New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-03
BIG LABOR DEMONSTRATES nv
IN WILKESBARRE.
THE MINE WORKERS PRESIDENT WILL
CALL A CONVENTION To VOTE on
THE QUESTION OF RE
TURNING TO wORK.

a
sun shone brightly all day and it was more like
June than October. Early in the morning the
steam and electric roads began bringing people
into the city and many thousands came on foot
from towns near by. The buildings along the
route of the parade were decorated with flags
and bunting. and the city presented a holiday
appearance President Mitchell and his party
arrived from Hazletou shortly after 1 o'clock
and were met at the station bv a large anS
enthusiastic crowd. The visitors we're cheersA
and were then driven to a hotel
The parade headed by President Mitchell
and the officers Of the National Executive
Board. started little after > O'Clock. and II
required an hour and twenty minutes to pass
a given point 1t is estimated that fully fifteen
thousand men and breaker boys were In line
Most of the paraders were staIwart men As
rule they were we'll dressed. and some Of them
might have been taken for prosperous farmers
They did not march with precision but we're a
dense mass OF humanity. They walked six
five and four abreast The music was fur
nished by about forty brass bands and drum
corps.
THE BANNERS IN THE LINE
Many banners and transparencies were car
ried by the men, Among the most noticeable
these:
I'VE want our dinner pals filed with substan-
I'VE are fighting a cause that is just and
right"
stand by President Mitchell and the union"
Our union must be recognized"
I'VE Will no longer he slaves"
Two thousand two hundred and forty pounds
for ton"
We want two weeks pay"
The breaker boys carried banners which read:
We need schooling but must work"
deputies"
Down with oppression We will stand by
Mitchell"
The parade passed through the principal
streets of the city and thousands OF people lined
the sidewalks. Here and there an enthusiastic
admirer Of President Mitchell would break
through the lines and insist on shaking hands
with him. The men from Pittston had float
with four men representing coal barons" They
were drinking what purported to be champagne
Directly following was float with miners din
| ing on bread and water. a stretcher was car
ried containing a dummy representing miner
! who had lust lost his life in couiery-
/ President Mitchell reviewed the parade on the
/ river common He was generously applauded
| by the marchers. Business was suspended in
! the city all the afternoon The superintendents
Of the coal companies and their clerks viewed
the parade from their office buildings One coal
man said it was a creditabe demonstration
| PRESIDENT MITCHELLs SPEECH
1t was after o'clock when the last OF the
paraders passed President Mitchell Then he
and his colleagues were driven 70 West Side
| Park, where big meeting was held For
several hours a crowd had been gathering. and
1t was estimated that nearly twenty thousand
| persons were massed in front OF the stand when
Mr.. Mitchell began to speak The reception he
had from the crowd was enthusiastic. His ad-
dress was in part as follows:
The greatest strike in the history OF the world Is
drawing to close Already the great coal car
10 per cent which is great victory IN itself True
ta1t abs1 the a1tbrscfte coal miners will rscsIva
much for their labor as any other class OF work
In this struggle do not place absolute faith IN
John Mitchell or any other one man Put your
perity, for the stronger 1t Is the better you are
gaged This strike Snail not be declared on by me.
It shall not be ended until convention OF anthra-
cite miners shall so decide Every union and every
colliery will be asked TO send one or more delegates
tSer1 selves Your interests are greater than mine
I shall not decide the question OF your going back
not pretend TO determine your fate or that Of the
five hundred thousand who are directly affected D.
this struggle
URGING STRIKERS TO STAND FIRM.
Mr.. Mitchell then briefly reviewed the strgg-
giles of the miners in the last forty years. and
the evils which have been hesped upon them
during the last half century OF unOrganized labor
righted at once. Continuing. he said:
firmly believe that victory win be achieved by
the men standing together. Do not let one OF you
achieve greater victory than was ever attained
by labor in the anthracite coal region " notnlng
who to-day yelled as passed them IN the paradss
placing them IN the schools, the future viii show
that Mitchell was all right. am firmly OF the be-
the fharz of he
b45v si ha' q6 the % Ruler Of the Universe to decide IN ia
vor Of the men. so that their boys can go to the
miner should receive for his wages as much as
any o man on on the present tambing ruins OF his hovs
built by the companies and 50 that ne can aItofo
to allow his children 70 have the advantages OF the
college, TOO. Through the efforts OF the United
Nine Workers s, we San see15e bo5 ,b9 9 M not o1
will desert the ranks OF the union and, and that
not man will 60 back 10 the mines untu tne
victory complete.
The National president was followed by Fred
eric Drcher 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 VIII re-
main until 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. when
he will return TO HazletOn.
THE SPEECH DISAPPOINTMENT
President AfitcheIrs address. so far as outIin-
ing any future move on the part OF the labor
leaders is concerned. was disappointment He
intimated strongly last night that he would de-
fine the position OF the union to-day the 10
per cent concession His failure 70 do so has
caused the impression that he is stiIl undecided
as TO what should be done. and is probably wait
ing for local unions to take some kind OF action
first
On the other hand. some people in close touch
with the situation believe that Mr. Mitchell
knows exactly what he is doing. They argue