The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-04
mitchell WANTS NO OFFICE.
Officers of Mine Workers. Organize
ton Discuss His Attitude.

That John Mitchell president of the mine
workers union, and one Of the labor heroes
of the day, will not enter the political field,
despite the glittering offers held out to him
by his friends and admirers, is almost GER
tain, his closest associates in Indianapolis
say. Secretary Wilson of the mine work.
ers, said yesterday that Mr.. Mitchell is
much too broad-minded and wise to allow
his name to be dragged into any political
schemes Of persons parties. Mr.. Wilson
said that Mr.. Mitchell has accomplished
great good in the organization and has
earned the respect of its members. as we'll
the admiration of the laboring men at
large and citizens of the country and could
not in consonance with his ability afford to
risk this by political pickering.
You may be assured, said Mr.. Wilson,
that Mr.. Mitchell will stay out of politics.
He has at heart the interests of his organi-
zation, and he will remember that il would
do no good TO Us If he were TO enter the
political field. Another reason for my be-
lief that Mr.. Mitchell will decline any po-
llucal honors is that his identification with
this organization has made him much a
part of II that he could not separate poIit-
ical ambition from the order, and he could
not reasonably expect the support of il in a
candidacy for Office"
S. Nj. Sexton, editor of the Mine Workers
Journal, in discussing Mr.. Mitchelrs cleo
ton an honorary member of the Cook
County Democracy, deplored it, He said
that the example furnished In the death of
the Knights OF Labor and the Miners Be
nevolent Union were enough TO point out
the dangers of mixing up politics with la
Dor unions.
ORGANIZATION CATHOLIC.
1.-THE United Mine Workers of North
America is as catholic an organization as
the Catholic Church is as a religious body"
said Mr.. Sexton. "In our organization we
have men of all colors. creeds and political
beliefs. 1 myself am a Republican, Vice
President Lewis is Republican, Secretary
Wilson is a Democrat and Mr. Mitchell is
a Democrat and the members and district
officers and other persons in the organiza-
people of the city of Indianapolis are IL
would be impossible TO put politics into our
organization, and for Mr.. Mitchell to go
into politics would be ruinous. From per-
sonal friendships and admiration many of
US would support him for anything and
that very fact would be enough to fairly
disrupt us. We don't want politics and are
not likely to get any in the mine workers
John Mitchell will not accept any offers
from political parties, but will do what
Secretary Wilson aid when he was offered
the nomination for the congressional race
in his district. He declined the nomination.
yet ii was reasonably certain that he
would have been elected. They think a
whole lot OF the officers of this organiza-
ton there. but they should have thought
more and not threatened our success by
such glittering offers OF political honors
My observation has been that political
ambition has always been thwarted by or
ganized labor. Whenever a candidate, con-
hdent OF support from the organized labor
vote. appeared in an election he was beat