The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-18
MITCHELL WIFE
KNOWS HE'S GREAT
Welded Fifteen Years Ago
When He Was Miner
SHE CAME TO CHEER HIM
Famous Labor Leader Was Homesick
When His Wife Arrived From
lllinols-care of the Fam
lily Her Task.
SHE CAME TO CHEER HIM

From the New York World
Mrs John Mitchell came on last week
from Spring Valley, Ill, to join her hus-
band. the young leader of the great
union of coal miners The things that
have been printed about Mitchell fill many
large envelopes IN The Worlds refer
hence department. Hardly a mention Is
made of his wife.
| That is as she and her husband pre-
fer Mitchell is worNngman who has
through circumstances become a public
character. He thinks his wife and his
children belong TO himself
Late on Monday night Mitchell was
seen walking through the office of the
Ashland hotel, where he has his head
quarters. He wore a long face, with the
| corners of his mouth drawn down. He
pulled gloomily at a cigar, and then let
It go out. For once it was not the miners
trouble that harassed him.
Things were going well for him and
them. The matter was, Mitchell was
homesick.
The next day at noon those who saw
Mitchell going in TO luncheon saw him
as another man. The wrinkles had been
smoothed out and he was actually laugh
ing at what one of the coal miners with
him was saying Mrs. Mitchell had come
to town that morning.
Presently she appeared, a little slender
woman, a few years younger than the
mine workers leader. who is 81 years
old. Dark eyes which glow light up her
face. Her dark hair is dressed with Sc
we're plainness. There is not the slightest
IL II ~
and her black gown, which is only re-
lieved by a collar of white lace.
Looks at His Wife.
Mitchell always looks away when a
man is talking with him. It's one of his
characteristics. When Mrs. Mitchell is
with him his eyes are constantly on hers.
Next day Mrs. Mitchell was waiting in
the waiting room of the old-fashioned
hotel with two other wo'Nen-one of Mr..
Mitchelrs friends was to AXE them sight
seeing They were goirrk to look a the
stock exchange, whici Mrs. Mitchell
never had seen. Their escort introduced
a World reporter to Mrs. Mitchell with
the warning that she was to be inter-
viewed.
To that Mrs, Mitchell would not con-
sent. She objected to aging "a lot of
things about herself" Her husband
nevere talks about John Mitchell and she
thinks his exampleas good He will talk
about his work freely about the miners
their work, nay any kindred topics, but
about himself no.
Maybe Mrs Mitchell would talk about
her home and husband? Not at all
Yes, she was proud of him. Who would
not be? She knew that men who came
into contact with him said he was a
powerful man. an honest man, an able
leader, and a truly great diplomatist
10 l,od fria tIxa ha Mt
Mark Hanna and many others of promi-
nence Before these men knew what
kind of man he was, she knew. Had
she not been his wife for fifteen years?
OF course, he was man among millions.
She was Miss O'Rourke of Spring Val
ley when John Mitchell, not yet twenty
one went there to work in mine in that
town Mitchell had been in the knights
of Labor since he was sixteen. a door
keeper down in a soft coal mine, where
throughout his long workday he never
saw the light.
The year he came to be master work
man of the Knights of Labor miners of
Spring Valley, in 1891 he was counting
Miss oRourke. Next year they were
married.
Mitchells Were Poor.
They were poor. as all other miners
families were. Mitchell toiled at his
ganization. He rose rapidly in the newly
formed United Mine Workers of
America of which he has long been
President Even as chief of this great
union, he drew a salary of 1880 a year.
with his travelling expenses paid. In
1902 he gave a quarter of that sum to
the strike fund. leaving their income
about $3.50 or little more than S25 a
week.
They have had four children, three
boys and girl. Their daughter. Marie.
then 6 years old died last May,
Mitchell does not trust himself to speak.
even to his intimates. of that grief. His
wifes face is always sad
docs Mr.. Mitchell consult you about
his perplexities and responsibilities?
Mrs. Mitchell shakes her head. That
is his work. She does not pretend to
advise or NEEDLE.
She does her own sewing, cooking. all
the homework and the mending for the
three boys. although the miners have
raised Mitchells wages to $4,000 a year
They have n very plain little house,
although on $50 a week one can be even
pretentious in Spring Valley When
business takes Mitchell from home to
be in one place for a long time she
joins him.
Hero is the only direct quotation per-
mitted by Mrs. Mitchell.
Asked whether she came of her own ac-
cord or whether her husband had asked
her to New York, she said:
'.He wrote that he was lonesome and
SO I started for New York. If all is well
at home l shall stay as long as he is
here.