The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-08-02
REOPENING MINES
MAY BE NEXT STEP

those who were guilty OF numbering an
inoffensive Italian striker at Duryea.
for those who attempted to murder inno-
cent lite Charlie McCann. who, while
peeping through the fence at the Stan
ton colliery. was shot by a Coal and
Iron policeman, nor have heard of any
reward for the conviction of those who
have repeatedly assaulted peaceable
striking miners.
You say, In substance. that you ex-
pect me to cooperate with you In the
accomplishment of the purposes for
which the Citizens Alliance was organ
lied. In reply to this invitation I desire
TO say that l have too much respect for
the residents OF Wilkesbarre and vicin-
ity to in any way Identify myself with
men who have DETAINED the good people
of this city by the accusations, insinua-
tions and innuendoes contained In yorr
letter published in the local and metro
politan papers on July II and y.
Never Condoned Lawlessness.
Il have never In my life sought to
condone an unlawful act. 1 have thrown
the fun weight of my personality and
influence on the side OF law and order;
and | can say without egotIsm that the
miners union ana it's officers have done
more for the conservation OF the peace
than all the citizens alliances that have
ever been, or could be- formed by men
like yourselves. whose sympathy with
the poor and oppressed Is Ike unto the
friendship Brutus entertained for Caesar.
IL seems to me that before your as
sociation can commend itself or its
purposes to the impartial consideration
OF tEe citizens OF Wilkesbarre and vi
Cinity you viii fnd it oecessary to or
ganize on broader lines and devote your
energies against all law breakers and to
the suppression of lawlessness OF every
character
II do not assume to say that there
have not been some transgressions of
The law by members OF the miners
Union; but | do say, and defy you to
successfully contradict the statement,
that there has been much less lawIess-
ness on the part OF the mincrs-and that
which has occurred has been less seri .
| Cus-in proportion to their number than
On the part of the deputies and Coal and
Iron police, who are charged with au-
thority and are specifically commits
stoned TO preserve the law, and against
whom you have made TO protest and
) our association taken no action what
sOeNer.
A Decrease in Crime.
And, further. the records In the po-
lice courts Will demonstrate that a
smaller number of miners have beer
convicted of crime in the anthracite
mining towns during the progress OF
he strike than for a like period preced-
ing 1t. Again, | have no hesitancy in
saying that there never was a great up
heaval, either industrial. political or So
cial, in which there was as little real
lawlsssness as has existed In the an
thracite region since the strike was in
augurated.
"As / said in my speech at Nanti-
ooke-to which you took exception-the
miners are as iaw-abiding as patriotic
as liberty loving as any other class of
citizens in our country; and | shall not
rermit you to malign Them or defama
the residents of this community, either
by direct charge or insinuation. without
registering an emphatic protest
Il am, yours truly,
JOHN MITCHELL,
President u. NJ. w. OF America"