The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-10
GREAT OVATION
FOR MITCHELL
RENDERED BY UNITED MINE
WORKERS OF WEST SIDE.
Over a Thousand Men and Bows
Waited in st. David's Hall Until
Nearly Midnight to Greet Their
National President-He Favors an
Eight Hour Day and Says Miners
Will Get 1t and Recognition. Too.
Other Addresses by National OFF,
GERS and Visiting Delegates.

The United Mine Workers of West
Scranton rendered President John Nit
chell and other national officers and
visiting delegates to the American
Federation of Labor convention II re-
ception in st. Davids hall last night
which lasted until long after midnight
y varied programme of speeches. vo-
cal and instrumental numbers was en-
iOyed by fully II thousand persons who
crowded into the hail and never seemed
to tire of the event. Flattering ova-
tions were accorded President Mitchell,
President T, u, Nichols, Patrick Do
lam president of the Pittsburg district:
James A. Lavery, of New York: Will
liam Haskins. of Columbus Ohio: Or
ganizer Hugh Franey. of Scranton:
John p. Reese. state president of the
Iowa and Michigan district; William
g. Ryan. secretary Of the Illinois dis
trict: National Treasurer w. B. Wilson.
of indianapolis and National Vice.
President r. l.. Lewis, of the United
Mine Workers of America and State
Senator Lee. of New orleans.
President Mitchell did not arrive un-
Ill after II o'clock. owing to his atten-
dance at a similar meeting in Wilkes
Barre. and in his speech offered an
apology for being so late in arriving
He said his effort in Wilkes Barre had
incapacitated him for a lengthy speech.
a PLEASURE TO MEET THEM.
TO him. he said. it is an extreme
pleasure to meet the peope who so
nobly fought the battle of 1900. The
transformation in the labor movement
in the Lackawanna valley since the
famous strike was inaugurated. he
said, has been wonderful. The most
notable part of his speech was his
advocacy for an eight hour day among
the mine workers.
Il unhesitatingly favor the eight
hour day as tn" paramount question
next spring" he said. land do favor
an eight hour day in preference to any
thing else. I favor the reduction OF
hours in preference TO an increase of
wages. as wages can never remain per-
manently high if hours are long
What has been true of other trades
unions will also be true of the mine
workers. If you reduce the hours of
work. wages will so up. Why should
the mine workers work ten hours n
day? I don't know, except ii is be-
cause the companies compel them to.
1t Is not only in the interest of mine
workers to reduce the hours of labor.
but in the interest of all trades unions.
- am not here to denounce the men
who employ you, as there is not ono
injustice you have suffered but that
YOU were not responsible for yourself
by not being organized. You have your
selves to blame for the conditions
which existed prior to the strike. But
the anthracite mine workers will re-
the eight-hour day, recognition. check
Weighmen. higher wages and better
conditions If they are true to them
selves and the cause they represent"
Mr.. Mitchell made an earnest appeal
for the education of the breaker boys.
and said the greatest honor ever be-
slowed on him was when the Scranton
breaker boys honored him as their
friend. He pleaded for better wages for
the fathers of the boys. in order that
they might be permitted to go to school
instead of the breaker and mines.
W. J. THOMAS PRESIDED
The meeting was presided over by
William j. Thomas. and addresses were
made by all of the visitors above men
toned.
The vocal numbers We're contributed
by Michael Donnegun. David Jenkins
David Stephens and Thomas Abrams
Master Bennie Phillips recitcd. and