The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-01-26
OVATION To
JOHN MITCHELL
Miners Union Gives $500 TO
Defend Former Chief
He PLEADS FOR HARMONY
Declares 10 Going to Prison Would Aic
the Mine Workers He Would Gladly
Go-urSes Men 70 Settle Their OFT.
ferenees and Work Fer the Interest
Of the Many.

Indianapolis. Ind. Jan. 23. John
Mitchell. labor leader. reunited the
warning elements OF the United Mine
Workers OF America In the greatest
speech OF his career.
Factions seemed to be dissolved into
one grand appreciation OF Mitchell
and the indirect cause Of Il was the
decision OF Judge Wright at Wash.
ington.
Events In the miners convention
moved rapidly. Mitchell was given an
ovation. a petition started 70 be sign
ed by the 1850 de, gates protesting
against the decision 20 President
Roosevelt: $500 was Appropriated tc
defend Mitchell and more as needed: ="
q telegram was sent 10 Samuel Com
pers announcing this fact with the
words. Stay IN the game; 500 900
black diamond artists are backing
you"
Miteheli's Speech.
Il have refused to make any state
ment on my prison sentence until !
could make il 10 you. What ! say I
say it with fun knowledge that ! may
be cast into prison for saying it."
With these words Mitchell keyed
the miners up 10 high expectations.
and he did not disappoint them.
Your enthusiasm proves that no
miner loses his luster because of his
being unjustly sentenced to prison.
Growing out OF this decision is the
Importance OF legislation which will
give fnhnr the fs~kf o, s-fa Hr-
No. We ask no special privileges II
any member OF our union proposes to
violate the law no man would condemn
him more vigorously than I. But we
deny the right Of a court 10 20 outside
OF the law and infiict a Judgment from
which the constitution saves us.
For instance. was found guilty
on two points. One was that signed
an appeal against a certain non-union
employer. The fact is never saw the
appeal. was in the hospital and could
not have signed e. Secondly. the Judge
quotes a book that wrote. In which
l said that II a Judge would order me
20 do what the constitution gives me a
right 10 do I would violate the injunc.
ton u any court I repeat those decla
rations now. ! repeat them with full
knowledge that will be held respon.
sible for what say.
Would Co TO Prison For Union.
Some one may have said that John
Mitchell is out OF the labor movement
now. that he won't see things as he
used TO see them when he worked in
the mines or with the miners. Gentle
men. want to make a pledge 10 you
here. do not intend that the day
will ever come when I shall see things
differently. SO long as live hope to
be true 10 and defend the rights of
these people and 20 advocate the cause
OF labor. ! believe in the trades union
movement and In the United Mine
Workers OF America. and my heart is
with You and in my hope OF harmony.
What concerns me now is not the pos.
sibillty Of going to prison. am con.
cerned about this union II my going
70 prison and even staying there would
help 10 organize all the miners In this
country ! would say without any hest
tatiOn: The prison for me Gentle.
men. | earnestly hope that the legis.
lation enacted by this convention and
your conduct here may reunite, n that
is necessary. all into one insolulable
body and that viii continue 10 WORK
for the interest OF the many.
BE careful when you leave here
that nothing has been done that will
bring back the old days when miner
fought miner and when operators
fought them all. Your differences will
be your employers opportunity. Much
as I respect the coal operators and be
lieve as employers they are above the
average in fairness. still as you divide
they will unite and unite much at
your cost"