Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-10-21
MIXERS CONVENTION.
Mitchell Lays Before Delegates the
Plan of settlement.
AND URGES ITS ACCEPTANCE
Declares His Belief That such Ac-
tion viii Prove better For the
Miners Than Continuance Of
Conflict Would.

delegates of the United Mine Workers
of America from the hard coal mining
district Of Pennsylvania met in the
Nesbitt theater during the day to act
on the proposal to settle the long strike
by arbitration. The convention was
called by President Mitchell, under the
rules Of the union, to vote on the plan
which he laid before it and later eX-
planned fully In lengthy address.
In the course Of his address MI.
Mitchell said:
Gentlemen-In opening this convention
for the transa ction of business TAKE
pleasure In extending warm greeting ana
Welcome to the accredited representatives
of the $50, 900 men and boys whose heroic
struggle for living wages and American
conditions of employment has won the adj
miration Of the whole civilized world
Language is inadequate to express IN"
sense of pride | feel In you and those you
represent. Your noble defense OF the
principles of unonism endear you to every
man and every woman In our lana VINO
works for a livelihood. When the history
of the struggles of toilers shall be writ
ten, Its pages will record no even, more
important, no principle more ably DEFEND
ed, no battle more bravely fought than
the contest which earnestly hope is now
about to be happily ended.
1t Is not my purpose to review the prog
rsss of the strike or even to enumerate
the important events which nave now
passed into history. Imprinted indelibly
upon the hearts of our people are the
memories of the sufferings and hardshlps
which have been and are being endured.
For five long months the eyes of the ma
= bov conferred YOUR ac-
tons, and it is a pleasure to say that the
great heart Of the American people
throbbed in sympathy with you. 1t is, or
course a source of deep regret that the
millions of underpaid workmen in our
great cities should be the most acute suf-
ferers by reason of this contest between
ourselves and our employers, But, strange
as it may appear. hundreds upon nun
dreds of those who suffered most from
lack of fuel sent words Of concentration
and encouragement to us and in many in
stances declared that they would endure
any private in order that the miners and
their families might secure a sumclent
wage to enable them to enjoy little hap
piness and sunshine instead of the gloom
and sadness which have been their lot for
many years
The debt OF gratitude we owe our fell
low workers in this and other lands the
3
lie and friendly press who have support
ed and sustained us during this memora-
Bile strike, can never be adequately repaid.
Attitude Toward Opponents.
For our opponents we entertain no feel
ing Of malice. While they have maligned
our characters impugned our motives and
sought the victory by methods which W.
should scorn to use yet on this day whei
we have So. ured an avenue or redress, OF.
this day when the realization OF our hopes
and ambitions seems near, when the pros
pect Of a brighter and happier future
seems assured We should hold out TO
them the hand of friendship and ask them
to join us in providing for such business
relations as shall for all time establish
peace and tranquility in the coaltields.
The day is past when great organiza-
tons of capital can maintain the false po-
stion that their employees shall be de-
MED the right to organize into compact
bodies and speak through the organization
Of which they are members. We recog-
nize the right OF capital to consolidate to
federate and to speak and act through its
organization. but in according these rights
and privileges to capital we demand and
shall assert the same privileges for those
who toll. Between the combination OF
capital on the one hand and the organ
ization of labor on the other there should
be and need be no irreconcilable conflict
Each is a factor in the economic develop
ment of our civilization, and the applica
ton OF business judgment and plain COM
mon sense by each would enable them to
work in harmony. While the interests of
labor and capital are not by any means
IDENTICAL they are nevertheless reciprocal;
each is dependent upon the other. and
under our form of government one can
not prosper without the other. Abraham
Lincoln truly said that capital is the
fruit OF labor and could not exist if labor
had not first existed. Labor therefore de-
serves the first consideration. That thi,
fundamental principle will be recognized
by the tribunal selected by the president
OF the United States | have no reason to
doubt.
Careful Thought Demanded.
The grave question which you have been
called upon to consider demands and must
receive your most careful thought Per-
sonally l should have preferred an ad
justment of the difficulties existing in the
anthracite field by conference with the
anthracite mine owners and without the
of agencies not directly in
volved. but l recognize the fact that rela.
tons between ourselves and the mine OPP
'rators have become SO strained as to rem.
Ter direct negotiation at this time impos- |
SlDle. IL lne consequences or TINS Strik, |
affected only the interests of the operators |
md mine workers. there would be less |
reason for the Intervention of a third !
party, but the fact that coal famine |
vas upon the people of eastern and sen !
BOARD states and threatened TO become Il |
national calamity justities the action o. |
he chief executive of our nation in his |
effort to bring about an early re |
Of mining
The proposition submitted for your con |
;ideration may have Objectionable fea- |
ures and in its detail may not meet with |
he unanimous approval of our people but ,
t is UNNECESSARILY better now present |
ID than when originally offered by til /
representatives. of the coal corporations |
am firm in my conviction that the !
prompt acceptance of this proposal will |
ecurc to the anthracite mine workers aul !
hose dependent upon them a greater
measure of justice than they could attain
" continuing the conflict. | believe thu |
he prompt acceptance of this propositions
will secure to the mine workers a great.
eSree of justice than they have enjoyed
n the past.
The people of our country await wiGi
nxious expectancy the result of your &C
ion. The eyes of the nation are centerei
pom you, and friends and foes alike de-
nand the submission of issues involved in
his strike to the tribunal nominated by
he president of the United States That
hpro n - IiSrpr1a Mt oil IN,