Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-13
Not Wanted by the Anthracite
Miners, Said President
Mitchell.
WOULDN'T BIND WORKINCMEN
Of Pennsylvania, Just to Win Their
Own Strike-Answers Hewitt-No
Conflict Between Stone and Quay
Over Attempts to Settle Trouble.

John Mitchell, Of the United Mine
Workers of America, came here last
night and was presented with about
$4,000 by the organized workmen of
this city for the benefit Of the strik.
ing mine workers, at a joint mass
meeting of the United Trades asso-
citation, the Allied Building Trades
and the Central Labor union, held at
Labor Lyceum hall. The money was
gathered by these organizations
through house-to-house contributions,
jars placed on strer corners and
other places and proceeds from pic.
MICS. After the relief money had
been formally presented to him Mr..
Mitchell made a short address. He
said, in. part, that the spokesmen OF
the operators contended they were
making a fight for individual liberty
and for a principle, but Mr.. Mitchell
claimed the operators are battling to
give wages satisfactory only to the
coal trust. He said the strikers are
just as firm today as they were four
months ago.
Three Killed by Police.
The coal operators, he said, have
characterized the miners union as an
irresponsible and lawless body" He
admitted there had been some law
lessness, but "of the six persons
killed in the coal fields since the
strike was started, three were MUIR
dered by the coal and iron police
men" No one deplored lawlessness
more than he did, even though COM
mitted by his own brother. He char
acterized most of the special police
men as criminals and thugs"
Continuing, the miners president
said in part:
Governor Stone is contemplating
an extra session of the Pennsylvania
legislature for the purpose Of having
enacted a compulsory arbitration law.
TIE miners are willing to arbitrate,
but they are not willing to have COM
pulsory arbitration. They are not
willing to cnslave the workmen Of
Pennsylvania in order to get out OF
their difficulty. 1t has been the in
variable rule for workmen throughout
the country to abide by the decision
of arbitration boards and also the rule
for organized workmen to stand by
their contracts"
He referred to the recent public
statement of ex-Mayor Abram S.
Hewitt, Of New York city, in which
he said Mr. Mitchell was responsible
for the anthracite strike and that he
had ordered the bituminous miners t
quit work. but they had refused. Mr..
Mitchell denied these statements and
also refuted Mr.. Hewitt's claim that
he has been a friend Of labor. Mr..
Hewitt, he said, is director in the
Erie railroad and director in yer,
large coal company. "All of the men
in the employ OF Mr.. Hewitt in West
Virginia. Mr. Mitchell said, "are on
strike. although he never told that to
the public"
Frai Chi!iren Have to Work.
He pictured the young and frai
children scins to the mines and fac
tories, when they ought to be in the
schools. where they could receive an
educ2t.~a Il become good citizens
CT their Co"-.ry. He asked the cits
zens Of Philadelphia to further assist
stTi-ars. we cannot win the
strike alcna. he said. in part, but
with the help Of the trades unions OF
the country victory will be ours"
President Mitchell left here after
II O'Clock last night for Harrisburg
Harrisburg. Sept 1S.-Governor
Stone said yesterday afternoon that
there was no conflict between him an
Senator Quay in attempting to settle
the coal strike. He said: Certainly
not. am glad to see that Senator
Quay is moving in the matter. Every
one ought to do all that he can to hep