The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-10-15
New series-YoI. XXI. No. IL
MITCHELL APPEALS 70 MINERS.
He Urges the Coal Strikers to Be
Law-Abiding and Thus Shame
the Operators.

| Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 6.-Before
President Mitchell left for Buffalo, he
gave to the press the following state
ment, which was hurriedly prepared
after he returned from Philadelphia
| tonight:
To district secretaries and all mine
workers in the anthracite field:
You have, no doubt, read in the
daily papers the proceedings Of the con-
ference at the White House last Fri
day in which your officers proposed an
| immediate resumption Of work If the
operators would agree with us to refer
the questions at issue IN the strike to
the decision Of the president of the
United States and tribunal named by
him. You have noted the reply of the
presidents Of the coal carrying roads,
in which they responded to our over
lures by denouncing your union, its
memers' and officers in the most Yehe-
ment and malicious manner possible.
They also declared that large majority
Of the strikers would return to work
| If given military protection and they
demanded that the president send
United States troops to the coal fields.
SIN order to demonstrate to the peo-.
pie Of our country that the statements
Of the operators are unfounded, and
| that the mine workers are law abiding
citizens, the officers Of all local unions
should call mass meetings Of all men
on strike, union and non-union, such
meeting to be held in each mining
town at 2 O'Clock Wednesday afternoon,
Oct. 8. We know that the mine work
ers are not restrained from going to.
work by fear of bodily harm, and if
this is the sentiment prevailing at the
meetings, resolutions should be adopt
ed, emphatically declaring the state
ments of the operators to be untrue.
We also advise that acts of lawless-
ness by the coal and iron police and by
strikers be denounced and the services
of members Of the unien rendered the
local authorities to preserve law and
order.
"Great care should be exercised that
those on strike do not permit them
selves to be provoked by the coal and
iron police into the commission of
overt acts. The operators failing to
break the strike and deprive you of
your we'll earned victory, are now at.
tempting to array public sentiment
against you by making false claims
that a reign of terror exists in the
| coal fields. Be steadfast and true while
this struggle for living wages and
| American conditions Of employment IS
going on, and we have no hesitancy III
| saving that victory will. be. achieved In.
the not distant future. The heart Of
the nation beats in sympathy with
you and all good citizens favor your
cause.
| "Do not fail to have resolutions
| drafted in plain, temperate language,
telegraph the at our expense to Presl-
dent Mitchell's headquarters immedi-
ately on the adjournment Of meetings.
ssJohn Mitchell,
President U. M. w. Of a.
| ''T. D. Nichols,
! "President District No. ].
| "Thomas Duffy,
| President District No. {,
| "John Fahy,
President District No. 9. !"
The news Of the coming calling out
of the entire State guard causes mild
! sensation among those gathered at
strike headquarters, but apparently
the least perturbed we're President
| Mitchell and the three district presi-
| dents. There was a crowd in the lobby
| of the Hart hotel, and as soon as the
miners chief came down the stairs
with his travelling bag in hand, he
| was asked for an expression on the ac-
tion of Gov. Stone. He at first de-
clined, but moment later, as be.
pushed his way through the throng,
| he exclaimed: ~
eff they call out all the troops in
| the United States it won't make the
men go to work.