Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-10
John Mitchell Talks About tn.
General Labor Situation
and Strikes
GROWTH OF woRkMEN's UNIONS
President of the Mine Workers Agrees
That Capital Should Look Carefully
Into the Future and Take Account
With Labor Before Making Large In
vestments.
vestments.

Chicago. June 10.-"Marshall Field in
the main is right" said President John
Mitchell, of the United Mine Workers
Association of America, yesterday, in
referring to the recent statement Of
Marshall Field relative to the labor sit
uation in this country.
| 1T certainly is the part of prudence"
/ he continued, ito look into the future,
| and during labor agftations one must
take further precaution in this line than
at other times. One who is planning
the erection of large building or con-
/! tempiating any other big project en-
| failing great outlay must reckon with
labor before he begins. These matters
are to be considered deeply, and it GER
tsiinly is the part of prudence to look
oughly with labor before undertaking
, Gny project.
The general labor situation of the
country is good. There is no more labor
agitation now and no more strikes than
usual at this time of the year. There
are always disputes at this season. for
IL is from the first of May until the first
OF July that labor makes its contracts
and agreements with employers.
don't believe prosperity has anything to
do with the number of strikes. Dissat-
isfaction among worimen is no more
common in prosperous times than in
others. There are no more strikes now
than there We're year ago at this time
or two years ago.
The labor situation al over the
country is better than it has been here
tofore The present agitation, which
seems general In some places, is quiet
ing down, think and viii be over in
few weeks. l look for the settlement
OF all disputes now being waged by the
first of July. Unionism is growing
stronger. We added 100000 new mem
hers to union rolls during the last year.
"As to the situation in Chicago. am
not sufficiently familiar with conditions
here to discuss it intell:gently. / have
taken no part in labor work here, and
there is nothing significant to the local
situation in my presence here. / believe,
howeve., that things are quieting down.
lie WdltSIS SlllO OllleT IlOLcl anu res
taurant employees seem to be securing
their demands in quiet and peaceable
way, and 1t now looks as if their trou-
hle would soon be settled. This, 1 be-
lieve. is the main agitation here now.
Yes, it may be that Chicago is hav-
ing little more strenuous time than
other places at this season. but know
of no reason or cause to which to at
tribute this condition. New York City
is just now going thru similar expe-
rience."
When asked for an expression rela-
tive to the policy of Chicago's striking
restaurant and hotel men. in refusing to
deal with employers as an organization.
but still demanding recognition of their
union, Mr.. Mitchell smiled broadly and
said: Il prefer to say nothing on that
subject. Yes, know this stand has not
been exactly countenanced by the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor but, then, have moth
ing TO say about It."
Mr.. Mitchell is on his way from In
to Danvtlle and Spring VAL
ley, Ill. He left Chicago last evening, /
after remaining here a day. Relative
to his presence In Illinois, he said:
There is no significance In my trip
10 Spring Valley. am merely on loca,
business concerning the Illinois branch
Of the United Mime Workers Associa-
ton. Things are quiet among the min
ars now"