The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-21
Whan the histnrv of the

and recover. When the history OF the
struggles of the toilers shall be written lts
pages VIII record no event more inporla, Ill
no principle more ably defended, no Dattie
more bravely fought than the strike OF the
anthracite coal miners in 1902. a briet ms
tory OF which is embodied in this report
President Mitchell then reviewed the en-
thracite regions from the demand made
year ago TO the present date.
In concluding this part of his report Mr..
Mitchell said: Thus, after an idleness of
l64 days work was resumed on Oct. ..
and the most bitterly contested struggle be-
tween capital and labor passed into his
tory. 1t would. OF course. be improper at
this time for me TO comment upon the IN
vestigation now being conducted by the
anthracite coal strike commission. more
than TO say that it's members are eminent
men in whose inpartiality and Judgment L
have full confidence. Firm in my opinion
of our ability TO demonstrate the justice OF
our claims. / have no fear OF the outcome
Mr. Mitchelrs report next considers the
conditions that led to a strike in the West
Virginia fields at considerable length His
opening paragraph this subject reads:
For several years efforts have been made
to organize the miners OF Virginia and West
Virginia. with the hope of securing for
as obtain in the districts covered by the
interstate agreement. These efforts have
not met with that degree Of success for
which we hoped, although larger number
of local unions has been established during
the past year than at any other time in the
history of mining i'm those States, and
wages have been Increased as result of
the persistent work of our organizers
there
INJUNCTION IN ACTION.
Further along the report says
About this time the injunction was
brought into action and our organizers and
board members We're restrained from hold
ing meetings at or near the mines of the
companies from in any way interfering
with the operation of the coal properties.
nfh hCr
fields to take the places of those on strike;
board members and organizers were ar
rested for alleged violation of the restrain
ing orders; they were thrust into jail and
when released on bond were required TO
abstain from the exercise of their functions
organizers in that State. AS a conse-
quence the strikers became demoralized
and the strike, which at first held out such
promises of success, rapidly disintegrated,
particularly in the Fairmont region and on
the Norfolk & Western Railroad. The
miners In the Kanawha and New River
districts, however, continued the contest
until September 4, when an agreement
was reached with the operators OF the
Kanawha district and work resumed.
THE strike in the New River field is still
in progress and is being supported by the
national organization. The strike in West
Virginia, while not by any means COM
plete success, nevertheless resulted in an
Improvement in the conditions of employ
ment, an increase of 10 per cent. in wages
having been granted in the Fairmont dis
trict and on the Norfolk & Western Rail-
road, taking effect Jan. OF this year
These advances were unqueStl0naDly
brought about through the agitation of our
organization.
Il am of opinion that the work in Dis
trict II should be continued and unless
am instructed to the contrary a large force
of organizers will be maintained in that
field during the coming year."
Then the report continues: THE Michi-
gan operators and miners failed to agree
in their joint conference, held in the month
Of eff ri wa ra pd
on April 1. The strike continued until Aug.
IL, when an agreement was reached, the
terms Of which secured for the organiza-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3, COL. 81