The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-19
MINE WORKERS ARE
TO STUDY THEIR
CONDITIONS
President Mitchell Declines
to Forecast Recommends
tions to Be Made in His
Annual Address-He Be-
lieyes Labor Problem Is
Nearing Solution.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 1S.-The
fourteenth annual convention of the
United Mine Workers of America will
begin here tomorrow. Every train to-
day brought delegates from some part
of the United States. President Nit
chell arrived late in the day and went
to his hotel. Vice President Lewis and
many members of the executive COM
mittee will arrive tomorrow. Presi-
dent Mitchell held an informal recep-
ton for his personal friends at his no
tel here. The crowd which assembled
at the depot to welcome him was very
large.
When Mr.. Mitchell appeared he was
greeted with cheers, which continued
until he had left his carriage and en-
tered the hotel. Those who accompa-
MED him were Prof. Frank Warne, in
structor of political economy of the
University of PENNSYLVANIA, and Harry
S. Keefington, of the Boot and Shoe
Makers union. Others who arrived
with Mr.. Mitchell were John Fahey,
president of District No. 8 of anthra-
cite workers; President w. H. HasHins,
Vice President D. H. Sullivan and Sec
retary-Treasurer G. w. Savage, of the
Ohio Mine Workers.
Early in the evening a dinner was
served for Mr.. Mitchell and the recep-
ton committee at the hotel. After the
dinner Mr.. Mitchell spoke briefly. He
said:
81 am not here to speak of the mer-
its of the contrdyersy between the oD-
orators and miners in the anthracite
fields. Strikes and lockouts, however,
are foreign to the purposes Of organ
lied labor. / do not believe in strikes.
I regard them as horrible and the Gre
atorS of suffering. But l do believe
that the laboring men of the country
should never surrender the right to
strike and to protect themselves against
capital.
Problem Will Be Solved.
81, for one, do not regard the inter
ests of capital and labor as so much
opposed to each other that they can
not be reconciled. 1 have abiding faith
in the citizens of this country and be-
lieve that they can solve the great
labor problem which confronts us, and
solve it right. The labor principles are
considered more lofty now by that class
of the people who heretofore did not
understand the purposes Of trades
unions. The anthracite strike will re-
suit, I believe, in the establishment Of
proper relations between employers
and employees
Tomorrow will be the day of labor's
celebration of Mitchell's return. To-
morrow night a parade of 1aboring
men will be held. After the parade
linson hall.
The convention will open tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock. It will be called
to order by President Mitchell, who
will give way to Mayor Bookwalter,
who will welcome the delegates to the
city. He will be followed by President
John FeItman, Of the Central Labor
union, who will welcome the mine
workers on behalf of local organized
labor. 1t is expected that the organ
ization and opening speeches will oc-
cupy the greater part Of the day Fol-
lowing them the report Of the COM
mittee on credentials will be submit
ted. President Mitchell said tonight:
Immediately after the report of the
committee on credentials is submitted
I will make my annual address and
report. 1t is very probable that it will
not be made until Tuesday morning.
1t is very long and it will require some
time to deliver it,
No Forecast of Speech.
He refused to discuss the contents
of the address and the recommends