The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-28
PRESIDENT OF MINE WORKERS
WANTS NO OTHER OFFICE.
HAYWOOD MAKES TALK
Secretary Of Western Federation Says
Colorado u - Mean 10 All other
States Boiled pown-Mitcheli OPP
poses Sympathetic Strikes.

4d1ICA0lA dAAOuAC0u 70 lie
of the United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea today that he did not desire to
hold any Office in the organization at
ter his retirement as president on
April l. This will stop a movement
to have him placed at the head OF an
advisory board.
He asked that his friends give their
loyal and undivided support to his uc-
cessor. while I have been president,
I have been president in fact as we'll
as in name and my uccesso has the
anne opportunity to carry out his pol
icies."
w. D. Haywood, secretary-treasurer
of the Western Federation of Miners,
addressed the convention. He re-
ferred feelingly to the appreciation
and the feeling OF Meyer, Pettibone
and himself toward the labor element
OF the country which had contributed
100000 to their defense.
Haywood attributed all of the
strikes and troubles in the western
lead, coal and gold mines, to the oper-
ators. owing to their failure to Keep
contracts with the miners. He
charged the operators with the de-
struction Of property by the use Of
explosives, in order to prejudice pub
lie opinion and lay the blame On the
miners. He painted graphic pictures
Of ""the bull pens,"" established by the
military authorities, who, he said,
were subservient to the operators.
Colorado ls Mean.
Colorado" said Haywood, lis as
mean as all the other states boiled
down. Corporations control the courts
there, debauch the legislature and run
the elections to suit themselves"
Mr.. Haywood pleaded for a closer
relationship between the Western Fed
Grafton and the Mine Workers Of
America. He asked not only for the
financial support OF the United Msne
Workers, but for their moral support
3e@%H25e N"F9 F@m41 EHs8snE H%z@&T Gl3N GF -
as well.
Mr.. Mitchell then addressed the
convention. He declared himself to
be opposed to sympathetic strikes. II
have watched labor troubles and o n
ditions as closely as any man." he
said, "and I have not seen any benefit
accrue from sympathetic strikes.
Should the Western Federation Of
Miners ask us to go or q strike to aid
their strike, we would ask naturally:
What will we get out Of 1t? What
good will accrue to us?'
Wouldn't Help Any.
II do not see that it would do us
any good to have the me%taliferous
miners on a strike IL we coal miners
were out on a strike. Coal can be
mined when gold miners are not
working, but gold cannot be mined II
there is no coal"
Mr.. Mitchell admitted that in ex.
IRENE cases sympathetic strikes would
very materially assist In the accom-.
plishment Of labor purposes and in
such cases he would advocate It. He
thought closer relationship should ex-
ist between the Mine Workers and the
Western Federation. and suggested a
committee to define what these rela-
lions should be. Mr.. Mitchell urged
the miners to continue the contract
system.
D. "A. Sullivan, secretary-treasurer
Of the Ohio miners, and Alex Howatt,
president Of the Kansas miners,
were elected delegates to the Interna-
tional Mining congress, which meets
in Paris.