The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-11
NOT ENOUGH.
President Mitchell Tells Strikers
That Operators Should Do Better.

PRESIDENT mltcnell Tells strikers
That Operators Should Do Better.
Scranton. Pa, Oct 11.-Thousands of
striking mine workers marched in re-
view through the crowded streets of this
city yesterday afternoon and showed
their loyalty to the cause for which they
have been battling for the past three
weeks Not only did the strikers mani
fest loyalty to their principles, but they
showed confidence they had in their
leader, John Mitchell, who came here to
participate in the parade and to address
the men IN mass meeting The national
presidents welcome was an exceedingly
hatterIng one. 1t was the greatest labor
demonstration that has ever taken place
in the Iackawanna valley. Thousands
of miners and their families came to the
city from all towns within a radius of
20 miles. The city was generously be-
decked with the national colors and
most of the business places were closed
in honor of the occasion.
The demonstrations began with the
arrival of President Mitchell from
Shamokin shortly before 2 o'clock. He
was met at the station by a local recep-
ton committee and a crowd of several
thousand persons. Owing to Mr.. Mitch
ellis late arrival the parade was not
started until 2:30 o'clock. The strike
leader, with James Noir, mayor of
Scranton, rode in a carriage at the head
of the line. Then came a solid column
of workngmen so long that it took an
hour and fifteen minutes to pass a Civ
en- point AS in the other big parades
heldsin the region during the past ten
days, many of the boys employed in the
breakers preparing coal for the market
were IN line. There were also innumer-
able banners carried by the men, bear
ing notices and other inscriptions set
ting forth their grievances. The parade
was dismissed a the circus grounds on
the outskirts of the city, where the big
mass meeting was held.
1t is estimated that more than $1,000
persons were gathered around the
speakers stand. Fred Dilcher. of Ohio,
member of the executive board of the
United Mine Workers, who acted as pre-
siding officer, introduced President
Mitchell When Mr.. Mitchell in his
speech told the miners that the propo-
sition of the operators to advance wages
10 per cent was not enough, the spon-
taneity of the cheering was surprising
and almost startling. He followed this
up by declaring that the mine officers
ought to abolish the company stores and
the sliding scale, and that they should
pay the men their wages semi monthly
as the Pennsylvania laws direct With
the mention of each grievance there was
an outburst of applause from the men
Mr. Mitchell refuted the charges that
the strike was inaugurated in the inter-
est OF politicians, and also denied that
bltuminOus interests had anything to do
with the present contest. He declared
that if any soft coal was shipped into
the anthfaclte market as a substitute II
was coming from the non-union fields of
West Virginia. He gave the non-unior
men now on strike in the anthracite
field great credit for suspending work
along with the union mine workers re
said there were only so, 900 union men in
the anthracite region on the day when
the strike began, but 10000 men have
obeyed the order to strike
The other speakers included Mavor
NOR, who welcomed Mr.. Mitchell; Geo.
Purcell of Indiana and w. r. FARLEY If
Alabama, members of the national ex-
ecutive board.