The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-02
MINERS PRESIDENT ADDRESSES
MASS MEETING OF STRIKERS
AT SCRANTON
URGES THEM AGAINST
SHOWING WHITE FEATHER
He Says If They Lose Their Battle
They Will Have to Pay the Cost
Again Prophesies a Successful Out
come of the trugele-VioIators of
Law the Miners Worst Enemies.

SCRANTON, Pa, Aug. 1.-The first
of the strikers mass meetings planned
to take place at the various strike CEN
ters was held today in the round
woods. There were 1000 strikers pres
ent from the city and adjoining towns.
National President John Mitchell,
District President T. D. Nichols, Dis
trict Vice President Adam r. Ryscav-
Organizer Martin 1. Memolo and Sub
District President D. T. Phillips deliv-
cred addresses. Every man in the
vast assemblage barred his head and re-
manned uncovered while Mitchell spoke.
Then the crowd surged about the plat
form and shook his hand. Mr.. Mitchell
said:s
'It has been said by some who are
not our friends that the miners Of the
Scranton region are getting tired of
the strike and are about to return to
work. 1 come to find out if this is So.
1 want to know if you are going to re-
turn to work, dishonoring your or
Penalty of Losing.
eff the strike is lost, may God Al
mighty help the men, women and chill
dren who depend for their subsistence
on the mining of anthracite coal. If
the strike is lost you will pay the cost
of the strike.
"The anthracite miners went on a
strike themselves. They voted for the
strike. 1t was not the officers of the
United Mine Workers union who call
ed the strike. 1t will never end until
you vote it ended.
From the Offices of the coal presi-
dents in New York comes the declara-
ton that the strike will be settled only
in their own way of settling it.
would direct your attention to similar
declarations made in the 1900 strike.
The coal trust may be powerful and
strong, but the American people, whose
hearts thrOb in sympathy with the
miners cause, are stronger than the
coal trust. The American people, like
jury, have passed upon this conflict.
They heard of the miners requests for
betterment of conditions and the oper-
ators' refusal. They heard Of the min
erS' proposition to arbitrate and the
operators further refusal. Ninety per
cent of the people have agreed that the
miners are right and the operators are
wrong.
II understand there is some dissatis-
faction and misunderstanding about
the distribution of the relief fund. The
operators have sent men among you to
urge you to be dissatisfied. While we
have not millions, have enough to
see to it that no miner will starve dur
ing the continuance of the strike.
want to appeal to men with means to
refrain from applying for relief. Let
the fund be used by those who are in
absolute need of help.
Don't Violate the Law.
"The one among you who violates
the law is the worst enemy you have.
No one is more pleased than the op-
orators in New York to hear of disor-
der In the coal regions. I want our
men to exercise their rights that insure
to them under the laws, but I want
that no man shall transgress the laws.
''The strike will be won. 1 have no
| more doubt about it than I have that
l am standing here addressing you.
The operators are trying to make it
appear that the strike is beginning to
break up. / fail to see any signs of
weakening.
This is possibly the last time I ever
will talk to you; want you to listen to
| me. I want to impress on you the i'm
portance of winning this strike If you
win, as you surely will win, there will
be no more strikes; there will be. a
basis of adjustment arrived at which
| will prevent strikes. If you lose the
| strike, the operators will make you pay
| for their losses by reducing your wages
| And if you lose the strike you lose
| your organization. I trust and hope
and constantly pray you will stand as
| you did in 1902
Chairman Phillips asked all who IA
| vored fight to a finish to raise their
| hands. Every hand went up.