Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-22

IS LOYAL
PRESIDENT OF MINE WORKERS
SAID TO OPPOSE AGITATION
AGAINST ROOSEVELT.
ADMIREs PRESIDENT
Mitchell is Too Full of Gratitude for
Services of Chief Executive in, Set
ting Coal Strike to Let Miller Case
Change His Opinion of Roosevelt.

washington, Sept. 2l.-MemberS OF
the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor from the differ
ent sections OF the country are arriv-
ing here for the first meeting of the
council preparatory to taking up vari-
Gus matters for presentation to the an
nual convention of the federation in
Boston in November. One after an
other of them was questioned
concerning his attitude of antagonism
to President Roosevelt, as voiced by
the local branch of the Central labor
| union here. None would allow him.
self to talk, as it is anticipated this
will be one of the subjects to come up
before the executive council 1t is
known however. that there is strong
opposition of having the federation
recognize the protest made by the To-
cal union or to have it consid-
cred in any way by the annual conven-
tion in Boston. Some of them are un-
derstood to hold that the movement is
simply the work of making political
capital for those who are enemies of
the President
Mitchell is Grateful.
John Mitchell the president of the
United Mine Workers for instance, is
a member of the executive council
and, while he would not discuss the
Miller case tonight his friends say he
is by far too grateful to President
Roosevelt for his valuable assistance
L in, 1i,,rr I,
i low himself to be dragged into any
movement which has for It object, po-
litical hostility to the President, next
year. President Mitchells relations
with President Roosevelt during the
settlement of the coal strike were of a
confidential nature and Mr.. Mitchell
knows well from that experience that
4 President Roosevelt is not an enemy
of organized labor and that it is un-
i fair to try to place him in that light
before the public. President Mitchell
however, does not wish to be drawn in
to this controversy and many other la
Dor leaders share his feeling.
MitcheIi's Position.
! The action of this local union here
in sending all affiliated unions copies
of its resolutions of protest and seek
4 ing Endorsement from all labor unions
places men like President Mitchell in
an embarrassing position. The Unit.
: ed Mine Workers will be called upon
: for instance, to declare their attitude
;. in regard to indorsing the resolutions
in the Miller case. Mr.. Mitchell, as
president of that organization, probably
will be looked to for the direction OF
: the mine workers in their decision in
this case.
Gompers Criticised.
There is much gossip, concerning
:. the attitude of Samuel Gompers. pres
ident of the federation of labor. He is
expected 10 attend the meeting of the
executive council Many labor men
say that if President Gompers had as
serted his influence no such resolutions
ever would have been adopted by the
: local union. 1t rumored that Com
3 pers is in sympathy with the purpose
of the movement. being engineered
about the administration.
Among the members of the executive
council who have arrived are Johr
Mitchell of the United mine workers
John r. O'Brien of Buffalo, H. 7. Flynn
and E. H. Mcguire of Pittsburg, j. B
Leonard of Bloomington, Max Morris
of Denver, Chas l. Kidd of Chicago ant
John Mulholland of Toledo. The coun
Gil, it is anticipated, will be in session
all the week.
Is Enforcing Laws.
Denny Hayes of Philadelphia sait
4 this evening: Organized labor ha.
never made fight against any MAJ
who is conscientiously and consistent
!. ly, enforcing the laws as ne finds then
! on the statute books. Whatever il
: done, in this instance, will be along
;; conservative lines"
TO HELP TRADE