Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-21
MITCHELL'S TALK TO MINERS
Impres.s1 Upon Them Importance of Inter-
ssts in Their Care.
NINE HUNDRED DELEGATES IN SEATS
He Reviews DimcuIty Leading TO
strIRe and Expresses Confidence
I'm Verdict 60 he Given
by Commission.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 2O.-The first
thing on today's program at the Miners
National Wage convention was the reading
Of John Mitchell's annual address. The
convention met promptly at 9 o'clock with
900 delegates in their seats. Mr.. Mitchell
received the closest attention.
President Mitchell began his address by
impressing upon the delegates the interests
committed to their care.
OF the many important events affecting
the interests and welfare of the toilers of
the country he said the anthracite strike
stood pre-eminent. vital principles we're
at stake which, IL defeated. would have
given to the American labor movement a
shock from which it would have required
years to rally and. recover.
After giving a brief history of the great
strike, including the effort Of the Civic
federation to settle the controversy be-
tween the miners and operators, the APP
pointment of the Strike commission by
President Roosevelt after the White House
conferences, Mr.. Mitchell continued:
1t would, of course, be improper at this
time for me to comment upon the investi-
cation now being conducted by the an
thracite strike commission more than to
say that its members are men in whose i'm
partially and judgment l have full conf
dGnce.
No Fear of the Verdict.
Firm in my opinion of our ability to dem
onstrate the Justice OF our claims, 1 have no
fear of the outcome.
Touching the conditions in Virginia and
West Virginia, President Mitchell said:
The effort to- secIre for the miners the
same conditions that obtained in the dis
tricts covered by the interstate agreement
has NOT mot with the dppTaa Of aiIrraGa TINT
has been hoped for. although a larger NUM-
Der. of local unions had been est olished
during the last year than during any other
period during the mining history OF those
states. The effect of the Injunction was
demoralizing to the miners in the Fairmont
region.
The strike in West virginia, though not
a complete success. has resulted in an i'm
provement in the conditions of employment
and an increase of 10 per cent in wages In
the Fairmont district and on the Norfolk
d Western railroad.
The fact that strikes were becoming less
numerous, Mr.. Mitchell said, was due to the
operation of the joint agreements.
Local and general strikes. he said, oc-
CURED more often in districts where the
operators refused to recognize the organi-
cation or treat with it.
Relations Are More Cordial.
Mr.. Mitchell continued:
With each succeeding year the relations
become more cordial between the operators
and miners in those districts wnere trade
agreements exist and the bond of mutual
confidence and respect perceptibly in
creases. That the business relationship
now existing will continue to grow as
time goes on is my earnest hope and con-
hdent expectation.
Concerning the incorporation Of trade
unions, Mr.. Mitchell submitted an opinion
by Clarence s.. Darrow Of Chicago, attorney
for the miners before the strike commits
sion. in which the following sentences
occur;
The demand for the incorporation Of
trade unions is the last trench of those
who oppose organized labor. 1t Is i'm
pudent and presumptuops. No friend of
trade unionism ever believed in 1t or adj
today by those interests and those enemies
who have used every means at their com
mand to oppose trade un1onism, to counter
act Its effect and TO oppose IL.
How the labor organizations shall man
age their own affairs is not the business
of the corporations or the employers. This
new demand for the Incorporation of labor
unions is not only unjust and unreasonable,
but 1t is impudent and insulting to the
last degree.
Evil Eject of InJunctions.
Referring to injunctions. Mr.. Mitchell
said:
Government by injunction is one OF the
most insidious, harassing and dangerous
-workingmen to destroy labor organizations
and to circumvent the constitutional right
government by Injunction grows from the
distruct OF the ultra-capitalists for demo-
cratic institutions.
functions are always misleading and gen.
orally false. SO far as these injunctions
are Issued in labor cases, they are never
issued excepting in such cases as call for
the exercise of the criminal law.
Government by Injunction is not only
to constitutional liberty. II the American
people do not check this arbitrary power
Il will result in the annihilation of labor
organizations disliked by capitalists.
In closing MI. Mitchell said:
desire to thank each official colleague,
each officer and member OF our union, for
his assistance and support during the past
YEAR and to ask the indulgence of our
delegates in the conduct of the convention.
Report of Secretary Wilson.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Mitchelrs re-
mort Secretary Wilson submitted his report.
Mr.. Wilson dwelt at length on the many
rhases of the great anthracite strike, and,
coming down to the matter OF relief funds.
he said that when the call for funds was
issued by the special convention sum-
, moned by the miners it was Immediately
taken up by the American Federation OF
Labor, the various trades unions. the other
central bodies. the cities and the public
at large, and the response was both liberal
and prompt.
The special convention had scarcely more
than adjourned when we received a check
from district No. s for SIC, 900. This was
followed 4 few days later by $1,000 from
! district No. 10, $50. 900 from district No.
-. $4,000 from district No. IL, $1,000 from
district No. IS. $1,000 from district No. 20
and SO. 299.5O from district No. 2. The dOna-
ton from district No. ~ was more surpris-
ing in its magnitude when we considered
that Just a month before it had sent us
$50. 900 for the West Virginia miners.
Give All They Have.
The various subdistricts and local unions
we're equal also to the occasion and many
OF them contributed every penny they had
in their treesuries as soon as their dele
gates returned from the convention and re-
ported.
The total amount donated by the different
branches OF our organization was S25S,
343.94 The total amount received from the