Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-16

land file of the organization. Outside
of this, he has been, since 1898. fourth
vice president of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, and member of the
executive committee in which he is
one of the close advisers of Samue!
Gompers. He is an active and ener-
getic man outside of his labor inter
ests. While a resident of Spring Val
ley he was president of an athletic
association and of several literary
and educational clubs, and president
of the board of education, and was
otherwise prominent in local affairs.
being leader in an Independent po-
litieal club.
His youthful appearance has al
ready been remarked upon Among
the associates. both i'm labor circles
and i'm the outside clubs over which
he has presided, his Young looks have
learned him the title of the boy presi-
dent" His address as a public speak
Ter is said to be agreeable and impress
Sive. as he has clear, good voice and
Ian excellent command of language.
The United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca being the greatest labor body the
success in obtaining the presidency
of the organizat might have ex-
.pected to turn the head of so young 4
man. But his relations with his fell
low board members and others are
thoroughly cordial, and he is both dig
nified and easy to approach. Usually
he is called the familiar name OF
"Johnnie" or Jack" His friends
have the greatest faith in his iudg-
ment. They say his heart is in the
cause he is leading and that he has
never been tempted into political by
paths.
While a clever story teller and what
the world calls good fellow" he is
modest in his demeanor. and stories
that are told of his arrogance and
eXtravagant living and demeanor to-
ward the public are absolutely with
out foundation. His life in India
napolis is plain and without preten-
ton to style. He is what is called
mixer" lie enjoys the confidence
of the newspaper men, who meet him
daily i'm his office. They find him
ready and willing To give news items.
but rather slow about giving out
signed statements. His reputation
among the great bituminous opera
tors is that of the absolutely fair
man i'm all his dealings. As he is on
the spot, in personal charge of the
present strike. the commanding gen
eral of the organization, he has be-
come the leading personality in the
great anthracite war, with its vast
wealth upon one side and its vast
army of miners on the other.
When he decided to order the strike
and take personal charge, he said:
Whatever responsibility may be at
tached to this strike, l assume; let
the blame fall upon my shoulders.
fully realize the tremendous scope OF
the task, for the undertaking is Il
most serious one to any man. and !
do not expect to escape criticism or
censure from those who are opposed
to the cause of the union mine work
ers."
Mitchell is an authority on the la
Dor question. His daily mail is as
large as that of the president of Il
great corporation and many distin-
guished men call to see him. \ few
minutes before he issued the anthra-
cite strike order, Seth Low and Henry
George, Jr.. called and talked to him
ON the impending strike. Not more
than half his time is spent at his
headquarters in Indianapolis, for his
work requires him to travel many
thousands of miles a year.
Much of his success is due to his
firm belief that labor leaders SHOULD
keep out of politics. He believes that
he has been able to accomplish the re-
suits credited to his administration OF
the United Mine Workers only
through properly organized work.
political pull" he says. has beel
of no avail in obtaining increased
wages for the workingman."
Since January, 1S9s, he has been
largely instrumental in having the
miners wages advanced 40 per cent.
This is the greatest advance ever OBJ
tanned by a labor organization in
America. What he has accomplished
in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky
and elsewhere in the interstate or
competitive field of the soft coal re-
gions, whose operators recognize the
United Mine Workers, meet with them
in annual joint conference and sign Il
wage agreement, effective for twelve
months, he hopes to accomplish in
the anthracite fields.