The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-01-22
NINE WORKERS
ANNUAL CONVENTION ASSEMBLIES
AT INDIANAPOLIS.
Enthusiastic Reception of President
Mitchell Upon His Arrival---He
Speaks Briefly in Reply---Does
Not Believe i'm Strikes. but They
Are Sometimes Necessary

taenth annual convention of the United
Mine Workers of America opened here
at 10 o'clock. Every train for the past
"a hours has brought delegates from all
sections of the country. President
Mitchell arrived shortly after 4 o'clock
Yesterday. He was met at Greenfield
by reception committee representing
the Central Labor unions of Indianap-
oils, and including several prominent
citizens.
A large crowd assembled at the depot
despite the fact that the weather was
raw and cold and the train an hour late.
Carriages were in waiting and he was
driven Immediately to bis hotel. He
was greeted with cheers the moment he
was out OF the coach, and they were re-
pea led constantly along the route to
the hotel. 1t was expected that Presi.
dent Mitchell would be accompanied by
President Samuel Gompers of the Fed
Grafton of Labor. Mr.. Gompers did not
arrive. however, and probably will not
find it possible to attend the conven-
ton at all. Among those who accom-
panied President Mitchell were Profess
sor Frank Warne, instructor of political
ecomnomy at the University of Penn
sylvania; Harry S. 'Keefington, for the
Boot and Shoe Makers union and John
Fahey of the Anthracite Mine Workers.
After arrival at the hotel many of
the delegates and officers called to well
come him and to extend their greetings.
At e o'clock dinner was served at the
hotel for Mr.. Mitchell and the recep-
ton committee. After the dinner Pres
ident Levreing, of the Columbia Ma
tional bank, welcomed President Mitch
ell in brief speech. In responding
Mr.. Mitchell spoke only a few minutes.
He said in part:
"To live up to the measure that has
been set for me by the people of the
United States is. indeed, a difficult enc.
The greater number are prone to be-
lieve that man whose name has APP
peared in the press daily for the last
few months and whose picture has been
printed in the newspapers from one
coast to the other is great orator.
To be great orator and to he able to
make eloquent speeches has been my
wish. | am just plain talker.
81 have perhaps, been honored by
organized labor as much, if not more,
than any one of it's many leaders today.
Whether deserve these honors or not
l cannot say. l have tried to do my
duty by the men who have chosen me
as their leader.
81 heartily thank the people of In
dianapolis for the welcome they have
extended me. believe they have the
right conception of the purpose of or
ganized labor. The majority of them
believe differently than they did five
years ago wehn the unions of the ooun-
try were bla med wholly for the many
strikes and lockouts in factories and in
coal fields.
81 am not here to speak of the mer-
its of the controversy between the OPP
orators and the miners in the anthra-
cite coal fields. Strikes and lockouts,
however, are foreign to the purpose of
organized labor. l do not believe in
strikes. l regard them as horrible and
the creators of suffering. But do be-
lieve tina. the laboring men of the coun-
try should never surrender the right to
strike and to protect themselves against
organized capital.
81, for one, do not regard the inter-
ests of capital and labor as 50 much OPP
posed to each other that they cannot be
reconciled. have an abiding faith in,
the citizens of the country and be-
lieve that they can solve the great labor
problem which confronts us and solve
it right. The labor principles are con-
si1ered more lofty now by that class of
the people who heretofore did not I'M
derstand the purposes of trades unions.
The anthracite strike will result, be-
lieve, In the establishment of proper
relations between employers and en-
ployes."