Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-08

that the miners, more imam any oeH0A
organization. deserved the credit. /
The miners and mine operators are
not dependent upon politicians for
legislation, but thrash out every mat I
ter of Importance for themselves and J
then present it to legislators, was
the speakers declaration.
woRKMEN,s COMPENSATION.
He referred to the passage of the
yorkmen's compensation bill as an
accomplishment of the past seven
years and reviewed the framing OF
this bill by a board consisting OF Ia
Dor leaders and manufacturers rep
resentatives. He said that because
the labor men consulted those whom
they served, they got what they
wanted, while the manufacturers
we're not satisfied. He said that this
Illinois law is as good as any of any
state in the union and that 1t was
fashioned somewhat like that which
was approved by the New York ap-
pellate court. He said that as long
as men work together, be they labor
leaders or employers, there will be
progressive, reasonable and satisfac-
tory legislation.
STATE SETS STANDARD.
The speaker averred that the state
Of Illinois is fast formulating and
setting a standard for minimum
wage, minimum education, minimum
hours, safety appliances on railroads
and in factory, and that this is the
only state in the union that has an
occupational disease commission, and
that 1t leads in health, comfort and
safety of the laboring forces. He
said that the state needs many more
laws for employers and employees and
that they are receiving intelligent
attention. Concluding his brief ad-
dress the governor turned to Mr..
Mr.. Mitchell's home folks at Spring
Valley to him, and then departed.
1t was his 14th address of the day
and the governor had still another
one to make in Moline. He has been
out for nearly three weeks and each
day has made many addresses, most
of them from the platform Of his
special car.
In Moline, DR.. P. H. Vessel pre-
sided and introduced Governor De-
neen to his audience. Every seat In
the Moline theatre was occupied
Billy Meese was in charge of opera.
tons in that city.
GARDNER INTRODUCES MAYOR.
E. H. Gardner, secretary of the
labor federation, with few remarks
concerning the purpose of the meet
ing, and the goal for which organ
lied labor is striving, introduced
Mayor Schriver, and the mayor il
turn, introduced the speaker fo1
whom the meeting was arranged
John Mitchell. The mayor reviewed
in few words Mr.. Mitchell's accom-
plishments and the position which h
occupies in organized labor. He saiC
that he is a living example of energy
thrift and brains, having risen VI
from the rank and file, from tn,
bowels of the earth where he toiled
a man with honesty of purpose, eff
!. cheney, integrity and honor, a mai
second to none in the organization Il
the United States. 1t was his state
ment that Mr.. Mitchell is devotin
his life and energies to the upliftin
and the amelioration of mankind i
! general, that he is a peer among la
| bor men, the war horse of organize
! labor.
MTTCHELL'S MASTERLY TALK.
Mr.. Mitchell spoke of the politics
campaign four years ago when hi
! friends wanted him to run for tn
: Office of governor. He said he is gla
t now that he did not succeed, for IL
! stead of Governor Deneen making l
: speeches day, he would have to d
: that. He referred to his IA years G
q president of the mine workers {
e America, and said that that positio
q was the attainment of a boyhoo
i dream, and that though his accom-
t plishments were not so great as h
e dreams, he had realized many {
them before his voluntary retir
ment from the Office.
; In order to help the principles
, the organization for which he
e fighting every day, Mr.. Mitchell
t lecturing before the students of IL
e bigger universities and colleges al
l seldom presents the subject of la
). evening before labor bodies becau
Q they know for what trade unionis
stands. He said that workmen d
T vote too little time, often, to stu,
s Of workmens problems. Mr.. Mitch,
r said:
n PRINCIPLES CLEAR AND SIMPLE
I'm its fundamental principle ira
. unionism is plain and clear and ST
pie. It starts from the recognition
the fact that under normal conditio
the individual, unorganized workm
cannot bargain advantageously wi
the employer for the sale Of his lab
Since the workingman has no mon
in reserve and must sell his labor i
mediately, since, moreover, he has
knowledge of the market and no SIX
in bargaining, because, finally, he b
only his own labor to sell while Z
employer engages hundreds or ev
thousands of men and can easily
without the services of any one
them, the workingman, if bargainil