The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-21
How It Was Received.

The address was 1OlIOWeu Will .iS
closest attention by the delegates.
Those who expected him TO ten dii ne
knew of the situation, with reference
to the arbitration commission and the
question of having all the men obtain
their former positions, were d1sap-
nointed. as he reserved this &or his
later remarks, when the question was
actually brought before the delegates:
At various stages of the reading OF
the address Mr.. Mitchell was applaud
ed, but when he urged the delegates 10
adopt the recommendations OF the eX-
ecutive boards to call off the strike
land all men are then to work in the
positions they occupied before the
strike was inaugurated," tremendous
applause greeted the remarks.
The moment he finished a Wilkes
barre delegate was on his feet and
moved that the recommendations con-
tanned in President MitchelPs address
be adopted. If this had been acted
upon at once, the strike would nave
been off and the conventions work
done; but those in opposition would
not have it that way. They wanted
to and did debate the matter until the
adjournment, after o'clock.
Speaking in Opposition.
A Panther, Creek engineer was the
first to take the floor in opposition to
accepting the plan until he and ms col
leagues had some assurance that they
would be reinstated in their old posi-
lions. The companies have said, he
continued, that they will not dismiss
the men now employed by them and
place strikers in their positions.
Other delegates spoke along the
same lines, and then more confusion
resulted over the presence OF persons
who were not delegates. One dele
gate took the ground that many o.
those in the hall were strangers. We
do not know whether Baer, ELEPHANT
or John Markle is in the hall, ready to
vote on the proposition to come before
the men," and moved the convention
to adjourn. After some speechmaking,
President Mitchell Strengthened out
matters, by requesting all those, eX-
cepting newspaper men, who did not
have credentials to leave the hall
About half of those present retired.
The question then reverted to the
motion to adopt the recommendation
of the officers to call off the strike and
refer all questions at issue to Presi-
dent Roosevelt's commission. The de-
bate was resumed, the steam men
leading, but before the discussion had
proceeded many minutes a delegate
demanded that the credentials of all
those in the building be examined, to
see that no one was in the place not
entitled to admittance. This was
done.
Don't Give Their Names.
President Mitchell requested the
correspondents not to mention the
name of any delegate in his report on
the ground that it might injure him in
obtaining work.
The question again reverted to that
OF reinstatement of men, and there
was no further interruption in the dis
cussion on the phase of the situation.
A dozen speeches were made for and
against the question of some specific
action for assurance that the men
would get back their places if they re-
turned to work. 1t was argued by one
delegate that the calling out of the
engineers, fremen and pump men was
a mistake, but as good union men they
obeyed. He wanted the union to stand
by those men now and not turn its
back on them. Another delegate from
organization should not send the men
back to work until all of them were
assured work.
eff we are going to die" he declared,
<1et US all die together"
The only delegate in the convention
who is a member also Of one of the
railway unions also demanded that
something be done for the men who
may fail to get back their former po-
sitions.
The positions for miners and mine
laborers are numerous enough to give
nearly all of the men employment, he
said, but those for engineers, firemen
and pump runners are not SO numer-
GUS
Mitchell Gives More Advice.
At this point a delegate arose and
asked President Mitchell to express
his views on the subject. He imme-
diately responded and made one of the
most important addresses he has been
called on to make during the past five
months. He spoke slowly and clearly
and every word was listened to with
great interest because it was looked
upon by the delegates as the real speech
of the day. The strike leader said:
"The president of your organization
has done all he can to learn the atti-
tude of the companies toward the men
who are now on strike. AS you know,
the companies refuse direct negotia-
lions with us. Through Intermediates
we have received assurance that the
companies are going to meet the is
sues fairly; that they are not disposed
to blacklist the men; that they do not
propose to be vindictiye; that as far