Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-12
AND
CATLN ENDORSED
Mine Workers Union Wants
Them Returned to Legisla-
ture, Says Scranton Times

The Scranton Times, a Democratic
newspaper, says in a long article that
the mine workers union is going to
make a strong bid for representation
in the next Legislature and that the
organization has endorsed Senator'S
Catlin and Beidleman for reelection.
The Times says:
"Coincidentt with the preliminary
steps being taken by the anthracite
miners to enter into a new agreement
with the operators comes news of a
strong movement to send to the next
Legislature members who will devote
all their time and attention to labor
laws 1t is planned to elect at least
twenty-five labor legislators from the
hard coal counties of Lackawanna. Lu-
zerne, Schuylkill, northumberland, Car
bon, Columbia and Dauphin.
According to those familiar with the
steps already taken, the campaign will
be the strongest ever waged in the
northeastern section of Pennsylvania
The slogan will be, labor legislation
In mind an effort will be made to
subordinate municipal measures, local
option and even party Legislation to
such proposed laws as may be advo-
Cdleu III the interest OIL WOFklnEmen,
'As the primary election is scheduled
for May 16, time when the operators
and miners may still be negotiating on
new agreement the mine workers
leaders believe that the opportunity for
making suitable nominations by both
parIIes will be a most propitious one.
They are not unmindful of the fact
that the hardest thing in the world is
to induce labor to offer, a united front
in political campaign. 1t Is the his
tory of this section that only about
every decade does labor united politi-
cally and sweep everything before it.
The time has again rolled around for
such an occurrence, say the leaders, and
this prediction will be demonstrated,
they say when the returns some in at
the primary election in May.
CatIin and Beidleman
"a report that the coal companies
are getting ready to fight Senator Cat
lin, of LuZerene, and Senator Beidle-
man. of Dauphin, is responsible in a
great degree for the decision of the
mine workers to enter politics in earn
est. These two Senators fought four
months during the last Legislature in
an effort to bring miners under the
terms of the compensation act and the
battle waged against them by coal COM
pany agents and Senator'S opened the
eyes of the miners lobby to the neces-
sity of having some one constantly on
attorney Roger Dever. of Wilkes
Barre, general counsel OF the United
Mine workers. is authority Tor tne
statement that the Catlin bill, which
brought the $50. 900 anthracite and btu
'minous miners under the compensa ,
ton law, did more for the hard coal
toiler than the combined NINE aGts
passed by the Legislature during the
past forty years. If it We're not for
this law every class of workers in the
State but men employed in and around
the mines would enjoy the benefits of
compensation.
John Mitchell Coming
"It is the purpose of the miners lead
ers to have President White and former
President John Mitchell tour the an
thracite counties in support of not only
Senators Catlin and Beidleman. but
candidates for the Legislature put in
the field by organized labor. No apollo
gies are to be offered for this unprece-
dented act. for it is felt that the rank
and file Of mine workers now realize
that a hostile Legislature, might not
only repeal the Catlin bill, but also
place upon the statue books acts detrl-
mental to the welfare of the miner and