Times-promoter., 1903-01-23
President of the Mine Workers of
America Makes a Short Talk
at Indianapolis.
DECLARES HIMSELF OPPOSED TO STRIKES
But He Thinks the Laboring Men of
the Country Should Never Surren-
der the Right to Strike and Pro-
tect Themselves Against the Ag-
gressiOn of Organized Capital.

indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 19.-Presi-
dent Mitchell arrived in this city Sun
day afternoon to attend the coming
meeting of the United Mine Workers
of America.
The train carrying President Nit
chell was met at Greenfield by re-
ception committee, representing the
Central Labor Union of Indianapolis;
John j. Appel, August Kahn and Nor
timer Levering, representing the citi-
zens, and Eli Hirchberg and Gus
Kevers, of the Elks.
When the committee boarded the
train President Mitchell was at lunch
con, but left the table long enough to
meet the committee. He was met at
the depot here by carriages and the
committee was taken to his hotel,
where he held an informal reception
for a number of his personal friends.
The Crowd Was a Large One.
depot to welcome him was very large.
The evening was raw and cold and
the train was nearly an hour late, but
Notwithstanding these drawbacks the
people waited. When Mr.. Mitchell ap-
peared he was greeted with cheers,
which continued until he had left his
carriage and entered his hotel. 1t was
expected by the persons assembled
that he would be accompanied by
President Samuel Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor. Mr..
Gonpers did not arrive, however.
Dinner Was Served.
After the arrival of the president at
the hotel many of the delegates, or
ganizers and officers called to well
come him and extend their greetings.
At six o'clock dinner was served
in the ''ordinary" at the hotel for Mr..
Mitchell and the reception commit
tee.
After the dinner John L. Feltman,
who acted as toastmaster, called on
President Levering, of the Columbia
national bank, to welcome President
Mitchell which he did.
Mr.. Feltman then called upon Pres
ident Mitchell. Mr.. Mitchell spoke
only few minutes, and said:
MIR. MitchelPs Speech.
"To live up to the measure that has
been set for me by the people of the
United States is indeed difficult one.
The greater number are prone to be-
lieve that a man whose name has ap-
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 a great ora
tor. To be a great orator and to be
able to make eloquent utterances has
always been my wish. I am just a
plain talker.
81 have perhaps been honored by
labor as much, if not more,
than any one of it's many leaders to-
day. Whether | deserve these honors
Or not can not say. I have tried to
10 my duty toward the men who have |
chosen me as their leader, and / have |
striven hard for them.
81 heartily thank the people of In
lianapolis for the cordial welcome
they have extended me. believe that
they have the right conception of the
purpose of organized labor. The ma
ority of them believe differently than
hey did five years ago, when the
lnions of the country We're blamed
wholly for the many strikes and lock-
outs in factories and in. the coal fields.
Il am not here to speak of the
merits of the controversy between
he operators and miners in the an
,hracite fields. Strikes and lockouts,
however, are foreign to the purposes
If organized labor. l do not believe
n strikes. | regard them as horrible
md the creators of suffering. But
do believe that the laboring men of
should never surrender the
light to strike and to protect them
elves against organized capital
81, for one, do not regard the in
erests of capital and labor as 5,
much opposed to each other that they
an not be reconciled. / have abiding
aith in the citizens of this country
md believe that they can solve the
-reat labor problem which confronts
is, and solve 1T right. The labor Erin
iples are considered more lofty now
" that class of the people who here
ofore did not understand tie pur-
,oses of trades unions. T4e anthra-
ite strike will result, l believe, in
he establishment of proper relations
'etween employers and employees.
m deeply grateful to you, the repre-
entative men of the city, for the
earty welcome you have extended
ne. Next to my little mining town
q 1l.inois, / always regard Indian