The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-21
EXPLAINS ATTITUDE
JOHN MITCHELL GIVES OUT STATE
 MENT
Says that During the Past Few Weeks He Has Been Misrepresented In the Present Political
 Campaign.

Indianapolis, Ind, oct. 20--John Mitchell. former president of the United Mine Workers of America today fur. nished the following statements to The Associated Press:
 During the past few days I have received numerous inquiries from sec- retaries of our local unions in refer- ence to a poster containing an enlarged likeness of myself below which is printed what purports to be an inter- view with me bearing upon the presei political situation. Some of these letters are written in a spirit of crit icism, while others are commendatory and request that additional posters be mailed for distribution.
 Tn order to remove any misunder- standing that may exist, I take this means of informing our members that have not mailed or authorized any one else to. mail to any member or officer of our union, or to any one else, any poster containing my likeness or giving expression to my political views. except so far as these views are expressed in the official circulars authorized by the executive council of the American Federation of Labor.
 Only short time ago, A weekly paper published in the city of Buffalo, printed what purported to be a tele. gram signed by me, declaring unequiv- ocally for one of the Presidential can- didates and with equal emphasis voic. Ing opposition to another. The tele- gram--which has been given wide cir- eulation-was not written by me or by my authority. I never saw 1t or heard or It until 1t appeared in the columns or the publication referred to.
 have borne patiently with this misrepresentation and have hesitated 10 say anything by way of correction hnPanxa hoa De to furnish another opportunity for garbltpg what I said, and thus place me in an even more embarrassing sItu- ation and might thus convey the inn presston that I was not in full sym pathy with the efforts of the working people to- secure remedial Legislation for the wrongs of which they complain. But matters have gone so far that I cannot In justice to my own eonscfeTlcs remain silent while others use my name in this unauthorized. am abundantly able to speak for myself, ana l object to these unwarranted lib. critics being taken with my name.
 As understand the policy of the American labor movement as the &C., tion of the United Mine Workers of America, 1t Is that the organization of labor Is not committed to any poIit- ical party; that the working men of America are endeavoring for as lies in. their power, and without regard to political affiliations. to elect to public office,, bona fide members of trades unions or other candidates who are known to be in sympathy with the political and industrial reforms nec- cessary to the protection and preser. vation of the interests of the wage earners.
 ''To this end, I have written letters or recommendation and shall. write othersse urging our fellow workers to support trade unionists and friends of the trades union movement who have been nominated for official positions"
 Mir. Mitchell here mentioned several mon whose candidacy for the lower House of Congress he faTored, and eon- tinued as follows:
 eIt seems to be that in as much as the manufacturing. the mercantile. the professional and to a lesser degree the agricultural and even the leisure. classes are so we'll and so numerousIy represented in our State and National legislaturss the wage earnersl should also be represented by a group of strong men from the ranks of labor, whose training and experience are such as to enable them to present in an intelligent and foreeful manner thei needs and requirements of that divfs- ion of society which Is least able to