The state herald., 1902-10-24
MINERS in SESSION
DISCUSS ARBITRATION PROPOSE.
TIoN.


Only Reason for Hesitation Due to
Fear That Many Men VIII Not
Get Their Former Jobs.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 20.-About 700
delegates of the United Mine Workers
of America from the hard coal mining
district of Pennsylvania met In the
Nesbit theater to-day to act on the pro-
posal to settle the long strike by arbi-
tration. The convention was called by
President Mitchell under the rules OF
the union to vote on the plan which
he laid before 1t and later explained
fully in a lengthy address.
Every delegate whose opinion was
sought felt that the convention would
do whatever their national leader ad-
vised. There was general cheerful
ness in the faces of the men which was
reflected in the demeanor of the citi-
zens of this prosperous city, and in
which nearly $4,000 of the miners live,
and even the fine, clear weather seemed
to suggest peace and arbitration.
After the committee on credentials
had made its report President Mitchell
assembled the platform and was greeted
with a thunder of applause lasting
fully ten minutes. As soon as quiet
could be secured he spoke as follows:
"Gentlemen-ln opening this conven-
tion for the transaction of business
take pleasure in extending warm greet
ing and welcome to the accredited rep
resentatives of the 100000 men and
boys whose heroic struggle for living
wages and American conditions of en-
ployment has won the admiration of
the whole civilized world. Language is
inadequate to express the sense of
pride feel in you and those you rep
resent.
Your noble defense of the principles
of unionism endears you to every man
and every woman in our land who
works for n livelihood When the his
tory Of the struggles of toilers shall be
written its pages will record no event
more important. no principle more ably
defended. no battle more bravely
fought than the contest which ear
nestly hope is now about to be happily
ended.
ut is not my purpose to review the
progress of the strike, or even to emu
merate the important events which
have now passed into history. In
printed indelibly upon the hearts of our
people are the memories of sufferings
and hardships which have been and
are being endured For five long
months the eyes of the nation have
been centered upon your actions, and
it Is a pleasure to say that the great
heart of the American people throbbed
in sympathy with you. 1t is. of course,
n source of deep regret that the mil
lions of unpaid workmen of our great
cities should be the most acute suffer-
ers by reason of this contest between
ourselves and our employers. But
strange as 1t may appear. hundreds
upon hundreds of those who suffered
most from lack OF fuel sent words Of
commendation and encouragement to
us. and in many instances declared that
they would endure privation in order
that the miners and their families
might secure sufficient wage to enable
them to enjoy a little happiness and
sunshine. instead of the gloom and sad
ness which has been their lot for many
years.
"The debt of gratitude we owe our
fellow workers in this and other lands.
the debt OF gratitude we owe n generous
public and friendly press who have
supported and sustained us during this
memorable strike can never be ade-
quately repaid.
For our opponents we entertain no
feeling of malice. While they have
maligned our characters. impugned our
motives and sought tho victory by
methods which we should scorn to use.
yet on this day when we have secured
an avenue OF redress. on this day when
the realization of our hopes and ambi-
tions seems near, when the prospect OF
a brighter and happier future seems
assured. we should hold out To them the
hand OF friendship and ask them to
join us In providing for such business
relations us shall for all time establish
peace and tranquility In the coal fields.
THE day Is past when great organ
izations of capital can maintain the
false position that their employees shall
bo denied the right to organize into
compact bodies and speak through the
organization OF which they are mem
bers. We recognize the right OF cap
ital TO consolidate. to federate and TO
speak and act through Its organization.
but In according these rights and priv
ileges TO capital we demand and shall
assert the same privileges for those
who toll. Between the combination OF
capital on the one hand and the organ
ization OF labor ON the other should
be. and need be. no irreconcllablc con-
ilict. Each Is factor In the economic
development OF our civilization, and
the application OF business Judgment
and plain common sense by each would
enable them to work In harmony
While the interests OF labor and cap
ital are not by any means identical
they are. nevertheless. reciprocal. Each
is dependent upon the other. and under
our form OF government one canno,
prosper without the other. Abraham
Lincoln truly said that capital IL the
fruit OF labor and could not exist II
labor had not first existed: labor
therefore. deserves the first considera-
tion. That this fundamental principle
will be recognized by the tribunal se.
lected by the President OF the United
States | have no reason to doubt.
Ihc grave question which you have
been called upon to consider to-day de
mnnds and must receive your most
careful thought Personally. I should
have preferred nm adjustment of IN,
difficulty existing In the anthracite field
by conference with the anthracite min,
owners and without the Intervention oi
agencies not directly involved. but
recognize the fact that relations be,
tween ourselves and the operators hny,
become Va strained as to render direct
negotiation at this time impossible II
the consequences OF this strike affected
only the interests Of the operators nnt
mine workers there would be less rcn
son for the intervention OF ,hirt
party. but tho fact that n coal famine
was upon the people OF eastern nnt
seaboard states and threatened 10 be-
I L.. 4 a.