The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-03-30
STRIKE DECLARED


tional in the extreme. Just prior
to adjournment President Mitchell
made the dramatic speech OF his life
when he was defending his honor
and integrity against an accusation
that was made by the operator repre-
senting E. H. Hartman, New York
millionaire.
/ The Motion to Adjourn.
| 1t was J. H. Winder, of Ohio, leader
of the operators, who finally made the
motion to adjourn sine die. Randolph
Smith of Illinois, seconded it and the
vote was unanimous, many operators
having already left the hall.
! Thus was the great interstate agree
ment thrown ruthlessly to the winds.
Even President Roosevelt had not
been able to save it, as it was he
who suggested the meeting that has
| just adjourned.
President Mitchell began the ar
| gument for the miners at the opening
| of the session this afternoon.
Continuing his remarks of yester-
| day, Mitchell asked Mr.. Parker, CT
the operators, what position he held
with the Illinois Central railroad; If
he was not president of the Madi-
son Coal company and fuel purchasing
agent of the Illinois Central The
question created a furry.
Parker replied that Mitchell was in
jecting personalities into the matter
| He said: Some of the Illinois Central
| railroad stockholders are stockhold-
ers in the Madison Coal Co. Mr..
Mitchell departs from the real issue
to a side line and | believe it is due
to the weakness of his position.
have seen the time when John Mitch
ell was glad l was an officer of that
road"
What do you mean," shouted
Mitchell.
Il mean you have asked me for free
transportation" replied Parker.
Mitchell Becomes Dramatic.
Mitchell said in dramatic tones: 81
| deny positively the statement you
make and insist you produce evidence
Of it. want to state right here that
no living man ever granted free trans
portation to me although you have
| frequently done so to others. l in
sist you produce some evidence. l
defy you, Mr.. Parker, to produce any
evidence other than your personal
word to substantiate your statement,
l ask you, Mr.. Parker, in fairness to
me If what | say is not true"
Parker said: What Mr.. Mitchcll
says is true. He never asked me
personally for a pass and as far as I
know he never travelled over my road
although members of his family have"
Mitchell exclaimed, that also is a
malicious untruth.'
Here the chairman ended further
discussion.
Mitchell asked and was allowed the
floor. He said: 1T is the first time
that my integrity has ever been ques-
toned" He spoke on with the
deepest feeling. THE fact that the
first of next month may see us in a
great Industrial war does not warrant
you to put me in that light before the
American public"
Parker replied, "If Mr.. Mitchell ever
did dishonorable act in his life l
do not know of it. Is that suffi-
cient?"
Delegate Ryan Explains.
Delegate Ryan. of Illinois, then ex-
| planned that a very estimable young
woman lives at Mr. Mitchells home
at Spring Valley, Ill. He added, Il
myself made the request for her for
her no meat Mt Olive. l am solely
responsible for the whole matter my
self"
Then l withdraw my statement if
Mr.. Mitchell will say that he never
knew of the fact" said Parker.
Il did not know of it, exclaimed
Mitchell
That settles it, said Parker.
| During this entire discussion feeling
was at fever heat. Mitchell never
was more dramatic in his life. He
walked the floor and he showed that
he was touched to the quick.
He continued: 1T is not a. personal
but public question whether Mr..
Hartman owns the Illinois Central
railroad and the Madison Coal Com
pany."
An operator claimed Mr.. Mitchell
was out of order.
F. l.. Robbins said: II say that the
higher prices of coal depend more on
the railroads and their desire to de-
strop competition than any other fac
tor"
Mitchell accepted Robbins state
ment, saying Robbins, being the larg-
est shipper of coal present, should
know what he was talking about.
Will Strive for Peace
Mitchell continued: Il believe Mr.
Robbins statements are facts. This
may be the last time that | shall ever
debate the question, as our differences
seem to be irreconcilable. But l will
say that it is my earnest hope and
will be my earnest endeavor to obtain
peace between miners and operators
No man has striven more earnestly
than l to accomplish it. We have nc
coal stored up as you operators have
expecting TO profit by a stoppage OF
work. We have no Interior motives
We have tried our best to reach an
agreement"
Operator Ogle questioned Mitch
Roses, Roses and still more Roses