The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-21
burst of another character practically
was preciptated by the newspaper cor
respondents.
Petition from Reporters.


Petition from Reporters.
A motion was made to go into executive
session, but before vote could be taken
| a petition was presented. signed by the
correspondents. requesting that they be
allowed to remain in order to make an
acc rate report of the proceedings. the
petition pointed out the fact that the en-
tire country was interested in the pro-
ceedings.
Afer some debate for and against the
request the correspondents won, but no
sooner had the convention started to pro-
coed to the regular business than a dele
gate rose and objected to the presence OF
the newspaper representatives IL the
strikers who are not delegates and who
were standing in great numbers on the
street In front of the hall, could not De
admitted. A descutory debate followed
and suddenly a rush was heard In the
upper gallery. Some one had burst open
the doors from the outside and the thea
tire was soon filled with almost as many
union men who were not delegates as
there were delegates. Confusion relgneo
for a time and President Mitchell, after
he had restored quiet came to the rescue
and suggested that the public be permit
ted to remain until the convention reach
ed such business that would warrant the
strikers in closing the doors THIS was
adopted and the strike leader began
reading mis- carefully prepared opening
address as follows:
Mr.. Mitchell's Speech.
"Gentlemen: In opening this conven-
ton for the transaction OF business,
take pleasure in extending warm greet
ing and welcome to the accredited repre-
sentatives of 10000 men and boys whose
heroic struggle for living wages ana
Of oUnn10VmRnt
won the admiration of the whole civilized
world. For five long months the eyes OF
the nation have been centered upon your
actions, and 1t is a pleasure to say that
the great heart of the American people
throbbed In sympathy with 1t. 1t Is, OF
course a source of deep regret that the
millions of underpaid workmen OF our
goat cities should be the most acute
suffers by reason of this contest be-
tween ourselves and our employers. But
hundreds on hundreds of those who SUI
fered most from lack of fuel, sent words
of commentator and encouragement to
us and in many instances declared that
they would endure many privations in
order that the miners and their families
might secure a sufficient wage to enable
them to enjoy a little happiness and sun
shine instead of the gloom and sadness
which has been their lot for many years.
low workers in this and other lands, the
debt of gratitude we owe generous pub
lie and a friendly press, who have sup
polted and sustained us during this MEM
orable strike, can never be adequately
repaid.
For our opponents we entertain no feel
ing of malice. We now should hold out
to them the hand of friendship and ask
them to join us in providing FOR sucn
business relations as shall for all time
establish peace and tranquility In the
soal fields.
Need Be No Conflict.
Between the combination Of capital
| on the one hand and the organization OF
labor on the other, there should be and
need be no irf econcilable conflict; each Is
a factor in the economic development OF
orr civilization and the application OF
business judgment and plain common
sense by each would enable them to work
| In harmony While the interests OF la-
| Dor and capital are not by any means
Identical, they are nevertheless reciprocal
Each is more or less dependent on the
other and under our form of government
one cannot prosper without the other.
That this fundamental principle will be
recognized by the tribunal selected by
the President of the United states,
have no reason to doubt.
Zine grave question which you nave
been called upon to consider today de-
mands and must receive yoir most care
furt hought. Personally, should nave
prefcrred an adjustment of the difnculties
existing in the anthracite coal helds by
conference with the anthracite Goa! mine
owners and without the Intervention OF
agencies not directly involved, but l re-
cogaize the fact that relations between
ourselves and the operators have become
40 strained as to render direct negotia-
lions at this time impossible
'If the consequences of this strike al
fected only the interests of the operators
and mine workers. there would be less
reason for the Intervention OF a third
party, but the fact that coal famine
was upon the people of Eastern and sea-
hoard States and threatened to become
a National calamity, justified the action
of the Chief Executive of our Nation
in his earnest efforts to bring about an
early resumption of mining
Should End the Strike.
''The proposition submitted for your
consideration may have Objectionable fea-
lures and in it's detail may not meet with
the unanimous approval OF our people,
but it Is UNNECESSARILY better as now
presented than when originally onered by
the representatives of the coal corpora
tions. / am firm in my conviction that
the prompt acceptance of this proposal
will secure to the anthracite mine work
ers and those dependent upon them
greater measure of justice than they
could attain by continuing the conflict;
1 believe that the prompt acceptance of
this proposition will secure to the mine
workers a greater degree of justice than
they have secured in the past. The peo-
pie of our country await with anxious
expectancy the result of your action to-
day. The eyes of the nation are cent
cred upon you, and friend and foe alike
demand the submission of issues in
yolved in this strike to the tribunal NOM
mated by the President of the United
States That there are discordant ele-
ments in this convention; that there are
dissatisfied ones at home, / am fully
aware but, gentlemen, with all the earn
estness of which 1 am possessed, 1 urge
that you give your approval to the action
of your executive officers who have re-
commended acceptance of the proposition
that the strike be declared off and all
men are then to return to work in the
positions and " orking places occupied by
them prior to the inauguration Of the
strike and that all questions at issue be
submitted for adjustment TO the tri-
bunal selected by the President of the
United States"
The address was followed with the
closest attention by the delegates. Those
who expected him to tell all he knew of
the situation with reference to the arh-
tration commission and the question of
having all the men obtain their former