Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-13
The Leader of the Strikers.

with the exception of President Roose-
welt, is more prominently before the
country, today, than John Mitchell, the
leader of the united mine workers. We
often hear 1t said that the young man
has no chance in these times, but this
man who has the full confidence of
100000 mine laborers. including repre-
sentatives Of 16 nationalities, and who
has kept 10000 strikers well in line for
month after month, is only 80 years OF
age. That he is an executive officer
of great ability goes without saying,
and he has carried himself with dig
nifty, patience and self-restraint which
have won him the respect of the coun-
try. The Washington correspondents
report that he made a deep impression
on the President at the conference, of
a week ago, when his modest bearing
and conciliatory words were in striking
contrast to the arrogance. supercilious-
ness and Incorporate speech Of the
operators.
Mr.. Mitchell is native of Illinois
and in Spring Valley of that state IS
the modest little six-room home where
he lives with his wife and four chill
dren. His father was an Irish miner
and his mothers people came from
England. At 13 he left school and
worked in the mines, where his father
had lost his life, continuing to study
evenings all he could. After Il few
years he drifted farther West and
worked mining and farming in Colo
RADIO. Arizona and New Mexico. In
1891 he came back to Illinois, and went
back to the mines. He was soon active
i'm the local organization of the miners,
and in 1897 he left the mines and be-
came a national organizer. He s one
of the vice-presidents of the Ameri ran
Federation of Labor, and for the past
three years has been president of the
United Mine Workers. To forge to the
front so quickly and so young, shows
his great energy.
Mr.. Mitchell is man Of temperate
habits and is always cool and level
headed His success has not turned
his head. Physically, he is of slight
built. and. has. the Chassis cl:.:ssie. face OF a
scholar He is good speaker, but
ha cd a orator his
home town of Spring Valley he carly
became somewhat of a power. He was
president of an athletic club and of
several literary and educational clubs.
also president of the board of eeucd-
ton, and was otherwise prominent IN
local affairs, being a leader in an i'll
denendent political club. Father
Powers of his home church. who has
helped him much in his studies says OF
him in a recent interview: 1T is the
mans character that has made him.
He is intellectually and in every way
strong He Is clear in his IDEAS. he
studies things and is not hasty in 1udS-
ing. He has read not so much In
quantity as in quality. He appears
able to understand men, quality al
ways noticeable in men yEo rise. lie
is not easily deceived by plausible peo-
pie working for ends of their own. lie
sees through schemes. He is clean and
honest"
It is said that there is scarcely a
man in the mining district p'i, would
.lay down his life" for John Mitchell
Some of the foreign miners in the dis
trict regard him as greater than The
President of the United States. and
when President Mckinley was shot the
word went round that the President
has been shot," and many of the MN
ers thought it was their president
John Mitchell There came very neal
being trouble in some of the mines al
the time, and it took several days 's
convince some of the men that 1t was
not John Mitchell who had BEEN shot
The reason is not far to see. Johf
Mitchell has done more Tor THESE Hiii''
ers than any man that ever lived. lie
has kept his word. He has improved
their condition. They know him-ant
that means much. for there are no les
than 16 distinct nationalities 1T wori
in those mines-they have shaken hi'
hand, they have his confidence ana III
has theirs. That is why John Mitchell
has been able to keep l5o,Voo OF MOT
of these men away from the mine
since last spring. and also mas oee'
able in such large measure to RESTRAIN
them from acts of violence.
The boys" are indeed at the front II
the national organization OF the ". -