Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-10-23

pendent upon them a greater measure Of
Justice than they could attain by continue
Ing the conflict; believe that prompt ac-
esptanee Of this proposition win secure to
tics than they have enjoyed in the past.
The people Of our country await with
anxious expectancy the result OF your ac-
ton today the eyes Of the nation are
conferred upon you, and friends and foes
alike demand submission Of the Issues in
VOWED In this strike to the tribunal nom.
mated by the president of the United
States. That ther. are discordant ele-
ments in this convention. that there are
d is.s tisf fed ones at nome, am fully
cstness Of which I am possessed l urge
you to give your approval to the action OF
your executive officers, who have recon-
srke se of the Pa III @
may return to work in the positions and
working places occupied by them prior to
the inauguration of the strike, and that
all the questions at issue be submitted for
adjustment to the tribunal selected by the
president of the United States.
AT conclusion Of Mitchell's speech it
was moved resolutions declaring off the
strike be adopted. This was met with
opposition from the engineers, who
struck in sympathy with the miners,
who said they did not oppose Mitchell's
recommendations, but wanted very
careful consideration. A warm debate
followed the first vote of objection to
immediate adoption of the resolution
to declare off the strike.
Reporters Not Excluded.
The question then reverted to the mo-
ton to adopt the recommendations of
officers to call off the strike and refer
all questions at issue to President
Roosevelt's commission. The debate
was resumed, the steam men leading,
but before the discussion had proceeded
many minutes a delegate demanded
that the credentials of all those in the
building be examined to see that no
one was I'm the place not entitled to adj
mittance. This was done. and then
motion was made to reconsider the vote
by which newspaper men We're permit
ted to remain In the hall. The motion
was defeated. President Mitchell then
requested the correspondents not to
mention the name of any delegate In
their reports on the ground that 1t
might injure him in obtaining work.
This ended the debate on the cores
pOndents.
The question again reverted to that
of reinstatement of the men, and there
was no further interruption in the dis
cussion on the phase OF the situation. a
dozen speeches were made for and
against the question of some specific
action for assurance.
Finally delegate arose and asked
President Mitchell to express his views
on the subject. He Immediately re-
sponded, and made one of the most i'm
portant addresses he has been called on
to make during the past five months.
He spoke slowly and clearly, and every
word was listened to with great inter
est because 1t was looked upon by the
delegates as the real speech of the day.
MitcheiI's Second Speech.
The strike leader spoke as follows:
The president of your organization has
done all he can to learn the attitude of
on strike AS you know, the companies
refuse direct negotiations with us. Through
Intermediates we have received assur-
meet be fairg tha re not
disposed to blacklist the men; that they
do not propose to be vindictivc; that as
far as possible men are to be returned to
their old places. 1t may take some time
before that can be brought about, and 1t
may be that some few men will not be
restored to their former places at all.
When you vote on this proposition you
must do 1t with as full knowledge of the
situation as ! can give you.
Now let me emphasize this point: That
the poorest boy that worked in breaker
is as dear to US as the man who ran the
best engines; that while we shall try with
all the power we have. to get every man
make special efforts for none and show
special favors to none. AS far as 1t is
Within the power of the union we Shall af-
ford protection to every man, union or
non-union, who went out on strike with
US. But, gentlemen, 1t may be true that
some will be sacrificed and much as we
shall regret that. l desire to say that no
won that did not carry with 1t some vic
Tins. Ii 1t appeals to your Judgment to
accept the recommendations of your Of
Gsa van To lafD TN tha 1Idp
ment of the president Of your country, III
you wish to be guided by the advice of
your friends all over the land and decide
to return to work, the United Mine Work.
ers of America will protect the man who
happens to be left out of his job. In our
pledge to the president of the United
States in which notified him that we
would recommend to YOU resumption of
wol.t. we said to him that we should rec
ommend a return of our people to their
old jobs; and If the coal companies fail to
to treat them reasonably, we shall carry
the question to the tribunal named by the
president and ask that tribunal to decide
that we are entitled to the work we left
when we went out on strike.
All Men Will Be Reinstated.
Now. gentlemen, those are my views.
have no assurance that If you return to
work on Wednesday all of you will be Civ
en- back your old places. ] do believe.
however. that the coal companies will
gradually displace the men who have your
jobs and give you your old places again.
l have no doubt at all that before two
or three weeks have rolled by there will
be no question about the reinstatement of
the men. However, remember this, that
when your votes are cast want you to
cast them with the full knowledge that
some of you may not get your old places
back. dare say the companies are as
anxious to have competent engineers. fire
men. pumpmen and inspectors as you are
to fill those places, and YOU know that
the men they brought here to take your
places are not competent. You all know
that the men they brought here to take
your places are not competent to run the
hoisting engines; that the firemen they
have brought here have not been sue
cessful, and while the companies will not
go out before the public and say they will
sacrifice the men who .'stood by them,
as they call 1t, they will in most cases be
glad to have their old and competent
workmen back.
His remarks We're greeted with APP
plause. Another delegate made a
speech against ending the strike with
out definite assurance of reinstate-
ment, and Mr.. Mitchell was again
called upon for an explanation OF the
status of the arbitration plan as it now
stands.
In response to this request he said: