The evening times., 1900-10-12

your wages. l am well aware that this
have felt, and vita Justice, that definite
period of time should be named during
which this advance should remain IN
force. Your experience where wages are
based on sliding scale has been so un-
satisfactory to you that you believe that
the sliding scale method of determining
wages should be abolished; you also be-
lieve that the laws of Pennsylvania should
be obeyed by the coal companies and
wages paid twice each month. You re-
serve the right of spending your earnings
wherever you choose.
Whether it is better at this time to
insist upon compliance with all your
demands is a question which you who are
most interested are called upon TO decide.
Personally. I have hoped that we
should be able at some time to establish
the same method of adjusting wage differ
ences that now exists IN the bituminous
coal regions, where employers and miners
delegates meet in joint interest in con-
yention and, like prudent sensible bust
ness men, mutually agree upon a scale of
wages which remains in force for one year,
thus removing the causes of strikes and
lockouts, and even yet l believe that in
future years the anthracite operators will
accept this humane and progressive meth
cd of treating with their employees. Labor
organizations. like labor saving machinery,
are here to stay; capital may for time
refuse to treat with them; may, because of
its great power, retard the growth OF or
ganiZations for a time, but like truth
crushed to earth they will rise again
and will give battle in the defence Of the
poor and oppressed.
Now. gentlemen, permit me to ad-
menish you TO consider seriously the
course you intend to pursue. The eyes
of the American people are centred on
the city of Scranton today, anxiously
awaiting the result of this convention.
do not wish you TO accept one cent less
for your labor than it is possible for you
to secure; do not wish the great organ
ization which has been built up among
you to be wrecked and ruined through
any mistakes of mine or yours If you
1egislate wisely and judiciously, I can
see a destiny brighter aid happier for
you and for those who will take your
places when you have passed away: I can
see future where the little boys will
be in attendance at school instead of
wasting their young lives away IN the
breakers. helping to earn a livelihood for
their parents; I can see q future where
pleasant homes and happy smiling faces
of the wives and mothers will be In
vivid contrast with the conditions of to-
day
President Mitchell's address was receiy-
ed with much enthusiasm It evidently
set the keynote upon which the convention
will be guided and there is apparently
decided change in sentiment on the quss-
ton OF the settlement of the strike aad
the counsel Of the older men among the
delegates is certain to be in favor OF ac-
cepting the offer of the coal corporations
to increase the wages 10 per cent, reduce
the price of powder to S1.50 a keg, and
take UP for adjustment other grievances
the men may have.
After MIR. Mitchell's address. a COM
mittee on credentials was named. three
from each district, and the list OF delegates
was made up. Meanwhile William Alex
ander Davis. Of Mahanoy City. read
poem on THE Greeting of the Bard -
Some time being required to make up
the roll of delegates, the convention short
ly after II o'clock took recess until 1870
o'clock.