The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-07

whose ability is sure 10 win splen-
did career for him.
Mr.. Maxcy grew eloquent in his In
PRODUCTION. lkcning the great indus
trial battle to the battles That nave
been. fought for centuries between inc
different nations. Tho PRINCIPLES nave
ever been the same. and today we have
another Napoleon. he said. In the In
dustrial army, I'm the person OF Prcsi-
dent Mitchell, Of the mine workers.
There were two speakers before MIR.
Mitchell, President Nichols, of District
No. /: Paul Pulaski. who spoke in
Polish. Nearly all of Mr.. Nichols talk
was a glowing tribute to Mr.. Mitchell
and his successful leadership in the
late movements. He referred to Mr.
Mitchell as "the general in the labor
army; the leader who planned and
carried to it's successful end the great
est movement ever made for the
emancipation Of the workinCmen." Th"
strike plans, he continued, were well
laid; they were not a fash in the pan.
They were the outcome of the good
judgment of our leader, our president,
who is greater in the eyes of the an
thracite miners and holds warmer
place in their hearts than ever.
Speaking of the grievances of the
miners. Mr.. Nichols advised to arbi-
trate them If possible, but first be sure
they are grievances, 1t is easier to Of
feet settlement before than after a
strike; but If you are sure you are
right, don't allow any member to he
set aside or unfairly dealt with.
Mr.. Mitchell arose from the Morris
chair in which he was seated and took
his stand on the front of the platform,
amidst the hurras and shouts of the
throng. which lasted for some little
time.
lie prefaCed his talk with n Compli-
ment to Forest city, which, according
to his advisers. had no miner who was
not in the mine workers. "lf this be
| true" he said. then Forest city is the
only place where this condition pre-
walls; which is to the great credit of
the town. If this condition prevailed
all through the great anthracite region,
there would have been no necessity TO
| strike last fall. The operators would
not dare to go against the United Mine
| Workers, had every workingman been
| In the organization. At the time Of
| that strike less than 6 per cent of the
men We're in the union and only 5000
| out Of 100 600 were in good standing.
| 'Thcre was a popular misapprehen-
sion that trades unions are a disturb
| ing factor in an industrial community;
that they stand for strife and strike
| or turmoil. instead Of peace and tram
| guilty and harmony. Every student of
| industrial affairs will agree that there
| are less strikes i'm an organized local
| ity; and history proves that there has
not been one great strike where the
| majority were organized" lie then re-
peated the statement that if the men
We're fully organized there would have
| been no strike.
The purpose Of the United Mine
! Workers" said Mr.. Mitchell, lis to
keep peace and harmony; to establish
relations between the operators and the
| workingmen; to meet once n year. as
is true OF the bituminous regions.
where both parties sit down at a able
to reason out the troubles that are
likely to occur, and thus avert a strike.
We will never strike if we get what is
just, but if we are not justly treated,
then we will strike"
Mr.. Mitchell took up the idea of
compulsory arbitration and placed
himself on record as being opposed To
it. He even called upon his hearers,
with great earnestness, to oppose the
scheme, which he said, was neither
plausible nor practical.
''It is your duty, as citizens" he ex-
claimed with force, ito stand firm
against any law 10 compel arbitration
You cannot make the law effective
without penalties, and have YOU money
TO pay the fines that may be imposed
by reason Of not keeping to the decis-
ion Of the board? can Labor pay fines
| guess not. The chances would bC
that Labor would have to so to Jail
The scheme is not practical under a
free government. and shall not be tol.
Grated by workingmen who are free.
Labor has often voluntarily Offered
to arbtrate; but there are times whcr
] refused to arbitrate. I refused to ar.
bitrate with Markle, and would rcfus,
again. | would rather have seen Lack,
awanna and Wyoming valley miner,
defeated than to have the SChuylkil
miners non-victorious. 1t was this pol
| icy that won the fight, the kuowledg,
among the men that one side or on,
, locality couldn't win without the othc
winning also. This rckindlcd fire o
love for better conditions; it quick
, ened the desire to be free, and thanl
| God Almighty the anthracite miners
are free"
: 1t was at this juncture that Mr.
Mitchell made the admission that III
1 eight-hour day proposition would b.
given a forward place in the repro
p sentations at tho looked for Conferen nc
/, in the spring; then if there be no COZ
t ference, among the demands of tn
- miners.
= THE strike, 1t is true, did not re
; dress all wrongs; there are still som
e grievances; the miners have not al
I they are entitled to, but, by standin
; together we will he organized to max
; another forward move. | will tell yo
/. what | will advise you to do" OK
+ claimed Mr.. Mitchell, as he grew oy
= Citedly earnest. 81 will tell YOU wha
;, I'll advise you to do, to secure peace
: ably, If you can, the cight-hour day
Z, but If not peaccably, then at any rate.
/, There was a wild storm of cheer
|. over this expression of Mr.. MitChelli
= which would seem to indicate that tn
mine workers president had struck
d popular chord i'm the judgment he cS
:, pressed
e Mr.. Mitchell then went into dis
" cussion of the eight hour DAY prOpC
l. sition. lie pointed out the oxperien,
t of trades unions that wages were move
l. permanently high until the hours {
labor decreased. lie suggested that
e would be better to equally divide III
ic working days Of the miners i'm the an
le thracite region than to work 1S5 day
~ as at present, leaving ll5 days IN
ID worked, on which the miners would !
r. prevented from working, even If tho
Is so desired. The bituminous minci
" fought for the oight-hour day for ov,