The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-20
PRESIDENT MITCHELL MAKES
LAST TALK TO COMMISSION.
MINERS NOT ALL WORKING
Points Out Means by Which Output
Of Coal Could Be Materially
Increased.

Philadelphia, Jan. 18.-President
John Mitchell of the Mine Workers
union, before leaving for Indianapolis
to attend the national convention of
his organization and subsequently the
national wage convention of the soft
coal operators and mine workers, de-
livered yesterday what he believed
was his farewell address to the coal
strike commission.
The Scranton Coal company, which
also operates the collieries of the
Elkhill Coal and Iron company, closed
it's case during the session and was
followed by the Delaware, Lackawan-
ma & Western Railway company 1t
was while the latter company was
examining witnesses ,nat the hour for
adjournment for the week arrived,
and Mr. Mitchell arose and asked to
be permitted to make few remarks.
All the attorneys representing the
different interests before the COM
mission crowded around the miners
leader as he prefaced his remarks by
stating that it would likely be the
last session of the investigation he
would be able to attend.
He explained why he is called west,
and said: II wish to take this occa-
sion to express my satisfaction, and
that of the miners whom I represent,
for the maner in which the investiga-
tion is being conducted. l feel conf
dent that bJ the thoroughness of the
inquiry it will result in much good.
There has been a large part of the
time of the commission taken up by
the presentation of evidence to show
laWlessness in the coal fields, or that
lawlessness existed to a large extent
during the latter part of the strike.
Personally, I bear no ill will to
those who came here, bear no personal
the strike, and in stating what l am
saying l am trying to separate my
self, as far as possible from the spe
cial interests l represent. The non
union man who was brought here,
the fellow who was called 'scab,'
was brought here for the same pur-
pose that he was put in the mines.
Non.lIn Men Deceived
''FIe was put in the mines for the
purpose of destroying the efforts of
the men who went on strike. He
was brought here under the pretext
OF getting an advance in wages. He
was decoyed by the plea made before
the commission than an effort would
be made by those who had his case
in charge to secure for him an ad
vance in wages. He came here paid
by the companies. His hotel bills were
paid by the companies, and our men,
who went around to see them, say
money was furnished to them to en-
joy themselves while they were here.
"He came here and in not single
instance did those who represent
him attempt to show that he was en-
titled to an increase in his earnings.
The non-union man was used and
betrayed by those who proposed to
take care of his interests before the
commission.
II want to say, too, as to the mat
ter of lawlessness, that before being
a president of union, before being
member of union.-I am an Ameri-
can, over and above everything else.
l believe that every man should be
an American
He then denounced lawlessness in
the strongest possible terms, adding
without the support of the people no
great movement can succeed. That
is true of a strike. If the people of
the country are not in sympathy with
it, it must fail and am sure the SYM
pathy of the people will never be
with those who violate the law.
AS to Increase Of Output.
"There is one other question that
l feel it is my duty to speak Of AS
the commission is no doubt aware,
several days ago I addressed a COM
munication to all the anthracite min
ers urging them to cooperate with the
management of the mines in increas-
ing the output of the mines for the
purpose of relieving this terrible suf-
fering due to the coal famine. Since