The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-26
lpr los ON. in Albania Constltution.l

Washington. d. c.. October 20.-(Spe-
cial III have just shaken the hands of
two great presidents, remarked Speaker
Henderson. of the House of Representa-
tivAs. as he came down the steps of the
temporary White House one day during
the progress Of the negotiations for the
ending OF the coal strike.
There are radical differences Of opinion
over the greatness of one of these Dresi
dents but here in Washington the YER
dict with regard to the head of the
miners union is unanimous; this IS that
Mitchell at every turn measured fully up
10 the demands of a trying and delicate
situation that would have been the un
doing of most men with his responsible
ties. Judged by his handling of the case
of the miners, John Mitchell has deserved
the tribute paid him by General Hender-
son.
Hero is a man lust SO years of age,
smooth faced, short, almost a boy in ap
poaran"e who, a few years ago. was Elk
ing out q meager existence by digging
coal IN the bituminous mines of Illinois.
and yet who has demonstrated his abili
" to hold his own in contest with the
best brains that the great coal interests
and the coal carrying roads could sum
non to their command He has met these
men on terms OF perfect business equal
ity las outgeneraled them at every
stage of the controversy, has gained the
Tcs: Get of the business world without
once losing the confidence of the men he
represented. When the president of the
United States advised him TO surrender
under fre-to recede from his position
relying upon the action of Congress, act
ing under presidential advice for his vim
dication-Mtchell firmly declined. Instead
of weakening under the influence Of the
head of the nation, Mitchell convinced
the President of the gold brick charac-
ter of that first offer of the opera tors and
got in the end something that cannot be
called a gold brick. The President Of the
United Mine Workers kept his head, made
no bad breaks, won the sympathy of the
American people for the men he repre-
seIted He proved himself fully capable
of rising TO the opportunity which pre-
scented itself. 1t may be said of him thGt
he has done more TO strengthen the cause
OF organized labor in the minds of the
people than has been done by any other
man in a decade. more perhaps than any
other labor leader in this country mas
ever doEe.
1t has not been all plain sailing with
him inside labor ranks. In his own or
ganization he has had to contend with
faction of extremists whose advice meant
disaster, since they would have made no
concessions. Equally inimical were the
efforts of certain men who hold high po-
sition in the labor world. These men
advised strongly against the acceptance
of arbitration proposals even after Mitch
ell had secured the Presidents indorsc-
ment of his demand that some represen-
tative of organized labor should be added
to the commission. The attitude of these
men endangered a peaceful settlement
Just as greatly as did the first position
taken by the operators, and they were
more difficult TO deal with as they came
in the suise of friends. The miners presi-
dent handled them automatically, reject
ing their advice and retaining their
friendliness, but it was no easy task.
Mitchell has an attractive personality.
While there is no lack of confidence in
himself, he is absolutely free from those
indications of big head" which so often
take possession of men playing important
part in the affairs of the day. PERHAPS
his dominant characteristic in the eyes
of those who have been thrown with him
during these negotiations has been his
confidence in the justice of his cau3e.
With him the cause was everything, self
was nothing.
After his last visit to the White House,
when all the world wanted to know
whether the arbitration offer had or n1d
not been accepted. he was besieged by a
small army of newspaper men who sought
some expression that would give a cleW
TO the situation. He declined TO discuss
any phase of the pending negotiations.
AS he rode down on a Pennsylvania
avenue care toward the headquarters Of
the Federation of Labor, / had him to
myself AS he wouldn't talk, l did.
There is one phase of this situation
that interests me deeply, Mr.. Mitchell,
l remarked, throwing out as a sort of
feeler land that" l continued, sis where
it will leave John Mitchell. He has
handled things magnifcently so far and
feel a sort of personal concern in the
outcome, because l do not want to see
him hurt himself"
THAT" said he, turning to me quickly,
has never entered into this matter at
all, and will not. The rights of the men
in the mines are everything. John
Mitchell is nothing"
And he meant it.