The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-19
DINNER FOR MITCHELL.
siaay Expressions Of Good will-Mr.
MitchciI's Response.

Mitchciis Response.
TIE dinner served to Mr. Mitchell in the
ordinary of the Grand Hotel last night was
intended as an entirely informal repast-
The dinner was served 20 fifty guests at
long table, ut the head Of which were
seated Mr. Mitchell and Chairman Feltman.
The other guests were members of the re-
ccption committee. number OF trades
unionists from the Central Labor Union and
additional representatives from the Elks
lodge and from the business men Of the
city.
After the banquet Chairman Feltman
addressed Mr.. Mitchell on behalf Of organ
feed labor and told him of the high regard
in which he is held by the workingmen OF
indianapolis He said the name OF Mitchell
IS as well known in Indianapolis as the
names of men who have been great before
him. The laboring men, he said, not alone
held the view that he was great in courage
and goodness, but the same opinion pre-
vailed among the citizens of the city gen.
orally. The business men of the city and
fellow lodge members of the guest, Mr..
Feltman said. had shown their appreciation
of his visit and all did him honor and
sought to make his coming TO the city a
welcome one by uniting in planning re-
ception in his honor. Mr.. Feltman intro
duced Mortimer lowering, who on behalf
of the city Of Indianapolis and in the alb
sence of Mayor Bookwalter, welcomed Mr..
Mitchell to indianapolis.
THE people of Indianapolis are proud to
have you here tonight, Mr.. Mitchell" said
Mr. lowering. THE business men OF this
city have followed your career with inter-
est and your actions in the recent strike
have proved to us that you are man of
more than ordinary ability. L believe in
things a before
has left US IL We have anything good to say
OF him. If we think well of a fellow we
should let him know it before he dies in
stead OF waiting until we have gathered. AT
his funeral to express our affection for him.
HAS WON RESPECT.
'You. Mr.. Mitchell, have won our re-
spect. You have not disappointed those of
US who might have. at the beginning of
the struggle. entertained some doubt as to
how you would come out of it. There were
eighty millions of people in the United
States who had eyes on you when a COM
mission was finally appointed to arbitrate
the grievances of the strikers and the com
plant of the mine operators that their
mines were not allowed to run. We saw ir
front of you the opposition OF some of the
brightest fnanciers of the East. The So
called coal barons had lawyers of great
dDilty 10 nSnI .tnelf DdtIle, ana IL was
the opinion of many people who had ar
interest I'm the outcome that they had Sc
cured them for no other purpose than &c
attempt 20 hold you up TO ridicule to the
people of the country.
You were TO be trapped and tied be.
fore the arbitration commission and were
To come out of The contest a beaten labor
leader. But you were not You presented
the miners side of the disagreement with
the same cOol-headedness and sense with
which you prosecuted the strike. In the
strike you were the one obstacle in the
way of lawlessness and violence and in
the investigation you were the one obstacle
in the way of a One-Sided investigation
You demonstrated. / think, conclusively
TO the people of the United States that
the miners were striking in a righteous
cause and you also demonstrated that the
conclusions of the coal barons as TO your
ability were wrong.
After you had done those things, Mr.
Mitchell, you had another surprise in store
for many people. You were not carried
off Your feet by your popularity. Your
widespread popularity did not make you
conceited. and by this you have earned
the respect of many men who know little
of labor unions and who have made little
effort 10 learn anything of them.
Mr.. Mitchell, you have made more friend:
1901 >osg;.nized labor by your conduct OF
- strike and your personal actions sine,
1t xss fortunately ended than all of tn,
strikes and arguments ever prosecuted anC