The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-02
MITCHELL LEAD
THE PROCESSION
Working1en Pay Tribute to
Leader Of the Miners
MORE THAN 10000 IN LINE
Miners President Makes a Speech, In
Which He Says the Working Peo-
pie viii Yet Have to Settle
the Labor Question.

Philadelphia. September 1.-The organ
lied workmen of Philadelphia today paid
their tribute to John Mitchell president
OF the United Mine Workers of America,
and at the same time showed their inter
est In a substantial way for the striking
miners of the anthracite regions. The
presence of the miners chief was made
the occasion of a great demonstration.
In the afternoon the parade was held
under the auspices of the central labor
union. More than 10000 men were in
line. President Mitchell rode at the head
of the procession and his reception all
along the route of the parade was en-
thusiastic. After the parade big pic
mic was held in Washington park, on the
New Jersey side of the Delaware river
There were probably 10000 persons in
attendance. Here Mr.. Mitchell made two
addresses. In his principal speech Mr.
Mitchell said this day has been decreed
as labors special holiday and from one
end of thu country to the other great
hosts of labor have assembled and are
reviewing the struggles Of the past and
perhaps preparing the struggles of the
future. The year that has just closed
has been unprecedented in the ssgrowth
of trade union movement and the growth
of independent thought and action but
with the great growth of trades union
movement new problems have arisen that
will tax our greatest strength to solve.
We have this year government by in
junction and ownership by divine right In
their most accentuated form. If one of
the most conspicuous of the capitalists
of our country properly represents the
sentiment and feeling of his associates,
then we must take it for granted that
they believe that God in his infinite wis
dom has given into their control all the
resources of our country. I was taught
to believe, when a boy that God loved
all his people alike. l was taught to
believe, that he conferred no more power
or favors upon one than upon another;
and notwithstanding the declaration of
the controllers of trusts. 1 am not pre-
pared to abandon the teachings of my
boyhood days.
Coal Miners Strike.
Every year sees some struggle of the
workers that stands out more corspicu-
Gus than other struggles. This year it
happens that the coal miners of Pennsyl-
vania are engaged in a life and death
struggle for the right to live. The strug-
gle of the coal miners OF Pennsylvania
is not only the greatest contest between
capital and labor in the history of the
world because of its magnitude, but it
stands out in bold relief as the greatest
struggle because of the issues involved.
The miners of Pennsylvania are fighting
for the rights granted them by the laws
of our country and as exercised by their
employers. The coal miners of Pennsyl-
vania are engaged in a life and death
struggle trying to secure sufficient to
take their little boys and little girls of
tender age and frail physique from the
mines and send them to school, where as
American children they properly belong.
If my reception in Philadelphia, II my re-
ception here Is representative OF the SEN
timent prevailing throughout this coun-
try, believe this, then then my friends,
the coal miners cannot lose l am not
one of those who believe that the loss
Of the miners strike would mean the
destruction of the trades union move
ment but l do believe that the destruc-
ton of the miners union would give the
trades union movement the severest
shock It has received for many years.
/ want to take this occasion to say that
this great struggle was not started untii
we had exhausted every conceivable con-
ciliatory method known to mankind.
Must Solve the Problem.
Ladies and gentlemen: l am one who
believe that the time is not far distant
when the workingmen will have to
solve the labor problem. l am free to
say that my own views have been some
what changed since this strike started.
Nearly all well informed workers know
that 1 had identified myself with every
peace movement that l thought would
help the workers. 1 am not prepared to
say that they are failures, but they are
failures as long as employers Will not
listen to reason and to truth. look for
ward to the time when all wage earners
will take their proper places in this
movement. l look forward to the time
when those who build the mansions will
not have to live in novels. l look for
ward to the time when the men who
build the lightning express and the men
who build the beautiful palace cars will
not have to walk from station to station
looking for work. l look forward to the
time when those who labor build beauti-
Iul eQlHceS, WHOSE spires punt ASdNtll-
ward, will not have to walk past them
too ragged to enter. I stand for the
solidarity of the trades union movement.
l hope to see the time when no man who
earns his bread by the sweat OF his brow
will be outside the ranks of his trade
union. I look forward to the time when
the workers of our country will take pos
session of their own country.
Ten thousand dollars was collected for
the miners
Labor Day in Texas.
Austin, Tex. September Labor day
in Texas was rluch more generally OBJ
served than ever before. In every city
and in many of the smaller towns there
were celebrations taking the form or
parades in the morning and picnics and
sporting events and speaking IN the ar
ternoon. The great growth OF trades
unionism In the state was shown by the
increased number of men reported In line
everywhere. A number of minor acci-
dents are reported. None Of them were
fatal.
The procession was the best ever seen
in Austin on a similar occasion. Cover
nor Sayers participated.
At Galveston Congressman s. w. T.