Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-03

digging dusky diamonds down in the coal
mines, affects the welfare and comfort
of every individual in all this vast land.
One reason given for Mr.. Mitchelfs
presence in Washington is that he came
to urge the President to appoint Louis
Hammerling of Scranton as collector of in
ternal revenue at that place. Hammer
ling is the editor of the official organ of
the United Mine Workers, and is well rec
ommended. Mr.. Mitchell did not state what
the President would do about the appoint
ment.
Recent rumors of a great coal strike
make the president of the coal miners a
parsonage of considerable Importance at
this particular time.
Strike Not Likely Now.
When asked as to the probability of a
strike of the miners in the near future Mr.
Mitchell said significantly:
THE present agreement between the
miners and the operators will not expire
until March 81. 19O6
Then in answer to an interrogatory, he
added:
Our convention of miners will convene In
December. What will be done at that
meeting l cannot fOretell."
From Mr.. Mitchells looks and tone as he
came flesh from his conference with Presi-
dent Roosevelt and talked of the coal stu
alton, a reader of human nature might have
OWNED that the coal miners will not go on
strike this winter. They will abide by
ators through the mediumship of the arbi-
traton commission appointed by President
Roosevelt-unless the coal barons them
compact.
on the resolute face of President Mitchell
was also written the determination of the
miners union to stand by their demand for
an eight nour day and for the official recog-
milton OF their general organization In
other words. that the coal operators In the
future VIII he required 10 deal with the
e. miners not as individuals or groups but
as an organized body. their shibboleth be-
ing the injury of one Is the concern of all -
these concessions are not granted by
The operators leading labor men declare
ina; the spring OF 1906 will witness one of
the most widespread coal strikes that has
ever taken place in the world.
L have been on a most successful or
ganizing tour through the two great an
thracite coal ields,' said Mr.. Mitchell to
The Star reporter. I'm three months as a
result of this tour we have added more
than oo'VV0 anthracite coal miners to our
organization When the convention assem-
bies in December we will be In better shape
than We ever have been before
Accumulation of Coal.
What about the stories that the coal
mine owners have been accommodating large
quantities of coal in anticipation of trouble
with the mine workers next spring?' Mr..
Mitchell was asked.
81 do not officially know anything about
the accumulation OF coal for this purpose
except what l see in the newspapers" an
swered Mr.. Mitchell. Coal mine opera
tors and railroads always accumulate guam
titles of coal at this time of the year and
IN the summer to meet the demands of the
winter. l have not made any effort to as
certain why coal is being accumulated
AS result of his campaign through the
anthracite regions President Mitchell s
face Is bronZed more than ever but he has
lost none of his directness of manner and
the magnetism with which he sways the
thousands OF toilers In the association he
is at the head of still shone from his ex-
pressive brown eyes.
You can trust John Mitchell to give all
sides square deal" said labor leader to-
day THE power he exerts over the coal
miners is largely due to their firm belief
in him. They feel that they can trust him
to do the right thing at :iie right time.
And you can set II down as safe predic-
tion that he will not violate single line
or letter of the compact entered into be-
tween the miners and operators through
the intermediary of the anthracite coal
strike commission in 1893 He will stand
squarely by that agreement. II IL is vio-
lated the fault will lie with the operators,
not with him"
With Mr.. Sargent.
Mr. Mitchell also called at the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor and spent
some time with Commissioner Sargent.
To are close personal friends. and Mr.
Mitchell declared that his visit was merely
social. To a representative of The Star be