The Holly chieftain., 1902-10-24

Iul1y ten minutes. As 0Oon a. quiet
could be secured he spoke - follows:
/ "Gentlemen-In opening this conven-
I ton for the transaction OF business /
take pleasure in extending warm greet
ing and welcome to the accredited rep
boys whose heroic struggle for living
,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 Sti
{ Your noble defense OF the principles
OF unionism endears you to every man
and every woman In our land who
works for 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 I ear
nestly hope is now about to be happily
ended.
1T is not my purpose to review the
progress Of the strike. OF even to emu
merate the important events which
have now passed into history. Inn
printed indellbly upon the hearts Of our
people are the memories of su6erings
and hardships which have been and
are being endured! For fve long
months the eyes of the nation have.
been centered upon your actions, and
III In . pleasure to say that the great
A heart OF the American people throbbed
I'm sympathy with you. II 10, OF course,
q source Of deep regret that the mill
lions of unpaid workmen Of our great
.icaties should be the most acute sufIer-
!ers by reason Of this contest between
ourselves and our employers. But
strange q 1t may appear. hundreds
upon hundreds of those who suffered
most from lack OF fuel sent words OF
commentator and encouragement to
IN. and In many instances declared that
they would endure privation In order
that the miners and their families
might secure sufhcient wage to enable
them to enjoy . little happiness and
sunshine. instead Of the gloom and sad
ness which has becn 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 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
maltsned- our characters. impugned our
motives and sought the victory by
methods which We should scorn to use,
yet on this day when wo have secured
an avenue Of redress, ON this day when
the realisation Of our hopes and ambi-
tons seems near, whom the prospect OF
q brighter and happier future seems
assured. We should hold out to them the
hand Of friendship and nsk them to
Join uS in providing for such buainess
relations a. shall for all time establish
peace and tranquility In the coal Aelds.
.'The grave question which ron have
ssbeen called upon to consider to-day de-
;snands and must receive your most
.cAreful thought Personally, should
have preferred an adtustment Of the
Edimculty existing in the anthracite field
Ftby conference with the anthracite mine
owners and without the intervention OF
agencies not directly involved, but I
recognize the fact that relations be-
tween ourselves and the operators havs
become 20 strained - to render direct
Inegotiation at this time impossible. II
the consequences Of this strike Affected
only the interests of the operators and
mine workers there would be les reA-
son for the Intervention Of Q third
party. but the fact that Q. coal famine
wAs upon the people OF eastern and
seaboard states and threatened to be-
come national calamity justifies the
action Of the chief executive OF our
nation in his earnest effort to bring
about m early resumption Of mining.
'The proposition submitted for your
consideration may have Objectionable
features and In it, details may not uaeet
with the unanimous approval Of car
people. but II ID immeasurably better.
an now presented, than when originally
offered by the representatives Of the
coal corporations. ] am Arm In my
conviction that the prompt acceptance
OF this proposal will secure to the an
thracite mine workers and those de-
pendent upon them . greater measure
Of Justice than they could attain By
continuing the connict. belisvs the
prompt acceptance Of this proposition
will secure to the mime WORKERS 3
Z greater degree OF Justice than tAsy
have enjoysd IN the past
The people of our country await