Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-28

tons, which represented all classes Of
union labor. Throngs were On the street
as the parade passed. and Mr.. Mitchell
was cheered Justify. Hundreds of per
sons who had gathered at Tomlinson's
Hall continued the noisy greeting when
the procession reached that place.
The reception was opened with
speech Of welcome by John l.. Feltman,
president of the Central Labor Union.
who was followed by Mayor Bookwaiter
with an address. his subject being Our
Guest" Mr.. Mitchell responded feeling
ly.
Nine hundred delegates we're present
the next morning when President John
Mitchell read his annual report to the
convention.
Mr.. Mitchell favored asking an in
crease of wages for the miners and an
nounced his faith in the Presidents
strike commission to settle the issues
before IL in an impartial manner. OF
the many important events affecting the
welfare of the toilers of the country. he
Haid the anthracite coal strike stood pre-
eminent. Vital principles We're at stake
| and defeat would have given TO the Amer
lean labor movement a shock from which
1t would have required years to recover
Mr.. Mitchell submitted an opinion by
Attorney Clarence S. barrow of Chicago
on the proposal to incorporate unions.
Extracts from the opinion follow:
The demand for the incorporation of
trade unions is the last trench of those
who oppose organized labor. 1t is impu-
dent and prcsumptuous. No friend of
trade unionism ever believed in it or adj
vocated it or called for it. 1t is demand
ed by those interests ans those enemies
who have used every means at their COM
mand to oppose trade unionism, to coun-
teract is influence and to destroy if.
How the labor organizations shall
manage their own affairs is not the bust
ness of the corporations or the employ
ers This new demand for the incorpora-
ton of labor unions is not only unjust
and unreasonable, but it is impudnnt
and insulting to the last degree"
Scores Government by Injunction.
Referring to injunctions. Mr.. Mitchell
said:
Government by injunction is one of
the most insidious. harassing and dan
iarous methods resorted to by the enc
mics fthe workingmen to destroy labor
and to circumyent the constitutional
right Of trial by jury. The whole sys-
tenn of government Ivy injunction grows
from the distrust of the municipalities
for democratic institutions
1.-THE reasons given for the issuing of
tnjunctions are always misleading and
generally false. So far as these injunc-
tons are issued in labor cases they are
never issued excepting in such eases as
call for the exercise of the criminal law.
Government by injunction is not only
hostile to organized labor. but it is hos
tile to constitutional liberty. If the
American people do not check this arbi-
trary power it will result in the annihi-
lation of labor unions and then of all
other forms of associations disliked by
capitalists
At the conclusion of Mr. Mitchel's re-
port he was invited to address the In
diana Legislature Mr.. Mitchell accept
ed the invitation.
Wilson Reports on Strike Fund.
Secretary Treasurer Wilson made his
annual report and in it dealt with the
anthracite strike relief funds. He show
ed whence came the donations and then
gave figures on totals.
1.-The total amount donated by the diff
ferent branches If our organization was
S25S, 343.94," said Mr.. Wilson. The to-
tai amount received from the special an
thracite assessment was 81 ,967, 02634,
making total of 81. Do, 370s2S from the
members Of the United Mine Workers
to assist their brethren in the anthracite
coal fields. To this amount must be add
ed S419,954. H. donated by the trade
unions and the public. making a grand
total of -, Ga 324 81"