The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-28
MITCHELL SHOWS HIS HAND.
EIGHT HOUR DAY AND UNION
RECOGNITION. OR STRIKE.
says He Wants to Present His Demand to
President Baer with $50 .OO0 Behind
Him. but Insists That He Doesn't want
strike--speech to 5000 People.


Him. but Insists That He Doesn't want
. Strike--speech to 5000 People.
time since he began his tour Of the anthracite
Mine Wo rkers to-day made an open declara-
ton as to the stand he and his organization
will take when the present wage agree
ment with the anthracite operators expires
on April /, 1905.
Before 5000 poo pie at Manila Park Mr..
Mitchell declared that the union would
absolutely insist on the adoption OF an
eight hour day and recognition Of the union.
and elucidated at length the grounds upon
which these demands would be made. He
maintained that recognition OF the union
and an eight hour day were essential to
industrial peace in the region, and told his
audience that he wanted to go before Presi-
dent Baer OF the anthracite community Of
interest with $50 900 men and boys standing
stanchly behind him and tell Mr.. Baer
that this army OF mine workers had fixed
a price for their labor and that there would
be no receding from that price. In part
President Mitchell said
Il assure you that my mission Is one Of
peace. am not here for the purpose Of
causing a strike; don't want a strike.
1t has been said by some Of our critics that
the sole purpose OF officers OF labor unions
is to create strikes. II there Is a strike
next spring it will not be my fault nor the
fault of the members OF the union. The
responsibility will be on the shoulders Of
the operators or the non-union men.
hat IN
do next spring. know what am going
to do and what the union miners are going
to do. Personally, favor an eight hour
workday and recognition Of the union. l
am now going to take these two matters
up and tell why believe they are essential
to permanent peace and industrial tran
quillity In the anthracite region. l favor
the eight hour workday because it is the
recognized workday all over the world.
and the anthracite miners must fight for
it some time. and that time should be now.
Il do not ask for the eight hour day as a
matter of sentiment. but as matter of good
citizenship. man can do more work
in eight hours than in ten hours. Do you
know that in the soft coal regions more
coal is produced per man in an eight hour
day than was produced in ten hour day?
AS regards recognition Of the union, l
want to say that don't favor 1t as matter
OF sentiment. but for the reason that have
found to my satisfaction that there can be
no permanent industrial peace unless the
workmen are recognized as contracting
parties in fixing wages and improving con-
ditions Of employment.
THE workmen must be recognized as a
collective unit. Strikes are bad and are
to be regretted, but they do not represent
as great an evil "a child labor or serfdom.
There are worse things than strikes. Where
workmen are recognized as collective
body the danger OF a strike is minimized
In the bituminous field in 1893 the union
was recognized, and since then we have
no strikes there.
What We want to do is to have the union
recognized in the anthracite region, 30 that
we can say to Baer: Here Ia the labor of
$50 600 men and boys. We want so much
for it, and you can take it or leave it, and
he will take it, because he can't get along
without US.
"Baer said in 1902 that he was not opposed
to union labor. that he had no objection to
the men organizing, but that he did object
to them taking an unwarranted interest
in his business. He said he could run his
business without our assistance. We let
him run it for five and half months.
Then he wanted us to help him manage his
business.
Now we don't want to run Mr.. Baer's
business. We don't own the mines, because
they belong to the coal companies, but We
do want to be recognized "a their equal
in the ma king Of contracts for our labor. We
want them to know that We are as strong
and powerful as they are, but unless we
stand together we will be not IA strong az
Mr.. Baer's forces. I want to see industrial
peace. and l believe that the only manner
in which 1t can be brought about Ia by the
recognition Of the trade union In the making
of contracts,