Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-10-06

In a Speech President Mitchell De-
cIared That Action on the opera
4 tors Offer Can BE Decided Only by
n Meeting of the Miners.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 3-The parade
and mass meeting of the striking min
ers held In this city yesterday was the
4greatest labor demonstration ever held
In northwestern Pennsylvania The pa
rade, headed by President Mitchell and
the officers of the national executive
board. required and hour and twenty
minutes to pass a given point 1t is
ESTIMATED that there were fully $4,000
men and boys in line. The boys con-
Gtuted the working force in the break
prs. They werespnly a small part of
he procession. The great bulk OF the
paraders were made up Of stalwart
fnen- AS q rule they were all well
dressed, and some OF them might be
taken for a body of well fed farmers.
There were many banners of various
designs carried by the man. Among
the most unique were these: I'VE want
our dinner pals filed with substantial
food, not coal baron's taffy;" I'VE are
Fighting a cause that is Just and right"
Stand by President Mitchell and the
Union" "Our union must be recog-
fnized;" we will no longer be slaves"
,240 pounds for a TOM" I'VE want
two weeks pay" The breaker boys
carried banners which read: I'VE need
schooling, but must work." "Save us
from the whims of the sheriff and dep
. uties;" Down with oppression; we
will stand by Mitchell" 1.-THE Pittston 10
calls bad float with four men repre-
senting coal barons. They were Dress
ed accordingly and were busy drinking
champagne. Directly following was a
noat with dust begrimed miners dining
on bread and water. A stretcher was
carried containing q dummy, repre-
senting miner who had Just lost his
life In the mines while in the discharge
OF his duties.
IT was after o'clock when the last
OF the marchers swept past President
RNitchell ut the reviewing stand. Then
and his colleagues were driven to
psf Side Park, where the big mass
efeeting was held. It was estimated
that nearly 10000 persons were mass
ed In front of the stand. T. d. Nichols.
president OF District No. J., was the
chairman OF the meeting. After George
Purcell, OF Indiana, member OF the
national executive board, and the Rev.
p. ]. Dunn, of Wilkesbarre, had made
troduced. He said:
Fellow workingmen: A man would IN
deed be devoid OF feeling IL he were not
proud TO have the opportunity TO stand
ing Tight for something which IL be-
neves to be just. am proud 20 know
that you are composed OF coal miners and
their families. am proud to know that
you command in this fight the respect OF
the clergymen, that you have the sym
patty OF the public. and that the great
AMERICAN press has said with one Voice
enat your cause Is righteous one. No
nan nan WOULD go further TO avoid a strike
fail then favor strikes. / went TO New
york TO call on the operators at the sac
BUT the men who employ you turned me
away and even refused to receive a COM
az 1sg,, on their own men for the purpose
Inc greatest strike In the history of
ths world Is drawing to a close. Already
agreed to increase your wages 10 per cent
which Is great victory in itself True
II IS not enough; IL does not satisfy MS
but the time is not far distant when the
anthracite coal miners will receive as
much M for their labor as any other class
OF Workmen IN the world.
In this struggle do not rlace absolute
1aith IN John Mitchell or any other one
Work hard for its prosperity for the
stronger IL Is the better you are armed
LOT tne Struggle IN which you are now
clared OF by me, 1t shall not be ended
untii convention of anthracite miners
shan so decide. Every union and every
Rcolliery Will be asked to send one or mora
lelegates TO convention to determine
ne question for themselves Your in
Eerests are greater than mine shall not
recide the question of your going back to
UNork. You must vote on that Yourself 7
will not pretend to determine your fate
pr that of the 100000 who are directly az
ected by this struggle.
! firmly believe that victory will be
chieved by the men standing together
70 not let one OF you move until ali move
you stand together we will achieve
reater victory than was ever attained
" labor In the anthracite coal region n
othing else is achieved than the taking
the young boys who today yelled as I
assed them hi the parade that Mitchell
All right out of the breakers and
lacing them in the schools the future
III show that Mitchell was all right
am nrmly or the belief that the mothers
the breaker boys nightly pray to the
pler OF the universe TO decide in favor
the men, so that their boys can go to
he schools.
The national president was followed
Fred Dilcher, of Ohio; BENJAMIN
ames, OF Pennsylvania, both members
the executive board, and Mother"
airy Jones. After the meeting Presi-
Pnt Mitchell was driven through
heering crowds to his hotel, where he
manned until s o'clock this morning.
hen he returned to Hazleton.