Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-16
NATIONAL MEET
OF THE MINERS
Continued From First Page,

tinue tie strike under the Circumstance
and unqualified endorsements"
Mr.. Mitchell then said that when it
began to be evident later on that the
miners could not win the strike the
executive committee of the National
Mine Workers at meeting at Indian
apoiis, April 81, decided to take steps
to end the Colorado strike. A district
convention to meet in Pueblo, June 20
last called, but this convention, con-
trary to the advice of the National Off
GERS, decided to continue the strike.
Financial assistance from the National
body was withdrawn after a contri
button of $4,000 on July I and the
middle of October the strike collapsed.
Commenting on the failure of the
strike Mr.. Mitchell said:
"It is needless to say that the fail
ure Of this strike was to us source
of sorrow and keen disappointment and
in spite of the fact that it had already
cost us approximately one half a mil
lion dollars had there been any reason
able nope Of success, we should have
advised it's continuance even tho this
course would exhausted our national
treasury: but when we are convinced
beyond peradventure that strike cam
not he won, it becomes our solemn
duty. regardless of criticism or con-
demnation, to recognize the inevitable
and declare that so far as we are con-
cerned the strike should be brought to
close"
Touching upon injunctions Mr.. Nit
chell said:
Every year emphasizes more strong
ly the iniquity of the federal injunction
as applied in labor disputes. During
the last year injunctions have been IS
sued in every coal field In which a
strike has been inaugurated, and MEM
bers of our association have been con-
fined in Jail because Of alleged dis
regard of these injunctions, notwith-
standing the fact that after our people
had remained in prison for consider
able. time, the very judges issuing the
Injunction has reversed his own action
and declared that when the 1njunc-
tior, was issued his court was without
jurisdiction in the case. 1t is appar-
ent to everyone who is acquainted with
the facts that many Of these injunc-
ton judges are totally unfit to perform
the functions of their sacred office. In
numerous instances, members of our
union, when brought before these
Judges. have been treated with in
dignity.
Another line of attack has been
adopted by hostile corporations against
the organizations of labor: One which,
il successful, will do more to destroy
the usefulness of trade unions than all
the agencies combined heretofore re-
sorted to. 1 refer to an attempt to
mulct our organization in damages be-
cause of losses sustained thru the re-
fusal of men to work under conditions
repugnant to them"
Continuing, Mr.. Mitchell said:
There is one phase Of our industrial
life upon which we have heretofore
made no official comment, and which
has received at our hands much less
consideration than it's Importance war
rants. 1 refer to the awful and ever
increasing loss of life and limb in coal
mines. It u.s. of course, impossible. by
legislation Of by any other human
agency, entirely to prevent fatalities or
injuries in coal mines, or, indeed in
hazardous calling; but 1t seems to me
that the number Of persons killed and
injured in the coal mines of this coun-
try is altogether too disproportionate
to the natural dangers, and that these
accidents could be materially reduced
by the enactment of wise laws or even
by the rigid enforcement of those now
IN oil. statute hooks"