Divided Loyalties: The Public and Private Life of Labor Leader John Mitchell (SUNY series in American Labor History)

John Mitchell was a contradictory figure, representing the best and worst labor leadership had to offer at the turn of the century. Articulate, intelligent, and a skillful negotiator, Mitchell made effective use of the press and political opportunities as well as the muscle of his union. He was also manipulative, calculating, tremendously ambitious, and prone to place more trust in the business community than in his own rank and file.Phelan relates Mitchell's life to many issues currently being debated by labor historians, such as organized labor's search for respectability, its development of a large bureaucracy, its ambiguous relationship to the state, and its suppression of worker input. In addition, he shows how Mitchell's life illuminates broad economic and political developments in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.Craig Phelan is Assistant Professor of History at King's College. He is the author of William Green: Biography of a Labor Leader, also published by SUNY Press.

john Mitchell Was A Contradictory Figure, Representing The Best And Worst Labor Leadership Had To Offer At The Turn Of The Century. Articulate, Intelligent, And A Skillful Negotiator, Mitchell Made Effective Use Of The Press And Political Opportunities As Well As The Muscle Of His Union. He Was Also Manipulative, Calculating, Tremendously Ambitious, And Prone To Place More Trust In The Business Community Than In His Own Rank And File. Phelan Relates Mitchell's Life To Many Issues Currently Being Debated By Labor Historians, Such As Organized Labor's Search For Respectability, Its Development Of A Large Bureaucracy, Its Ambiguous Relationship To The State, And Its Suppression Of Worker Input. In Addition, He Shows How Mitchell's Life Illuminates Broad Economic And Political Developments In The Late Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries.

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mitchell Was A Contradictory Figure Representing The Best And Worst Of Labor Leadership At The Turn Of The Century. Phelan (history, King's College) Shows How Mitchell's Life Illuminates Broad Economic And Political Developments. He Relates Mitchell's Life To Issues Currently Debated By Labor Historians, Such As Labor's Search For Respectability, The Development Of A Large Bureaucracy, Its Ambiguous Relationship With The State, And The Suppression Of Worker Input. Annotation C. Book News, Inc., Portland, Or (booknews.com)