The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-19

advanced before. congratulate you on
your return and cordially welcome you TO
Indianapolis"
After Mr.. Levering had spoken Chairman
Feltman introduced Gustave Kevers exalt-
ed ruler of the local lodge OF Elks, who on
behalf OF his order welcomed Mr.. Mitchell.
Mr.. Kevers said ne could but echo the senti-
ments expressed by Mr.: Levering and com
cided with everything he had said, but he
would furnish additional reasons for the
esteem in which Mr.. Mitchell is held by
the Elks. He said Mr.. Mitchell was known
personally to his brother lodge members
and popular with them more for the reason
that they liked him personally than that ne
had successfully prosecuted a great coai
miners strike. This achievement, he SAID,
served to increase their admiration for him
as a labor leader and to impress on them
the principles of benevolence and charity
as he had we'll exempIified them in the
courage and frmness OF his attitude Tor
the betterment of his fellow-men.
Chairman Feltman in a few words ex-
pressive of personal pleasure and gratifica-
ton at being permitted 10 introduce MIN,
called on Mr.. Mitchell for a response to
the greetings extended.
MR.. MITCHELL RESPONDS.
When Mr.. Mitchell arose to reply he was
applauded for several minutes, and when
the applause had subsidized he said:
Mr.. Chairman. Brothers and Gentlemen
/ have learned many things in the last five
years. but have not learned yet how to
make u speech. 1 have tried on several &C.
casions to make a speech and each time
have proved satisfactorily to myself, at
least. that / am not an orator. 1t seems to
be the American idea that when a man gets
so famous that his name appears in the
newspapers daily that he must be an orator
and he is expected to make a speech at
every opportunity. By the way. the Ameri-
1 ~ fat, ic ted fc
centric. 1 will relate a few incidents of my
trip through the anthracite district that i'm
pressed this fact upon my mind.
Il had been invited to address a meeting
OF miners at Shamokin in Pennsylvania. L
went TO the little town and when L arrived
found that the plans for the evenings cele-
bration included a parade in which ten
thousand miners were to march. Few peo-
pie knew that / had arrived and my pres
ence was unknown to a majority of the
people waiting to see me. In order that L
might get TO my proper place in the parade
| the carriage in which L was to ride-a
gaudily bedecked and hammered open car
riage, which from the elaboration Of its
decorations could not be mistaken for any
other than that of John Mitchell-was
| driven in a round about way through an
/ alley to my position in the line. On the
/ way We had 10 pass through a crowd of
/ about five hundred breaker boys and were
nearly through the crowd when we were
/ discovered One little boy shouted to his
| companions and pointing TO me said: There
| goes Mitchell and feebly cheered. A COM
| panion contemptuously shrugged his Shout
/ ders and in Il tone meant to discredit the
others statement, said: oh, pshaw; faint
| neither. Why, my brother is bigger'n that
/ Teller. That shows how differently fame
] is measured.
IAN incident that proves that I am no
| speechmaker occurred in little Pennsyl-
vania town where i had been billed to
| speak. A great crowd was present, and
| in one of the front seats l noticed middle
| aged man who looked as though he might
| be somewhat intoxicated. L started my
talk and he went TO sleep. After 1 had
/ struggled through about twenty minutes
! OF my speech and had recovered from
| stage fright and thought / was getting
/ along first rate a telegram was handed
me which stated that my presence was
necessary in Scranton Immediately. / had
| little time in which to catch a train. and
started TO explain to the audience why L
would have TO disappoint them, when the
! old man arose and just as / had said L
would close he exclaimed: Il wish you
| would. We came here to hear John Mitch
/ ell
A DIFFICULT TASK.
But to become serious. To live up to
the standard set for me would indeed be
a difficult task 1 am afraid that there is
a mistaken impression of me. am not the
| instigator of strikes and lockouts and vio-
| lence some persons think me. Strikes and
| lockouts are repugnant to me. 1 do not
believe in them, and sincerely hope the
day will come when we shall have no more
of them. 1 do not believe, however, that
the laboring men of this country should
| surrender their right to strike when they
feel they are not being treated fairly.
am not one of those who believe that there
| is such a division and antagonism between
| labor and capital that 1t cannot be recon
| ciled. With an abiding faith in God, the
| people can solve the problem and there
need be no more strife between the two
| classes. L am glad that the higher and
| better men of to-day have begun TO believe
these facts, and have not given up the hope
| of a reconciliation between labor and cap
ital after a disagreement has arisen be-
tween them.
| Il shall be glad to believe that the an
| thracite coal miners strike has dispelled
much of the prejudice against the working
men. 1 shall be glad. indeed. If the an
thracite strike has done anything to re-
store peace and good will between the
employer and the employees of the mines.
| Gentlemen, L thank you for this recep-
| ton. 1t is pleasing indeed to me TO find
such a hearty good feeling for me- Your
courtesy will always be remembered by
me, and / thank you for it,