Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-04-03
MINERS, UNION A MILLIONAIRE.
Mitchell's Organization Controls the Destiny of More Than a Million.

DeSt1ny Of More Inan ,MllllOn.
 Observers of labor union develop ment are noting, as a result of the recent wage conference at Indianapolis that at last the millionaire trade un- ion has appeared. It has just closed its first deal, as the millionaire labor contrac ctor to man the bituminous coal mines of the country for one year at an advance of $50,O00OO0 in wages over the e1last year. The increase took effect the list of April. In round num- bers, 264 ,O0O workers-not all of them members of the organization 1n the increase, says E. I. Lewis in Col Hers Weekly.
 The organization that has obtained such settlement from the centralized bituminous coal interests of the coun- try is the United Mine Workers of America-the John Mitchell organiza- tiOn-the first American labor union to become a millionaire in its treasury fund, and lay plans to become multi millionaire. It not only contracts for 264,O 600 men in the bituminous mines, but 1t yields the destiny of 100000 hu- man beings in and around the mines of the country, and of 100000 more human beings in the miners homes.
 The $50,OO0,OOO increase is based on the settlement reached in ''the Indian apolis conference" which began Jan uary 29 and ended in the bituminous operators of the Pittsburg district, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois signing scale providing for increase in wages that averages 1671a per cent
 The men who had in their hands this supply of vitality, realized that failure to reach an agreement meant strike April l, that would shut down at least all of the largest bituminous coal mines in the country They knew that If these bituminous mines were closed, the industrial world which was down to the daily production of the mines, would come to a complete stand still within four weeks at the longest :: that millions of people would be affect ed; national calamity would be immf- nent, and that the people would for ever crush the party held responsible for the paralysis by quickly formed public sentiment.
 The representatives of the operators realizing that demands of the miners Tor advances in keeping with increased cost of living. would arouse public sen- tlment, which has already set against the operators, offered an advance Of 10 per cent
 The miners demanded 25 per cent ana threatened to appeal to the public with strike and lay before the people who had paid double prices for coal the alleged enormous profits that had been realized by the operators taExing advantage of the coal shortage.
 A tidal wave threatened: by slow de- Jrees the operators advanced conces- s1ons up to 161a per cent.
 mat Is alive can go before the people If you turn down a 161h ner cent advance, was their ultimatI1m and they stood firm
 Mitchell realized that public senti- ment is shifting sand. He was nor disposed to risk losing it's sympathy which, notwithstanding it's million treasury and army of workers. was tho miners greatest asset. He said he would report the offer back to the seven hundred delegates
 In long session of the miners. be- hind guarded doors heated protests were made against acceptance. Mitch ell laid before the protesting delegates what refusal meant. He pointed out that the public would not stop to con- slider technical objections; that in a strike of paralytic effect, it would frame its decision and pledge support on the basis of the 16A per cent At the end of three hours Mitchelrs coun- sel prevailed.
 ~ The public had been an effective arbiter. A $5O,O00,O0O increase scale scale was signed.