Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-21
IN CONVENTION.
Continued from page ~

| coal fields.
| The day is past when great organize
| ions of capital can maintain the false.
position that their employees shall be de-
| pred the right TO organize into compact
ooGies ana speak through the orsaniza-
1 ton of which they are members we
recosnize the right of capital to consoi-
iuatc. 70 federate and to speak and act
.nrouSh Its organization. but in accord
ing these rights and privileges To capital
We demand and shall assert the same
privileges of those who toll Between
the combination of capital ON the one
hand and the orga niZations OF labor on
the other. there sholid not be and need
be no irreconcilable conflict. each is a
FACTOR IN the economic. DEVELOPMENT Of
our civilization. and the application of
business Judgment and plain common
sense by each would enable them to work
in harmony. While the interests OF labor
are not by any means identical. they are
nevertheless reciprocal. each is dependert
on the other, and under our form of gov
eminent one cannot prosper without the
other. Abraham Lincoln truly said tina:
Capital is the fruit of labor and could
not exist if labor had not first existed:
labor. therefore, deserves the first consid-
eration.' That this fundamental princi-
pie WEI be recognized by the tribunal Sc
leeted BY the President of the United
States | have no reason to doubt
The grave question which you have
been called upon to consider. today. de-
mands and must receive your most care
ful thought. Personally I should have
preferred an adjustment Of the difficultie
existing in the anthracite field bv con-
ference with the anthracite mine oWncrs
and without the intervention Of agencies
not directly involved. but | recognize the
fact that relations between ourselves and
the mine operators have become 50
strained as to render direct negotiations
at this time impossible. If the conse-
quences of this strike affected only the
interests of the operators and mine work
ers there would be no less reason for the
intervention of a third party. but the fact
a coal famine was upon the people OF
eastern and seaboard states and threat
ened To become Il national calamity JUS
titles the elton of the Chief Executive OF
our nation in his earnest effort to bring
about an early resumption Of mining.
The proposition submitted for consider
alton have Objectionable features and i'll
It's detail may rot meet with the unaini-
NOUS approval of our people. but il is an
UNNECESSARILY better as now presented
than when originally offered by the rep
reSentativcS Of the coal corporations. /
am firm in my conviction that the prompt
acceptance of this proposal will secure
TO the anthracite mine workers and those
dependent upon them Il greater measure
of justice than they could attain by con
timing the conflict; | believe that the
prompt acceptance of this proposition
will secure 20 the mine workers a great
'r degree q! Justice than they have en-
ipy"d in the mast.
Thu. people OF our country await with
anxious expectancy the result of Your sc-
ton. today: the eyes of the nation are
centcrcd upon YOU. and friends and foes
alike demand the submission Of issues
involved in this Stiik" Ia the tribunal
nominated by the President Of the United
States. That there are discordant clr-
mcnts in this convention: that there arc
dissatisfied ones AT home. l am fully
awar,; bat. gentlemen. with all the earn
est rcss of which am possessed. | urge
that vou give your approval To the ac-
.,f oil IN
recommended acceptance of tn" pr"po>i-
ton that tn. strike be declared OFF and
all men ar" Then !" return TO work ~ IN"
positions and working places ncc.Ip;ct y.
them prior "a the inauguration Of tn
strike. aud that an questions al Issue "
submitted for adjustment 10 the tribunal
selected by the president of the United
States.
President Mitcl;clrs speech was con
clid.d VI, - Mr.. MitchciTs stntcmrn;
IL his speech fav"riuE the arbitration
plan did not elicit much applause. but
later his words II urge acceptance and
that the strike. h. declared Of. with the
provision tntt all men return 10 their for-
m.r position drew ont great applause.
warm debate followed the frs: mo
ton az ob lection to the inmc,li1te adpo-
ton Of the resolutions To declare on me
strike In the coarse Of this debate 4
motion was MADE 10 ADJOURN because Pc
sons not d.i.paics were present. \ not
debate occurred on this until President
Mitchell said:
IF you want those not delegates 10 Get
utit. ask them 10 ~ and not leave YOU
g.Ircs If you want to consider the pros-
pcct of getting your old positions back
YOU can best do il here. This PROPOSE
ton will not be crammcd down Your
throatS You're the men who voted To 70
on This strike ana your votes Will emf
ii If II Is ended.
\ motion that the resolution to declare
the strike off he adopted without further
d...,atc was killed lv an almost unanl-
nous vote \ motion then was carried
to exclude from the hall all but the news
PAPER m'n.
As soon as the hall was cleared of all
not dictates or newspaper men. the en-
.inncri renewed their appeal to the con-
vrntion 20 do something to assure them
that all the striking engineers, HrcTn"n
and lr.nppen could get their places bach
r.. convention. az 5.1S. the committee
on resolutions having been selected, al
juurncd without having taken final acton
on the strike. 1t will meet at II octpck
tomorrow morning.