The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-02-12
BIOGRAPHICAL CALENDAR.
John Mitchell, Miners Former Lead

John Mitchell, former president of
the united Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca, and vice president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, is 40 years
old today. With the possible ex-
ception of Samuel Gompers, Mitch ell
is the most famous labor leader of
the country. His long cpreer as
chief of the "black diamond artists
of the land, building up a powerful
organization in the face of the great
est organization in the face of the
greatest difficulties, has shown him
to be genius as a leader of the men
who toll. He is a diplomat, too.
and despite his insistence upon what
he considered the rights of the min
ers, he has succeeded in retaining
the friendship of thousands of con-
servatives. Although a fighter when
aroused, he has always sought for
industrial peace, and his wise coun-
sells have prevented many inoppor-
tune labor wars. The fact that he
Is now under the shadow of a Jail
sentence, after conviction Of con-
tempt of court in the Bucks Stove
and Range Company injunction case,
has not served to dim the luster
that attaches to his name.
Mitchell is in every sense of the
term "self-made man" He was
born in Braidwood, Ill.,, on February
4, 1869, and received his entire
schooling between the ages of 6 and
10 years. He became a coal miner
at an early age, but this did not pre-
vent him from attaining the educa-
ton that fitted him for his duties
OF later years. He studied assid-
uously at night, and became a pro-
found student of economic questions,
reading all the books he could pro-
cure on such topics. For a time he
considered the law as a profession,
and spent one year in a law office.
Mitchell's connection with organ
lied labor began at the age of is,
and in 1885 he Joined the knights
OF Labor, then a fourishing organi-
cation. Between 1885 and 1890 he
Travelled throughout the west, work.
ing at his trade Of coal mining and
adding a thorough knowledge of
men to the knowledge he had gained
from books.
In 1891, at Spring Valley, ILL.,,
Mitchell married the sweetheart of
his youth, Kath crime O'Rourke, and
his real career may be said to date
hot ti,,,D
young woman of superior intelli-
gence, and Mr.. Mitchell admits that
he has often found her counsel in
valuable in deciding knotty ques-
tions that baffled his intellect. The
Mitchell family home is still in the
little Illinois coal mining town.
In 1895 Mitchell became secre-
tary of sub-district of the United
Mine Workers, and his rise to power
In that organization was rapid. In
1899 he was elected president Of
the miners union, a position which
he held until last year, when he vol
unfairly resigned on account of i'll
health. He won his spurs as a
fighter for the rights of the miners
In the great anthracite strikes Of
1900 and 1902. He was elected
fourth vice president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor in 1898,
and has since become second to Com
pers in authority in that organiza-
ton.
Although no longer the head of
the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca, he is still power in that body,
as the miners realize that it was
largely due to his efforts that the
union was transformed from a strug-
Cling organization with a few thou
sand members to powerful army
of 100000 men. Mitchel's appear
ance at the recent convention of the
mine workers in indianapolis was
the signal for an ovation, when war
ring factions dissolved into one
grand appreciation of their former
leader. fund of $4,000, and
more when needed" was pledged
to defend Mitchell in the contempt
case in which he is now involved.
Mitchell's declarations at the min
ers' convention set forth his attitude
toward the present prosecution.
What l say" he declared. Il say
with the full knowledge that l may
be sent to prison for saying it.
Your enthusiasm proves that no
miner loses his luster because of
his being unjust.y sentenced to
prison. little thought a year ago
that before saw you again l would
be sentenced to prison for an act
which, after all, was an act of you
miners.
Growing out of this decision is
the Importance of legislation which
will give labor the right to trial by
jury. No; we ask no special priv
ileges. If any member of our union
proposed to violate the law, no man
would condemn him more vigorous
ly than l. But we deny the right
of court to go outside of the law
and infiict judgment from which
the constitution saves us.
"For instance, l was found guilty
on two points. One was that sign
ed an appeal against certain nom
union employer. The fact is never
saw the appeal. l was in hos
pital and could not have signed It.
Secondly, this judge quotes book
that I wrote, in which l said that it
a judge would order me not to do
what the constitution gives me a
right to do l would violate the in
junction of any court. repeat
those declarations now l repeat