The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-26
Lewis and Mitchell Say Mine
Workers of Country Will
Act Independently.
POLITICS is NOW QUIET.
BUT LITTLE DOING NOW OTHER
THAN LAYING PLANS FOR THE
STRENUOUS CAMPAIGN LATER
IN THE YEAR.

indianapolis, July 25.-President
Thomas Lewis. of the United Mine
Workers, has clasped hands with John
MITCHELL former president of the
great organization, in blocking any
scheme by which it is sought to influ-
ence the members of the organiZa-
ton politically. He has practically
served notice on Samuel Gompers,
head of the American Federation of
Labor, that he must leave the miners
alone so far as using his position as
a labor leader to make votes for Bryan
is concerned. Mr.. Lewis has nothing
against Bryan, he asserts, but he de-
clares that the miners are amply able
to decide for themselves on all politi-
cal matters. Lewis has corroborated
an interview given by him at Denver,
few days ago, in which he said:
The coal miners of the country will
act on their own initiative next No
vember. The United Mine Workers,
as an organization, is not committed
to any political party. Its conven-
tions have declared in favor of sup
positions, but that is as far as they
have gone. The constitution of the
mine workers gives authority to it's
members to aspire to legislative posi-
tions under any party name, without
any particular political affiliation,
and the spirit of these conventions
has always been in favor of indepen.
h1 -
the organization"
Gompers will never succeed should
he attempt to line the miners up for
Bryan, as the United Mine Workers
have rec""tly passed through an edu.
cational ocess that has lifted them
far above the possibility of being led
politically and every effort to drag
the organization into politics or vote
its members as unit will fail, as il
has always failed before No direct
appeal has yet been made to the min
ers, but Gompers is expected to issue
one at any time. and it will have the
backing of the American Federation
officers in Indiana. but the miners
will pay no attention to it, according
TO the national officers.
| Politics are Dull.
Politically, the past week has beer
dull This means much when it re
fers to Indianapolis, for the capita
city of the Hoosier state can usually
boast of political eruption of some
sort, the year in and year out-an,
day and any time. The fact of tn.
matter is that both campaign commit
tees are quietly laying plans, arrang
ing for the speaking campaign ant
otherwise rounding things up for tn,
real battle, which begins in Septem
ber
The republican campaign committe,
will give to Indiana, freely and with
out cost, the best speakers of tn
country, beginning with Taft. Tn
committee promises that all will b.
, heard in the Hoosier state, Vice Pres
ident FairL<nks among the rest. Tn
: latter has notified the committee tha
, he is ready to fill any number of spea
ing engagements within reason. H
, is prepared to fight for the ticket an
Will give his best efforts to its SUI
cess. There is scarcely a republica
leader of note who will not be hear
I In Indiana during September or Or
| tober, II the present plans do not q
: wrong, and the state will be riddle
5 with political oratory right down t
the eve of the election.