The sun., 1919-09-10
SONS BLOOD FAILS
TO SAVE MITCHELL
Labor Leader Dies During
Sudden Relapse Despite
TRANSMISSION.
BEGAN CAREER IN MINES
Champion of Workers Refused
Nomination of G.. 0. P. for
Vice-President.


his sons failed yesterday to save the life
Of John Mitchell Tho labor leader who
once refused the nomination for Vice
President of the United States suffered
sudden relapse, and died at a time
when most Of his friends thought him
to be on the high road to recovery.
Tho TRANSMISSION was made late Mon
day night from the left arm Of Robert
Mitchell. who is 20 years old, and who
gave thirty-nve cubic centimeters of
blood In this effort to rally his fast fall
ing parent. James, another son, who Is
"a years old. begged that he might sup
ply the life fluid, when the consulting
physicians announced that 1t must be
done. but they accepted the offer OF
Robert, because he was the younger of
the two. The physicians had planned a
second TRANSMISSION, but Mr.. Mitchelrs
condition yesterday would not permit.
The end came at the Post Graduate
Hospital at 500 East Twentieth street,
where he was operated upon week
ago for gallstones, and whittier he had
been rushed when taken suddenly Ill at
his tasks as a member of the Federal
Milk Commission. In compliance with
a request made by him before he en-
tered the hospital. he will be buried at
Scranton, Pa, where he began work at
the age Of thirteen as q boy in tho
mines.
Mr.. Mitohell's wife, his daughter.
Margaret Katherine Mitchell, and
his sons, who had visited him daily
since the operation, were at his bedside.
A few minutes after he had passed away
Gov. Alfred e. Smith, who had been
his friend for many years, called at T. Q
Eel 90 "a Of ty,nnirtno n
to his condition, and was greatly
shocked to learn the news.
The report was also blow to his
many friends IN this city who learned
of it last night, for all the reports from
his physicians had been very encourag-
ing.
DR.. John f. Erdmann, who was in
charge of the case, had been very opti-
mistic over his patient until yesterday.
His, condition during the first few days
following the operation had shown such
rapid Improvement that he ha6 laid
plans for going to his home at Mount
Vernon. 1t was sudden attack OF
pneumonia that caused the physicians
to abandon hope. The labor isader
lapsed into inconsistencies early yes
terday afternoon and died at 4:4s p. NJ.
officials OF the American Federation
of Labor, Of which Mr.. Mitchell was
second vice-president for fourteen years,
were Immediately notified. kilograms
were also sent to officers of the United
Mine Workers of America, of which
organization he was formerly the head,
and to the New York State Food Com
mission, Federal Food Board, State
Council of Farms and Markets and Fed
eral Milk Commission for the Eastern
States, in ell Of which he was a men,
Der.
Mrs. Mitchell and their three sons,
James, Richard and Robert, said last
night that they would issue an an
nouncement of the funeral arrange
ments some time to-day.
Always Firm I'm His Opinions.
There was never labor leader with
more courage. greater tenacity nor
deeper sincerity than John Mitchell. He
was as sturdily honest as he was coura-
geous. When he differed with men he
left nothing to the Imagination. 1t made
no difference with Mitchell who his OPP
ponent was 1t might be a capitalist.
as generally It was, or II might have
been another labor leader. Where
Mitchells convictions were at stake
Mitchell stood firm. II his friends raj
lied to him, we'll and good. II they
didn't, he let It be known where he stood
and why, and It was up to the public to
choose.
He was born OF Irish parentage in
Bra!dwood, Ill. February 4, 1869. His
schoolroom education was a matter OF a
day now and then until he was 10 years
old, when It ceased altogether. Yet
when Mr. Mitchell became national pres
ident of the United Mine Workers OF
America In 1899 he had mastered and. II
seemed TO those who privately inter
viewed him, had wellnigh memorfzed
the works of Bentham, MIL. Walter
Bagehot, Spencer, Ruskin and Carlyle
and like writerA
His mothers death, in 1871, was fol
lowed by that Of his father. miner and
farmer four years later. Until 1873 the
lad lived with his step-mother and al
that mature age started out on the
winding and sometimes tortuous road
that led him to eminences from which
he declined the proffered GovernorshiI
of Illinois and the Vice-Presidency OF
the United States.
In 1882 he began working in the
mines. He carried water and tools and
worked on the diggings near Braidwood
in all the aIacities entrusted to Juven-
lies. But even then he became active
in the cause of the miners not only be-
coming an active member of the union
but installing himself as we'll as the
spokesman for the boys. He moved to
the Braceville, Ill, mines, and in 1885,
Joined the knights OF Labor.
For five years he travelled around the
country gaining a liberal education ir
unionism and meanwhile Identifying
himself as a future power in organiza-
lions of mine workers In that year ht
settled in Spring Valley and was elected