The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-02
Issues of the Strike Discussed and an
Appeal Made to the Men to
Avoid Trouble.
REPLY TO CITIZENS ALLIANCE
MIR. MITCHELL SAYS HE Is IN FAVOR
OF LAW AND ORDER.
No Further Disorder mt Shenandoah
Testimony at the Inqucst-Gen-
real GObfn's Order.

SCRANTON. Pa. Aug 1.-The first Of
the strikers meetings planned to take place
at the various strike centers was held to-
day IN the Round woods. There were 1000
strikers present from all parts of the city
and the adjoining towns. some locals hav-
ing marched four miles to the meeting
headed by a band or drum corps and carry
ing flags and banners. National President
John Mitchell. District President T. D.
Nichols, District Vice President Adam R.
Ryscavage. District Secretary John T.
Dempsey. Organizer Mortini Memolo and
Subdistrict President T. Phillips delivered
addresses. Vice President Ryscavage spoke
in Polish and Organizer Memolo in Italian.
The crowd enthusiastically cheered all the
speakers and fairly went wild over Mitch
ell. When he was introduced to speak some
one shouted Hats off, and although the
suns rays beamed down so intensely that
many were carried from the crowd
hausted. every man in the vast assemblage
barred his head and remained uncovered
until his speech was concluded. Then the
crowd surged about the platform and shook
his hands until he himself was almost ex-
hausted.
Mr.. MitchelIs speech was brief and dealt
only with the live issues of the fight. He
said in part: 1T has been said by some
who not your friends that the miners
of the Scranton region are getting tired
of the strike and are about TO return to
work 1 come 10 fnd out If this is so. /
want 20 know if you are going to return to
work. dishOnoring your organization and
dishonoring yourselves"
Here the speaker was interrupted with
cries Of Never. never" NO" Don't you
believe it," and the like.
IF the strike is lost" continued Mr.
Mitchell. may God Almighty help the
men. women and children who depend for
their subsistence on the mining of anthra-
cite coal If the strike is lost you will pay
the cost Of the strike. l want TO say that
the anthracite miners went on strike them
selves. They voted for the strike. 1t was
not the officers of the United Mine Work
ers' Union who called the strike 1t will
never end until you vote it ended.
STRONGER THAN THE TRUST.
From the offices of the coal presidents
in New York comes the declaration that
the strike will be settled only in their own
way Of settling it. l would direct your at
tention to similar declarations made in the
1900 strike. The coal trust may be pow
erful 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
condition and the operators refusal. They
heard Of the miners proposition to arb-
trate and the operators further refusal.
Ninety per cent. of the people have agreed
that the miners right and the opera
tors wrong.
Il understand there Is some dissatis-
faction and misunderstanding with the dis
trioution OF the relief fund. The operators
nave sent men among you TO urge you TO
be dissa tished. Through the newspapers
they told you that you were dissatisfied.
We have sent a circular 10 all the locals
which VII explain in detail the plans for
distributing relief, and I trust when you
hear 10 read there will be an end 10 dis
satisfaction and misunderstanding While
we have not got millions we have enough
10 see TO II that no miner will starve dur
Ing the continuance OF the strike. Loud
Il want 10 appeal to men with means 10
refrain from applying for relief. Let the
fund De used by those who are in absolute
need or help. BE patient with your COM
and do your share OF the work Don't de-
pend altogether on your officers to win the
night II we are TO win we must all help.
The one among you who violates the law
Is the worst enemy you have. No one is
more pleased than the operators in New
York TO hear OF disorder in the coal
gions / want our men TO exercise their
rights that inure 10 them under the laws,
but | want that no man shall transgress
the laws.
''The strike will be won. loud and pro-
longed cheers.l 1 have no more doubt
about IL than l have that l standing
here and addressing you. The operators
are trying 10 make II appear that the
strike is beginning 10 break up. There Is
a saying that those who come from afar
can lie with impunity. AT ShamOkin the
ell THa =frflra hat he mon
at Wilkesbarre are returning TO work. At
Wilkesbarre they tell them the men at
Shamokin are returning. and at other
places they tell them the men at Scranton
are weakening ! fail 10 see any signs OF
weakening here. Laughter and applause ]
This is possibly the last time l will talk
10 you. and want you 10 listen TO me.
want 10 impress on you the Importance Of
winning this strike. II you win. you
surely will win. there win be more
strikes; there VIII be a basis OF ADJUST
naent arrived at which viii prevent strikes
II yCu lose tEe st~ike, the operators VIII
make you pay for their strike losses by re-
ducfng your wages. And. II you lose the
strike you lose your organization. I trust
and hope and constantly pray YOU will
stand you did in iso." [cheers and cries
Before the handshaking episode had be-
gun. Chairman Phillips asked all who IA
Vored a hght 4 finish TO raise their
hands Every hand went up.
twenty-five years ago to-day, Aug. l. 1871
10000 striking miners. who had been out for
six months. met at this same Round woods
IN almost the Identical spot where tO-day's
meeting was held. and with upnfted hands
avowed that they would not return 10 work
until their demands were granted That
afternoon occurred the memorable riot in
IackaWanna avenue. when a company Of
hastily formed vigiants killed two men,
fred upon n procession made up OF strik-
ers from this and another mass meeting
who were bent upon burning breakers. and
who had nearly killed Mayor McKune
-hsn he tried 10 halt them. a week later