The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-10


All we want is our rights to live as decent
people, and then we will be satisfied to work for
Their.
The next speaker was John ]. Hart,
who held the attention OF the crowd
for a long time. During his remarks
he spoke, in part, as follows:
JOHN j. HARTs SPEECH
My Friends and Fellow Workers: | believe
the gathering here today is substantial in.
dicaton that even though a mass meeting is
called for Sunday, II is no desecration OF the
Sabbath. The better the day the better the
deed, and while some repair to the churches
TO listen TO the gospel Of the Nazarne, surely
an address 10 the workers Is no desecraton
when we attempt to speak the gospel OF labor.
You alone are not interested in this gospel,
but every citizen from Maine TO California, and
from Canada to the Gulf are waiting to hear
the news OF the battle between capital on the
one side, and organized labor the other. I
don't know whether others realize the import
ance Of the step about to be taken by the an.
thracite workers, but | do know that the coal
industry mas been stimulated as a result Of the
strike situation and il means much to every
other industry.
II there is a strike, II will be felt in every
nook and corner Of this land because the united
mine workers are the United Mine Workers of
and bituminous coal fields. This will not be
a sectional strike, but every miner IN the land
will be vieng with each her in upholding the
banner Of labor.
II you cannot be practical under such con.
ditions you must not resort to sentimentality.
War is hell, and a strike is hell, and il the
present feeling is any criterion of what the
outcome will be you will win hands down. The
most important consideration in TINS contest is
the fact that the miners are thoroughly organ
lied, and il the anthracite miners are not sue
Ccssful there is enough force in the bituminous
region for the men TO throw down their tools
If need be-
The anthracite operators are no better than
the ultumnous operators who meet ,tcir men
and fix upon a yearly scale of wages, and in
no instance nave these contracts ever been
broken Anticipating tiat it is only few days
or hours that you will be called out, something
must be done to relieve existing conditions
If you are ordered out, ! want to appeal to
you to be peaceable and orderly, and use every
| effort to stamp out any violence that may arise.
No military organization will needs be called
| out unless il is absolutely necessary, in view OF
the approaching political campaign Nou must
enter into strike with courage, stamina and
| respect for the law BY doing that you viii
arouse sentiment in your favor.
The LaCkawanna union Will never go on striRc,
it is only an adjunct to the Delaware, LacNa.
|
| a system Of bossism II they went on strike,
how long would they last. (Fiyc minutes an.
swered a man in the crowd. / will give them
twenty. four hours
This is n time my friends, TO stand together,
and if you don't you will lang singly. BY be.
ing peaceful anl law abiding you will command
the respect of the corporations if not their
| confidence Maintain the dignity which labor
has right to expect, and stand by your flag,
and whatever the decision may be, be prepared
TO meet it manfully and courageOusly, then
You will win, and prosperity will rule in the
Lackawarna ana Wyoming valley.
John ]. Dempsey district secretary
of the United Mine Workers, was the
| last speaker and much interest was
felt in his remarks, owing to the fact
that he is just now at the head of
the organization in this county, and
is in direct communication with the
executive committee. TO him were
sent the appended kilograms, which
were read to the assemblage. Mr..
DSmDsey spoke as follows:
| SECRETARY DEMPSEY SPEAKS.
| Friends and Fellow Working People: II is a
| pie asure to me tC know ON the eve OF tie
we can gather together such a vast multitude.
| The previous speaker has tCid you that war Is
hell, ard that a strike is nothing more than
var. Dent you think that the hardsip that
will bring strike must be equal TO hell it.
self? This strike has been brought about by The
most tyranncal conditions that have ever con.
| frOnted the working people.
The United Mine Workers have cnd2avored 10
! bring about peaceful settlement, they have ap
| peaed TO the operators through the press, the
public and the clergy and have been silently ig-
| nOred II You receive the message to strike,
] f1.,f.
it. They have been treated In an un.American
manner, they have been insulted and ignored as
American citizens.
The committee from the Lackawanna union
waited on Superintendent Loomis and demanded
AN increase, lie tells them he was glad to meet
them; that the committee composed Of gen.
tcmen and tells them they have no grievances,
and ii the price Of powder is reduced the com.
pany's revenue is reduced in consequence. We
know that, but is not the profits Of the company
large enough TO warrant an increase in wages?
If they refuse to grant their individual en-.
ploves an increase, they lnow the only way to
meet the condition is Ivy meeting the conse-
qncnccs II the condition had been as good a.
they say, why is it that the men are anxious to
lay down their tools? | tell You If it wasn't for
| this organization the miners would have struck
Il year ago.
Let us see il this organization Is what they
term IT, | want TO say where this organizato
| cNlStS, that II they can point out where ii has
ever broken contract they will gladly reccdo
from their position. Where the operators meet
the men strikes are unknown, and if they would
| Teet with them here there would b, no strike
| in the anthracite field.
Conditions never warranted better tlme for
| concerted action, and never before has such j
feeling Of harmony existed between the anthra
| cite and bitumnous mine workers President
| Mitchell has stated that no btumnous coal will
| be shipped to the anthracite field The United
| Mine Workers Of America control the situation
| and have within their grasp the power to de
| stroy commerce in thirty DAYS, and il the pres
ent difficulty is not settled there will be a STRIKE
| in thirty days.
AT this point Secretary Dempsey read
| the following kilograms, which he re-
ceived from the executive committee
yesterday in reference to the situation;
indianapolis, Ind, Sept. s, 1900
| John Dempsey, scranton, Pa.
| To the miners and laborcrs OF the anthracite
| coal fields OF Pennsylvania and all other per
sons concerned, the nation1i executive board o.
| the United Mine Workers Of America, having
under consideration the application of District,
| l, 7 and of the anthracite region OF Penn
| Sylyana to engage in the strike becaus,
| of the refusal of their employers t(
grant certain conditions which tue miuer
| OF that field believe they are entitled
| to, have determined upon the following state
| ment OF their position in the case. The organi
| zation of the United Mine Workers is opposed tC
| strikes except as a last resort, when all othe
means OF adjusting disputes have failed, Ou
| preamble declares that we desire ito use al
honorable means to maintain peace betweeI
ourselves and employers, adjusting all differ