The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-03
LABOR DAY AT LODORE

seated on the stage. while President
Mitchell. George Gother and others
heard the splendid choruses from the
balcony. Martyrs of the Arena" was
the trial song, and each of the clubs
did more than justice to that beautiful
selection. The first contestants to
sing were the members of the oxford
club. West Scranton. Thirty-one
strong and led by David stephens,
they sang with excellent effect and
were followed by the Gwent club. of
Edwardsdalc. Twcnty-onc voices
comprised their chorus. and Edward
Grfiths acted as the leader, in place
Of Oliver Rhydderch, who was i'll.
PROVIDENCE CLUB WINS.
The Providence club. lead by Gwilym
NJ. Edwards, followed. and the last
contestants then appeared in the form
of the Anthracite club. of Taylor. un-
der the direction of James T.. Wat
kins
AdiudiCator Evans announced his
decision at o'clock and declared that
the choice for first place lay between
the third and fourth clubs, and that
technical recognition of points gave
the North Scranton club the prefer
once. The decision was popular one
Immediately after the conclusion Of
the contest the announcement was
made that President Mitchell would
deliver his address, and within a few
minutes both hall and balcony were
crowded with an eager throng which
maintained the most absolute silence
while the mine workers leading exc
cutivc was speaking, except when it
occasionally emphatically stamped it's
approval upon the sentiments he cx-
pressed by thundcrous applause and
loud cheering. Frequently Mr.. Mitchell
had to stop until the applause subsidized,
and at the conclusion of his speech
three cheers were given for him. with
hearty good will and men swarmed
upon the platform to take a close look
at him and grip his hand.
In his speech Mr.. Mitchell referred
to the recently published interview
with him in the 1ndependent" regard
ing the question of observance of con-
tracts. and declared his desire to take
| this occasion of publicly expressing his
opinions on this very important ques-
tlon.
MITCHELL INTRODUCED.
Chairman John II. Devine intro
| duced President Mitchell. He de-
clarcd that the Mine Workers famous
| executive officer was too well known
| in these parts to need any extended
cncomiums, and thus briefly presented
| him to the audience, which thrOnged
| the pavilion. In the course of his ad-
dress, Mr.. Mitchell said:
at requires the skilled ear of n
vocalist or musician to determine who
won the contest just held here. But
| it REQUIRES neither to determine the
relations existing between employers
and labor. for they are only too APP
parent. The United Mine Workers of
| America, the strongest single trade
| organization in the world, numbering
over one hundred thousand more than
any other labor organization, stands
now, as always, in favor of the strict
| observance of contracts, and for that
matter take issue in that respect with
no other organization. as all the trades
stand firmly for it.
| However,, it is said that the steel
workers have violated their contracts.
| Well. in this connection, | wish to
say that the steel workers had no al
tentative but to strike. Part of the
mills were organized, part running
with non-union help. In the union
mills "A scale had been fixed by en-
plOyors and employees, and in the re-
maindcr of the mills about one half in
number, the nOn-uniOn help We're
working at wages twenty-five per
81, 81 ,tr,i ial hnI
secured by the union men.
WHAT TT MEANS.
"Now surely, it is not difficult to
see that the steel trust would not con-
tinue long running their union mills
if the non-union concerns could fur
nish all the product they needed And
this strike, moreover, is our strike
my fellow countrymen, for the defeat
of the steel workers would only en-
courage the steel trust to make al
attack on the other branches of or.
ganiZed labor. The same moneycd in
terest which controls the steel trust
owns the coal mines of the anthra'
cite field, and the guns will be trained
on us if the steel workers are downed
"Thcrefore. ! say it is your solemn
uGlt 10 support lHt sittl slTlhtlS IL
every possible may, and tender them al
the support it is in your power TO give
Personally, | as much as any man IL
America am opposed to strikes, al
though this statement may soun'
rather peculiar coming from me. Wit
have led so many strikes and certainl.
ST. ikcs involving the greatest mum
hCrs of men engaged in this country
lalOr struggles.
"Rut | have felt the bruises of strike
ana unless ii is impossible to avoi,
them, they should never be Indulge
in. But when employers refuse L
meet committees, and redress can b
secured through no other means, the
believe in strikes strikes like that q
last fall, and in striking until you win
THE CONTRACT VIOLATED.
Last spring "A verbal contract wa
entered into by the United Mine Work
era of America and the operators, an
that contract we believed would b
kept inViolate by them as by us. Blu
durink the past month complaints hav
come in thick and fast that men hav
been discharged without cause, wage
, have been reduced and contracts VIC
lated. And If the operators break thei
side first. what claim have they on u
Ito carry it out? | do not say that ther
Is going to be any strike, but we ar