Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-07
us sTATEMENT TO STRIKERS.

he and the district presidents went 1h,o
conference.
STATEMENT TO STRIKERS.
The conference between MT. Mltcliei,
and his district presidents continued un'll
71.15 p M. and at II 80 o'clock. five min
utes before the national president left for
Buffalo. he gave to the press the iolo"ihs
statement which was hurriedly prepare
.f+er he returned from Philadelphia to-
night:
.sWilkesbarre, Pa, October 6.
ITO district secretaries and all mine work
ers in the anthracite field:
..you have no doubt read in the daily
napers the proceedings of the conference
at the White House last Friday. in when
your officers proposed an immediate re :
sumption of work. if the operators 'Wou1o
agree with us to refer the questions at
issue in the strike to the decision of tha
president of the United States. and a tri-
bunal named by him. You have noted the
reply of the presidents of the coal carry
ing roads. in which they respond to over
lures by denouncing your union, its mem.
hers and officers in the most vehement
and malicious manner posslole. 1hes
also declared that a large majority OF
the strikers would return to work. II
given military protection and they de-
manded that the President send Unlted
States troops to the coal nelds.
CALL FOR MEETINGS
I'm order to demonstrate to the people
of cur country that the statements of the
onerators 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 meetings to be helo
in each mining town at 2 o'clock Wednes-
day afternoon. October Sth. We know that
the mine workers are not restrained from
going to work by fear of bodily harnl.
and if this is the sentiment prevailing at
the meetings, resolutions should be adopted
empha tically declaring the statements OF
the operators to be untrue.
I'VE also advise that acts OF laWless-
ness by the coal and iron police and ny
strikers be denounced, and the services &C.
of members of the union rendered the
local authorities to preserve law ana
APPEAL FOR ORDER.
Great care should be exercised that
those on strike do not permit themselves
to be provoked by the. coal and iron po-
lice into the commission OF overt acts
The operators, failing to break the strike
tory. are now attempting to array pub
lie sentiment against you. by making
false claims that a reign of terror ex,
true while this struggle for living wages
and American conditions of employment
is going on. and we have no hesitation
in saying 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. and telc-
graph them at our expense to Presi-
dent Mitchells headquarters immediate
ly on the adjournment of the meetings.
JOHN MITCHELL.
President U. Nj. w. of A.
1T. D. NICHOLS.
President District l.
THOMAS DUFFY,
president District 7.
JOHN FAHEY.
President District 90
TROOPS WILL NOT END STRIKE.
The news of the calling out OF the
entire State Guard caused a mild SEN
sation among those gathered at strike
headquarters. but apparently the least
perturbed We're President Mitchell and the
three district presidents. There was a
crowd in the lobby of the Hart Hotel, and
a S soon as the miners chief came down
the stairs with his travelling bag in hand.
he was asked for an expression on the
action of Governor Stone. He at first
declined. but moment later as he push
ed his way through the tllrong. he ex-
claimed:
IF they call out all the troops in the
United States. it won't make the men
90 to work.