Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-03
MINERS PARADE.
Fully $4,000 in Line, Tuesday,
at WiIkesbarre.
Pres. Mitchell Reviews the Line.
Monster Mass Meeting Follows.
Mitchell Says End Of Greatest Strike in His.
tory Is Near at Hand.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, oct. 1.-The parade
and mass meeting of the striking min
ers in this city, today, was the great
est labor demonstration ever held in
northeastern Pennsylvania. The wealth
er was favorable for large turnout
President Mitchell and party arrived
at HaZelton shortly after / o'clock and
were met at the depot by a large and
enthusiastic crowd. The visitors We're
given cheer and then driven to their
hotel The parade, headed by Presi-
dent Mitchell and the officers of the
national executive board, started a
little after , o'clock, and 1t required
an hour and 20 minutes to pass given
point. 1t is estimated that there were
fully $1,000 men and breaker boys in
line. The great bulk Of the paraders
was made up of stalwart men. AS a
rule they are well dressed and some Of
them from their appearance might be
taken for body of farmers. The music
was furnished by about 40 brass bands
and drum corps. Many banners ana
transparencies We're carried by the
men. Among the most noticeable were
these:
We Want Our Dinner Pals Filled
With Substantial Food. Not Coal Bar
ons Tafy."
We Are Fighting a Cause That Is
Just ana Right"
stand by President Mitchell ana the
Union"
our Union Must be Recognized"
We viii No Longer Il" Slaves"
''2240 Pounds for Ton"
we Want TWO Weeks Pay"
The breaker boys carried banners
which read
we Need Schooling, But Must
Work"
Save Us From the Whims Of the
Sheriff and Deputies"
Down With Oppression; We VIII
Stand BY Mitchell
The parade passed over the principal
streets Of the city and thousands of
people lined the sidewalks The men
from Pittston had a float with four
men representing Coal Barons. They
We're drinking what purported to be
champagne. Directly following was a
float with men dining on bread and
water. A stretcher was carried con-
tanning a dummy representing a miner
who had just lost his life in the mine.
President Mitchell reviewed the great
army of marchers on the river common.
He was generously applauded by the
marchers.
business was at i standstill in the city
city all the afternoon. The superintcnd-
clerks viewed the parade from their office
buildings one coal man said ii was a
very creditabe demonstration. 1t was
after o'clock when the last Of the
.t,avs ah41I
Then he and his colleagues were driven to
West Side park. where the big mass
meeting was held. For several hours :
crowd had been gathering there and it
was estimated that nearly 10000 persons
were massed in front of the stand when
the labor president began to speak. The
reception he got from the crowd was most
enthusiastic.
T d. Nichols, president OF District No
/. comprising the Lackawanna and Nyo-
ming regions, was the chairman Of the
members of the national executive board.
and the Rev. p. j. Dunn OF WiIkesbarre,
had made short addresses. Mr.. Mitchell
was introduced. He said:
Fellow workngmen-A man would in
deed be devoid OF feeling if he were not
proud to have the opportunity to stand
before a multitude like this who are max
ing a fight for something which II be
ieveS to be just. | am proud 10 know
that YOU are composed Of coal miners and
their families. | am proud to know that
you CDinfldllu III tiliS i-ilt lilt itSpttt VI
the clersymen. that you have the SYM
pathy OF the public and that the great
American press has said with one voice
that your cause is righteous one.
The greatest strike in the history Of
the world is drawing to close Already
the great cOal-carryinG railroads have
agreed 10 increase your wages 10 Per
cent. which is a great victory in itself.
Though il is enough. it does not sat
sfy us but the time is not far distant
when the anthracite coal miners will re
ccive as much for their labor as any
other class of workmen in the world.
This strike shall not be declared off
by me. Ii shall not be ended until con-
vcntiOn of anthracite miners snail go de-
eide. Every union and every coliery viii
be asked to send one or more delegates
to convention to determine the ques-
ton for themselves
Mr. Mitchell then briefly reviewed the
struggles 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
al once Continuing. Mr.. Mitchell said he
was confident of victory in the end. He
urged the miners to stand together and
asked that no man return to the mines
until the victory is completed.
The national president was followed by
Fred Ditchler of Ohio, Benjamin James
of Pennsylvania, both members OF the
executive board, and Mother Mary
Jones. After the meeting President
Mitchell was driven through cheering
crowds to his hotel, where he Will remain
until s o'clock tomorrow morning, when
he will return to Itazelton.
President Mitchells address. so far as
outlining any future move on the part Of
the labor leaders is concerned. was dis
appointment. He minated strongly, last
night that he would define the position
OF the union, today, on the 10 per cent.
concession. His failure to do 50 has
caused The. impression to go out that he
is stiIl undecided what should be done.
Philadelphia. Pa. oct. mo break has
vet occurred in the ranks of the striking
mine workers, though additional notices
Continued on page %