The Irish standard., 1903-01-24
MITCHELL GIVES HIS VIEWS.
Principal Points in His Annual Ad.
dre,ss to the Mime Work.
ers' Convention.

Indianapolis, lnd., Jan. 2l.-lne
first thing on Tuesdays programme
at the miners national wage conven-
ton was the reading of John Mitch
ellis annual report. The convention
met promptly at nine o'clock, with
900 delegates in their seats. MIR.
Mitchell received the closest atten-
ton. His report, which was volum-
nous, was in part as follows:
President Mitchell began his adj
dress by impressing upon the dele
gates the interest committed to their
care.
OF the many important events at
fecting the interests and welfare of
the toilers of the country he said
the anthracite coal strike stood pre-
eminent.
Vital principles were at stake
which if defeated would have given
to the American labor movement
shock from which it would have
required years to rally and recover.
After giving brief history of the
great strike, including the effort of
the civic federation to settle the
controversy between the miners and
the operators, the appointment of
the strike commission by President
Roosevelt, of which Judge George
Gray is the head, and the white
house conferences, Mr.. Mitchell con-
tinued:
"It would of course be improper at
this time for me to comment upon
the investigation now beng conduct
ed by the anthracite coal strike COM
mission, more than to say that it's
members are eminent men in whose
impartiality and judgment have full
confidence.
"Firm in my opinion of our ability
to demonstrate the justice of our
claims, 1 have no fear of the out
come"
Referring to injunctions Mr.. Mitch
ell said: Government by injunction
is one of the most insidious, har.
assing and dangerous methods re-
sorted to by the enemies of the
workingmen to destroy labor again
and to circumvent the constitutional
right of trial by jury. The whole
system of government by injunction
grows from the distrust of the ultra
capitalists for democratic institu.
tions.
"The reasons given for the issu-
ing of injunctions are always mis-
leading and generally false. So far
as these injunctions are issued in la
Dor cases they are never issued ex-
cepting in such cases as call for the
exercise of the criminal law.
Government by injunction is not
only hostile to organized labor, but
it is hostile to constitutional liberty.
If the American people do not check
this arbitrary power it will result in
the humiliation of labor unions and
then of all other forms of associa-
lions disliked by capitalists"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Mitchell's
report, Secretary Wilson submitted
his report.
After touching on all the different
points regarding the financial work.
ings of the order, Mr.. Wilson closes
his report with a general statement
of income and expenditure during
the past year,
Following the reports of the Off
GERS the convention adjourned till
two o'clock. The afternoon session
lasted an hour and Frank Thomas,
of Minersville, Pa, presented Presi-
dent Mitchell with a gavel made from
wood taken from the house and tomb
of Patrick Henry in Charlotte county,
Virginia. While the convention was
waiting for committee reports Will
liam Mates sang and several adj
dresses were made.
The statement shows: Cash on
hand January 1, 1902, So7o47.91; in
come, January 1, 1902, to January 1,
1908, 5000, s77.22; total, So, .o25.73;
expenditures during the year, $780,
Os0,sO5.44; balance on hand january
1, 1903, $1,O27,12O29.