The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1903-01-20
HONORS FOR MITCHELL
MAGNIFICENT RECEPTIoN Te
MINERS LEADER.
Tomlinson Hall Crowded to the Doors
by Persons to Welcome Him.
He Makes q Speech.

Indianapolis, Jan. 1.-the city OF In
dianapolis and Its organized labor socie-
ties united tonight In a reception to Pres
ident Mitchell of the United Mine Work.
ers of America. A torchlight parade with
1000 men in line escorted Mr.. Mitchell
and other prominent labor leaders to
Tomlinson Hall, which was crowded to
the doors Addressed of welcome were
made by Mayor Bookwalter. President
Fettman of the Central Labor Union and
National Secretary Duffy of the Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners.
President Mitchell was greeted with
cheers that lasted five minutes. He spoke
rapidly and was frequently interrupted
by applause. He said. ~ am not vain
enough to believe that this splendid well
come is q personal tribute to me. The
credit for the settlement of the great an
thracite coal strike belongs not to me,
but to the women and children who suf-
fered bitter privations for five long
months in the coal fields that their hus-
bands and fathers might stand firm to the
cause of justice.
Before being a trades unionist, ! am
an American. My first allegiance is to
my country.
II can hardly discuss the matter that
are now In the hands of the strike COM
mission. I have an abiding faith in the
honesty of the tribunal which has in Its
hands the settlement of our difficulty. If
was not so much the strike of the miners
against the owners as it was the strike
of the railroad presidents against the
American people. ! am one OF those who
believe in the people
Your. townsman, Mr.. Parry, prophe-
sled that while there would be quite a
large crowd here tonight, there would be
no property owners. i would not do him
an injustice, for know him quite well,
and he may not be correctly quoted. But
I do not consider property as a proper
measure of good citizenship. l do not
imagine that all the money Morgan pos
sesses could make q man. Why should
men like Mr.. Parry oppose the organiza-
ton of labor. He himself Is the Presi-
dent of the National Manufacturers As
sociaticn. He is really its walking dele
gate. Manufacturers. bankers. grocers,
wholesalers, preachers and saloon men
have their organizations. Surely no one
would deny us workingmen the same
rights as the whisky dealers.
LABOR VIII take advantage OIL every
privilege that capital does. If capital
organizes, labor will organize. If capt.
tai consolidates, labor will consolidate.
Labor simply follows in the footsteps of
its partner, capital.
But there is still a difference. The
labor organization is democracy pure
and simply. The individual vote of every
member settles every question.
Organized labor stands for more than
higher wages. 1t would take the breaker
boy out of the mines and put him in
school. I found little boys and girls who
should have been playing in the school
yards bearing the heaviest responsible
ties of life In the mines Labor is not
always right. 1t has done many foolish
things. 1t has been its own worst en-
envy. I am rot one of them who consider
it wise or just to denounce capital. Not
one of us is poor from choice. Labor
must examine itself and do it's own share
to elevate the state of its individual men,
bers.
II shall be glad II out of the anthra-
cite coal striks shall come a new rela-
tionship between labor and capital. one
that will recognize the obligations as well
as the privileges that each owes to each.
Then indeed will our country be prepared
to enter upon it's new and greater nfe."