The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-04-28

true of 4 strike. If the people Of the
country are not in sympathy with it
it must fail, and l am sure that the
sympathy of the people will never be
with those who violate the law"
The salary of John Mitchell as
president ofthc United Mine Workers
is $4,000 per year. According to
estimates made by the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission. the amount of
money involved in the strike of 1902
was nearly 100000, ,000 That is, the
loss to the railroads and coal COM
panies in reduced freights and coal
receipts was $75.0O0,00o and the loss
in wages to the mine workers SEA-
100000. Mitchell was practically in
control of the situation. There are
some of our captains Of finance" re-
Gently in the public eye. who would
hang their heads i'll shame among
their fellows if forced to admit that
they had Alitchelrs opportunities and
came through without anything sub
stantial to show for it.
To the president of the United
Mine Workers. however. his two-story
house in Spring Valley, ILL.,, and the
salary that means comparative wealth
in Il village of $500 inhabitants, with
Il clear conscience. the respect of
of the fact that he is an actual and
potent factor i'll the progress of civiH-
is but natural, 4: man Of Mitchell's
capacity receives frequent offers Of
large salaries to devote his abilities
to commerce, but he refuses to desert
his present post. Indeed, he declined
an offer of $4,000 for twenty lectures
on the Chautauqua circuit on the
ground that he did not consider him
self justified in making any engage
mentS that might conflict with his
duties to the mine workers.
Mitchell was born in Braidwood, Ill.,,
thirty-tive years ago. His father, Who
was q native Of Ireland and who had
been MINER farmer and soldier in the
civil war. died when the boy was six
years of age. His mother, having pre-
deceased her husband four years and
he having married again. young Nit
chell was left in care of a stepmother
His early education consisted in a few
weeks at school for three or four
years, as he could not be spared from
his work at home. which was largely
in caring for his younger half-hrothcrs
and sisters.
At ten years of age the boy ran
away from home and went to work on
Il farm. At the age of thirteen he
entered the mines as door boy. and
he joined the Knights of Labor at
'lifteen. He then read and studied
nights. Bellalny's Looking Backward"
and Spencer's Social States" form
ing strong impressions upon his mind.
Before he was of age young Mitchell
made two trips to the West and work.
ed in the mines of Colorado and New
Mexico, returning to the place OF his
birth to marry. and soon afterward
moving to his present home, in Spring
Valley.
Mitchell became a member of the
United Mine Workers on the formation
Of the organization in 1890. He was
soon aftcrward made secretary Of his
h-district organization. and then
rose to the position of national Or
ganizer. In January, 1899, in his
twenty ninth year. he was elected ma
tional vice president. and on the resig-
nation of President Ratchford during
the year was appointed acting prcsi-
dent. The following January he was
elected president. and he has been
unanimously reelected every year
since
His popularity among the mine
workers may be gathered from the
fact that when Mr.. Mckinley was
murdered and the news reached the
coal fields that the President had been
shot the men left their work and pro-
ceeded to organize for the purpose
Of wreaking vengeance. When they
learned that it was the President OF
the United States and not President
Mitchell who was the victim their
anger cooled at once and they return
ed to their interrupted labors.
IT is always interesting when a man
has achieved prominence as n leader
of men in great crises to know how
he has reached that position, which
forced upon others. Mitchell seems to
be what is known as ~ born leader
In an able sketch Of the president OF
the United Mine Workers by his
private secretary. Miss Elizabeth
Catharne Morris. we find some infor-
nation on this point
President of an athletic club OF
young coal miners OF 3raidwood, his
home town, at the age of SIXTEEN join
Mitchell has been the president or the
leading spirit Of some progressive
movement ever since" writes Miss
Morris. "He has entered no depart
ment Of human interest in which he