The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-02-07
MITCHELL DENIES
POLITICAL TALK
They Say Organization is Not
A Grind Stone for Sharp
ening Political Axes.

indianapolis, Ind, Feb. THE
Pittsburg papers that last week as
serted that the United Mine workers
organization-the greatest OF the
American labor unions-was to be con-
verted into a machine to land the
democratic presidential nomination for
Judge George Gray, of Delaware, are
out now with new story that it is TO
be made an instrument for William
Taft OF Ohio, in his fight for the re-
publican nomination for president.
President John Mitchell and Presi-
dent-elect T. l.. Lewis, say that as far
as they know the organization is not
| being made grindstonc for sharpen
ing any political axes. Other leaders
and members of the national executive
board who are in the city laugh at
the reports and say that they are only
intent on one thing-running a trade
or industrial union and keeping it
out of politics
For Judge George Gray the miners
all over the country have a very high
regard. He was the head of the An
| thracite Strike commission appointed
by President Roosevelt to- put an end
to the great struggle in the hard coal
regions in 1902.
His fairness TO the miners during
the commissions hearings and the
award that was returned by the COM
miSsiOn-Which was a victory for the
miners-endeared him TO miners all
over the country. However, the min
ers do not propose to turn their ma
tional union into a campaign club for
him, though individually many may
work for his nomination.
Mitchell and Lewis Careful.
Both Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.. Lewis
are very guarded on what they say
concerning the presidential situation
and the two reports affecting the or
ganization. Mr.. Mitchell, when ques-
| toned today, said that as far as he
knew there was no foundation fol
these rumors. He said, however
that the members of the miners IN
ion, together with all trade unionists
affiliated with the American Fedora
ton of labor, were interested actively
in the election to all legislative, judi
cial and administrative offices Of men
who were known to be sympathetic to
the reasonable demands of the wage
earners of the country. 1T follows
therefore" said Mr.. Mitchell, that
they would oppose the candidacy Of as
pirants for political honors who are
known to be unsympathetic or antag
onistic to the labor movement"
Regarding the Gray and Taft organ
ization reports President-elect T. l.
Lewis said: so far as know there is
no movement political in nature in
the ranks of the miners. The execu-
tive board of the Ohio Federation of
Labor decided at one of it's meetings
to submit to the two presidential can
didates in Ohio, a series Of questions
for the purpose of having these two
gentlemen submit their views on the
question of the injunction. Both re
piled to the letter addressed to them
Whether or not the replies are salts
factory to the executive board and
the officers of the OHIO Federation of
Labor l am unable to say.
T The reason why the board submit
ted the questions to only the two
men was because it was of the opinion
| that it would be out of place for d
state organization to submit such ques-
lions to candidates who are not re-
garded as citizens of that state"
Mr.. Lewis, who is an Ohio man, was
asked whether or not Secretary Taft's
record was acceptable, as a whole, tC
the organized laboring people of Ohio.
He refused to discuss the matter, and
indicated that he was not mixing up in
politics.