The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-18
A WISE LEADER

President Mitchells speech at the
day shows him to be man we'll qualified
for leadership in the great labor move
ment. His utterances explain in large
treasure the great influence which he eX-
erts over the members of his organiza-
,tion. - .,.z...l., -, -.sg5
The propositions laid down by him we1 e
SO admirably stated and SO courageousl...
presented that however strong the senti-
ment in favor Of general strike nigh.
have been, the convention could no. eisra-
gard his at, ice against it. In The Grst
place. M enlpns sized the fact that In
:vio!ability of ccItract between employer
and employe is O.: the very essence OF
SUCCESS n the labor movement Mr.
Mitchell said: ~ ~ H. -. l.. -
I have, during all my life in the labor
movement, declared that contracts mutually
made should during their life be kept in
violate; and, while at times 1t may appear
to the superficial observer or to those i'm
mediately concerned that advantages could
be gained by setting agreements aside, such
advantage, If gained, would, in the very ma
ultimately result in disaster, because dis
regard of contracts strikes at the very vitals
of organized labor. The effect of such action
would be to destroy confidence. to array ID
open hostility to our cause all forces Oh So
ciety, and to crystalline public sentiment IN
opposition to our movement '.-r,<- d
This proposition could hardly be stated
more admirably, nor can at be SUCCESS
fully con,,ovei ted so long as the LABOR
unions adhere strictly to the, terms OF
their contracts, 1t will be possible 1or
orsarizcd labor TO present Its aemanas
with force and effect and compel conslo'
Grafton OF reasonable requests, but Wheh
it can no longer Ee depended upon to
stand by It's agreements 1t Will md II
difficult to make any agreements Or 10
secure recognition iI any form.
The other proposition laid down by MT
Mitchell was that the sympa thetlc sfriEe
is failure He stated that sympathetic
strikes have many adherents, and that
there is a disposition TO appeal 20 that
method by those who do not re ;cgane
the efsct of their action upon the public
,riad. Bat Mr.. Mitchell cited tie history
}, sympathetic strikes and sald:'
As far as my knowledge goes! I do no
know Of one solitary sympathetic strike O.
any magnitude which has been success
On the contrary, the most conspicuous among
the sympathetic labor struggles have re-
suited In ignominious and crushing defeat
not only for the branch of industry original
ly involved. but for the division participat
ing through sympathy.
The convention responded. promptly tt
his wise counsel and the danger OF a gan
eral sympathetic strike, involving prac;
tically the entire coal mining business
of the country, is averted. Along with il
is averted, too, that general paralysis O.
all industry, that Widespread disaster
which would bring loss upon the Wnolt
country and inevitably impose great sur
fering upon workers Of all classes. - -& ~
Unquestionab]y- MI Mitchell coui'
have carried through, IL he had chosen
a proposition for sympa athetic strike
His followers have great confidence II
him and are Influenced in remarkable
degree by his counsel. Undoubtedly m
tenptation to marshal the great force
and to WELD the great power at his com
mand would have dazzled man OF les
caliber. The temptation to. display nj
| power would have appealed strongly t.
many men, but Mr.. Mitchell has exhibited
capacity for leadership which shows tina
he is able TO rise above such shallow con
siderations and to use his influence wise
ly. The cause of organized labor WI
thrive when 1t commits the guidance c
its affairs more generally to men Of tn
Mitchell stamp, for unquestionably tn
organization cf the United Mine Worker
stands better in public estimation to-da
by reason of its judicious action inspire
by It's president and capable leader.