have law declaring docking illegal,
we can at least have a say as an
organization.
'The laws pertaining to mining We're
not put into effect because your or
] ganization was not effective hereto