The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-18

Work on the Ground That Soft Coal Miners Should Not Break Existing Contracts-Disregard of the Latter Strikes at the Very VitaIs of Organized Labor-Recommendat dations Made. Indianapolis, July 17.-If the voice and influence of President Mitchell of the United Mine Workers shall prevail with the members of his organization. there Will be no general strike of the organization. The chances of such a step being taken now are very remote. In his speech in the convention this at- ternoon, MT. Mitchell advised strongly against strike and urged that the bl- luminous miners continue at work. aid that system of assessment upon the members of the order, which Ee outlined, be carried into effect as the best means of .affording aid and support to the striking anthracite men in the east.
 His recommendations, if they had been adopted by the convention, would have
  convention was called and an imn1o- diate adjournment would have followed. A motion to adopt the suggestions of President Mitchell provoked long de- bate, in which the general sentiment was against the ordering of the strike. The men from the anthracite regions finally made a request that they be al lowed to hold a caucus to determine upon an expression of opinion as to what they thought the convention should do and asked an adjournment or the convention for this purpose. Their request was granted, and the adjourn ment tatken. The men who were in favor of a strike were in decided mi nority in the convention. Three speeches were made by members of the anthracite districts, asking that the soft coal men walk out.
 When the convention met in the af- ternoon a motion was carried that the convention go at once into executive session, but was later reconsidered.
 President Mitchell then gave an ad- dress in which he said:
 Tn determining the grave and im- portant question which now confronts you, it is imperative that you should weigh with the greatest possible care the momentous problem with which you have to deal. I sincerely trust that your decision, shall carry hope and in f. spiration to that great army of men, women and children in the anthracite fields, who are watching and praying in expectation that this assembly will de- wise some measure which shall prove sufficient to enable them to obtain llv- ing wages and humane, American con- ditions of employment. Personally l wish to impress upon you realization of the fact that their success will De yours. and their defeat will be your de- feat: moreover, the destruction of the union mine workers organization in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania would prove the greatest possible shock to the American trade union move ment.
 q have been so closely associated with the struggles of the anthracite mine workers, that it grieves me more than language can express to say tha' my views are not in accord with tnt views expressed by some in favor Of national suspension of coal mining. have. during all my life in the labol movement, declared that contracts mu tuaIly made during their life be kept in violate, because disregard of con tracts strikes at the very vitals Of or panized labor. The effect of such ac ton would be to array in open hos +ilitv to our cause all forces of society and to crystalize public sentiment opposition to our movement.
 ''As far as my knowledge goes, d not know of one solitary sympatheti strike of any magnitude, which ha been successful. In my Judgment tn United Mine Workers should not repea the mistakes which mark the path tro' by the toiling masses in their neVe ceasing struggle for better and h1ghe civilization.
 eff this convention acts wisely, l fee confident that public sentiment will so concentrated against the arrogan and unreasonable attitude of the an thracite coal operators that they will forced to yield and make a settlement
 "It had been the proud boast of Unit ed Mine Workers that since our organ ization became a power in the laoo WOTIu, COHIFdCLS poSSo So'SAS NfoHN ~~ honor and good faith of our union nav been kept inviolate, and ill this su nrene crisis a failure to live up to tn high standard that has made our unlo pre-emnent among organizations 1ahnr. would prove substantiation all the charges and allegations mao against us by our enemies.
 'I affirm my conviction that IT strike in the anthracite fields can an will be won without repudiatlng ol solemn contracts with the bitumlnot operators.
 1T desire to submit for your consider ation the following specific recommend ations:
 "1-That the treasurer of the ord' be directed to appropriate $oO,Ooo t' the relief of the anthracite miners.
 "2-That the unions appropriate f' the same purpose as large sum they can afford.
 "3-That an assessment of one doll; per week be levied on all members unions.
 "4-That all officers of the nation districts drawing a salary of $60 month or over contribute 25 per cent. their salaries.
 "5-That an appeal be made to