The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-06-22

Has Risen to the Top of His Organ.
ization-Wonderful Growth Of Ua-
ION Under His Leadership.
"The army of labor" takes on a new
and stronger meaning when we study
a career like that Of John Mitchell,
president Of the United Mine Workers.
who has consolidated into a single un-
ion the $4,000 men who furnish to the
United States it's supply of bituminous
and anthracite coal. At the age OF
thrity-two this young leader stands,
the most conspicuous figure in the labor
world Of the western hemisphere, says
Percival Didsdale in Frank Leslie's
Popular Monthly, directing and advis-
ing men who furnish the foundation Of
all the industries. for, without coal the
great factories, the railroads, the light,
the steamers, and heat and power
plants, would be idle, and countless
thousands thrown out of work. He has
the confidence Of the men he manages,
and their employers feel that he is a
power to be reckoned with. BY steady
strides he is winning for men who live
by muscular effort, conditions vastly
better than those they have ever en-
joyed. He is the embodiment Of deter
mination.t In his quiet, rather pale
face, his square, heavy jaw, his dark
brown eyes. reposes the power of ex-
ecution. He has the manner Of the
man who does things. There is in his
quiet voice, short, abrupt sentences,
quick gestures, force which stamps
him as man who knows his own mind.
He is assertive only when addressing
great meetings or in expressing his
policy to his associates. The union is
his God.
1t is remarkable, to those who know
him not, that so young a. man should
not only have reached the position he
has attained, but should be SO we'll able
to retain and strengthen his hold up
on his men; but once seen in action,
the wonder vanishes. 1t is his COM
handing belief in what he is doing
which has won for him. OF all the min
ers the Welsh are the most able, the
most argumentative, the most uncom-
promising, and, serene in their known
| ability to debate, born Of constant con-
tests in eisteddfods, they at first looked
| upon the young leader with derision,
but, having heard him speak, their pat
| ronage disappeared, they exclaimed:
'"That's the boy for you!" and were
proud to beg a hand-shake with 1.-THE
lad"
He has not gained his position with
out struggles. They were struggles
which broadened him, which taught
him much. His life has been busy
one. Hewas born in Braidwod, Illinois,
in 1869, of Irish parentage. His father
was a miner. He went to school, when
possible, until ten years of age, and
T then, his parents being dead, he got
work on alarm At thirteen he was
working in the mines at sixteen he had
Joined the Knights of Labor, and, seized
with the desire TO travel, started out
| though the west, working in the mines
as he, progressed and visiting all the
states where there were mining opera
tons. At eighteen he returned to Illi-
nOis, a man, knowing his fellow men
and imbued with the conviction that
| the miners condition was deplorable
and should be improved If organizat ton
could improve it. At nineteen he was
elected president of the Local Assem-
| bly,, knights of Labor, at Spring VAL
| ley, Illinois. For the next five years he
was active in labor matters, attending
district and state conventions and build
ing stock Of information about min
ing. In 1896 his first big step was TAX
en-, he was elected secretary and treas
urer of the Northern Illinois Sub-clis-
trict, embracing all the organized terri
tory of the state. The same year he
was made chairman Of the Legislative
committee and stationed at Springfield
to work for labor legislation. The next
year, when the miners Of the state
went on strike, he became a national
oragnizer. His rise then was rapid, he
was chosen to fill important positions
in the United Mine Workers and the
American Federation of Labor, his
prestige grew, and, in January, 1899, at
Pittsburg, he was elected president OF
the United Mine Workers, and re-elect-
ed in January Of this year.
He is man eager to sink his person
al identity in that of the union, and is
least approachable when the subject is
himself. He cares nothing for noto'
riety; and is almost unpleasant when
praised. He is working for the union
He has opposed an increase: in salary
for himself and other officers. In
March. at a convention of anthracite
miners, he declined an offer of" house
in Indianapolis, which the admirine
miners desired to give him, and told
them to use the money in erecting q
monument to the nineteen strikers kill.
ed by sheriff's posse at Lattimer, Pa
But, while he will not talk Of himself
the facts about the union speak for him
When he became president, the organi.
zation had 1900 members in the BIZ
luminous region, and none in the an
thracite. Four months later it number.
ed $4,000. In year it had grown tc
$1,000, and in November, 1900, it was
10000 in the bituminous districts alone
In the early summer Of last year the
work of organization commenced in thu
ant hracite region, and now, where q
year ago there was no union, 100, o0(
out Of 100000 mine workers are mem.