The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-18
PRESENTATION
yers Farewell Address to
Strike Commission.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
r. Wrongs Of Oppressed and
Ia tho lmputation Of Law
s,ssness by Miners.

~ n+t tbe Mine workers union, before |
|.,h&%t indianapolis 10 attend the Ma
|, Rconventlon Of his organization, de-
IN today what he believed was his
4 .r.u address to the coal strike commits
a rha Scranton Coal company closed !
i e,e during the session today and was
A - nv the Delaware, Lackawanna |
Ia western Railway company. Ito was /
Ens me latter company was examining !
,o,sses that the hour for Adjournment !
Il ne week arrived, and Mr.. Mitchell /
a . ~ and asked to be permitted to make |
~ remarks. BE explained why he is
inca west, ard said:
|{r rlsh to take this occasion to express |
II satisfaction and that Of the miners
4 ~, represent, for the manner In which !
4, ,,vestieat!on Is being conducted. I feel
kbsdent II Will result in much good.
Hprhste has been large part Of the time
y ,Ss commission taken up by the pre-
4 ,,+,on OF evidence to show lawlessness
a me coal nelds, or that lawlessness ex-
|Aed to large extent during the latter
krt Of the strike.
y j
~ came here, bear no personal malice
IA those who worked, and, in stating what
am SAYING, am trying to separate my
In a. far as possible from the special
|tterests ! represent The nonunion man
|sAo was brought here, the fellow who was
|Aned . iscab.' was brought here for the
|kms purpose. he vas pat n the mines
In the purpose Of destroying the EFFORTS Of
liz men who went on strike. He was
|yourht here under the pretext Of getting
III advance IN wages. Ne was decoyed by
Fl pleS made before the commission that an
Hon would be made by those who had
Tia case IN charge to secure for him en- in
|Ntase of wages He came here paid by
la companies, hotel bills paid by them,
|zhd our men who went around to see them
|&y money was furnished them to enjoy
|hemseges while they were here.
r aHe came here and IL not one single in
Nance did those who represent him at
|#npt TO show that he was entitled to an
Increase IN his earnings. The nonunlon
|4tn was used betrayed by those who pro
|tsed TO take care Of his interests before
d. commission.
BIZ want to say, too, that before becom-
In president Of the union, that, being a
|&tmber OF the union, ! am an American,
/ 1yer and above everything else. l believe
| lhere is no man connected with the or
|ganlBetdon; there Is no man associated with
|fhls investigation, who condemns lawless
|<ess stronger than I would. If l did not
10 II because ] was opposed to lawless-
Ness would do Il because IL initiates
fgalnst the success OF q strike and against
| Pc success and advancement Of the or
| {sniEaton. ! do not believe lawlessness
| yer won a strike. l do not believe law
feness to very large degree deters
Ftn from working, 1 have an abiding
| !lih in the American people. believe
lnlt When they understand cause to be
fsht they. will support 1t, aud without the
support OF the people, no great movement
|9ah succeed That ia true Of a strike and
On sure the sympathy of the people win
2eser be with those who violate the law.
H There Is one other question that ] feel
my duty TO speak OF.
-As the commission Is. no doubt aware,
|lefefdl days ago | addressed a commun ed
|Hon TO all the anthracite miners urg'nE
Hem to Cooperate with the management
me mines IN Increasing the output OF
w mines Tor the purpose OF relieving this
EHlole suffering due to the coal famine.
pnee my communication was received by
.nem have heard from a large number OF
Nv lccal unions and in nearly every tn
snce me miners tell me that the produc-
fon o. coal can not be increased through
tY EFFORT Of theirs; that, In most cases,
NV companies are failing to furnish them
many cars as they would load. In other
Wos me regular turn of cars will not
mount TO as much as the men are ac-
tleIomed and willing to load 80 that they
faa not Increase the output Of the mines.
rfe may be In some few cases. they say,
|3assl lhey could and have agreed to do So"
nuy2( EVerltt Warren OF Scranton, who
|$Fesents several coal companies before
commission, Interrupted Mr. Mitchell,
requested him to bring proof for the
sernons Just made. The commissioners,
sau, had Information to tho contrary.
" reply to this Mr.. Mitchell said:
|&,. am hot attempting, Of course, TO tes-
TN ~ witness In the matter I am CIV
'ne sources OF my information in each
Tx l 40 not say this for the purpose OF
aeiss the responsibilities on ANYBODY else.
,s,i ,aet o. the matter Is. nv information
indicate that It Is impossible to
more coal The miners tell me the
II. ~ are consested with loaded cars Of
+ Spnecln1nn me Mines l want 70 say this in
~ on strike that have So FAR been re.
A NJ. sne right 70 work. Thov are ready
a% ~. coal There Is a SHORTAGE NJ coq'
flpsr, country, and I believe both tn
In ~ sno operators are doing what they
fsrasor.e -, ooal out or the mines, hut the
| {r,srt can at least increase II TO the
&Sor' %. q putting our 5000 men at work
~ NE, sney agreed TO start nj work wher
aSrs submitted to the commission
i, $500 nsss waited patiently since the date
+ Bsck H. tpuon Tor orr men to he placed
n h the mines We believe they oughI
De given work. We 40 no+ r.,r4 go
I'M viii not cause trouble at the mines
u want ,S no an we can TO prevent II. Bu'
~ ma Wv commission 70 understood that
AZ set,, VINO nave been idle all this tim,
tFtry IA tnphtlent They are writiuS
as 70 secure them worI, ~ a. Ia S,,, a ~
sy,nHe charged, OF course ,yitb bs,r,
ted ali ~ ~ Is alleged they left their lob
n term a. out II they are going TO hav,
fncjtA A. Reace Tor some years ln the an
hDp fghtins ~ seems TO me they ought {,
4uilsh r,as now, and that any desire Z
49, men by the colnpHmes on,-5t =
4uAg IN b,aLe willing and anxious to ge
4eds ana ilnnoly with those in the Goa
tpOd relst,nnui 90 all we can to esteblisl
Nd opefstn-ssa there, and we hope III
foag that Us wiz meet US half way Il
a. .o si9nith, inside foreman for tire
fOa eoHnsles Of the DIR Hill Coal am
| Flad hsfasaS, VINO was on the wltnes
~ tssuseS me coal commission yestar
Ehs Into II 'ousy tAat, before the uuio
N loaded by the WORK. NJ ~ A., 49,
L Pa rednceS the union came In lie Imi
Baton ~ 70 fonr cars On crn..a.e.apI
fsSy .tor. SAG the company had no CON
itls VINO . ~ hsginnis, a lawyer OF eirarc
tIatd he IL IL, one Of the three persons VII
iutsstinr Is.Iet sent to Governor ston
ssssaion rno S1,ast the troops cscortin
aA Ths ist y sna from work, was mex
fekuit Of nc said, was Drawn u
FTtIsn business mass mass meeting called b
f9Huplty w stated that the people Of IN
athued u osts AFRAID that II tho soldier
e hioodsSsSaI' nfSnG GSH9,. men ther