The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-21
Original Proposition.

velts commission. The debate was re- sumed, the steam men leading, but be- fore the discussion had proceeded many minutes a delegate demanded that the credentials of all those in the building be examined to see that no one was in the place not entitled to admittance. This was done and then motion was made to reconsider the vote by which the news paper men were permitted to remain in the hall. The motion was defeated.
 President Mitchell then requested the correspondents not to mention the name of any delegate in his report on the ground that 1t might injure him in oD- taining work. This ended the debate on the correspondents.
 The question again reverted to that Of the reinstatement of the men and there was no further interruption in the discus sion on that phase of the situation. A dozen speeches were made Tor and against the question of some specific action for assurance that the men would get back their places if they returned to work. It was argued by one delegate that the calling out of the engineers, firemen and pumpmen was a mistake, but as good union men they obeyed.
 The only delegates in the convention who is a member also of one of the rail- way unions demanded that something be done for the men who may fail to get back to their former positions.
 Numerous Positions Ready. The positions for miners and mine la I borers are numerous enough to give near- | ly all of the men employment he said 1 but those for engineers, firemen and l pump runners are not so numerous. At l this point a delegate arose and asked President Mitchell to express his views on the subject. He immediately respond ed and made one of the most important addresses he has been called on to make during the past five months. The strike leader spoke as follows:
 "Gentlemen of the convention: I desire to inform you that the president of your l organization has done all he can to learn | the attitude of the companies towards | the men who are now on strike. As you | know the companies refuse direct nego- tiations with us. Through intermediates we have received ss assurance that the companies are going to meet the issues l fairly, that they are not disposed to blacklist the men; that they do not pro- l pose to be vindictive; that as far as pos sible men are to be returned to their old | places. It may take some time before | that can be brought about and 1t may be that some few men will not be restor- l ed to their former positions at all. When | you vote on this proposition you must
 do 1t with as full knowledge of the situa-
 ton as I can give you.
 "Now let me emphasize this point
 .The poorest boy that worked in
 breaker is as dear to us as the man wht
 ran the best engine; that while we shal try with all the power we have to ge
 every man that struck back to his olS
 job, we viii make special efforts fol | none and show special favors to none | We want the engineers and the firemei
 and the pumpmen and the inspectors ant
 tho bosses to go back bur we do not wan
 them to go back one bit more than WI
 want the httle breaker boys to go back
 There was no single class of men wh
 went out on a sympathetic strike. Ev
 crv man who struck struck for wages; h
 struck for exactly the same thing tn
 n iners and the mine laborers struck for l As far as it is within the power of tn
 union we shall afford protection to ev
 cry man. union or non-union who wen