Douglas Island news., 1907-09-25
An Object Lesson.

Perhaps never before in the history of the country has an industrial con- flict of equal magnitude been fought to a finish so rapidly and so decisively as that just concluded in the iron fields of northern Minnesota, and known as the Mesaba Strike.
 It is also true that no organization considering itself fully equipped for war when it hoisted the battle flag has been so thoroughly, quickly and de- cisiveIy beaten as the Western Fedora tion of Miners in this instance; in fact, leaders in the local branches of the Federation on the Minnesota ranges say that this it's latest "Waterloo" will probably result in its disruption, at least so far as its potentiality as la bor organization is concerned.
 This organization, famed in Colorado, Montana and Idaho for aggressiveness, and dreaded on account of its carnival of crime which it inaugurated in two of these States was certainly given a warm reception, and made short work of, by the good citizens of Minnesota, and as the principal weapons relied on by the Alaska s. A. H. l. B. are educa- tion and publicity, we shall give here with brief history of this strike, and it certainly should prove interesting reading for the people of this section at the present time, and more especially should this afford us valuable lesson from the fact that it was the attitude taken by the common people of that region which decided the conflict. The people of the northern part of Minne- sota were determined that the western organization of unsavory reputation should not gain a foothold there to re- peat the program which created reign of terror in Colorado and Idaho, and although the price paid in cash has been in the neighborhood of four mil lions of dollars, still all the interests involved, with the exception of the min CTS, agree that the price paid for the extinction of the Western Federation - has not been too great, and feel entirely satisfied, and it most certainly fur nishes a notable example of the abuse of unionism for selfish ends, and the victimizing of the workers to further the plans of ambition.
 But perhaps the most important of all the lessons to be learned by the fol- lowing is that so forcibly brought home to the minds of the- honest merchant and the law-abiding citizen of every class and degree, that mob violence and uncalled for strikes can be avoided and the prosperity of business commu mites saved, by a determined stand like that taken by the store keepers oi the Mesaba range.
 American Industries of recent date tells the whole story thus:
 "Seven years ago TeofiIo Petriells came from Italy to America-a man ot Anarchistic ndencies-ethically care less. he cast his lot wherever the pick ing promised to be the richest. Fairly we'll educated, but not fond of work which called for an undue amount o muscular exertion, after an inefectua attempt at organizing sOcialisti' party in New Jersey, he conducted socialist paper at Newark and failed within year. His next pasture was + Cleveland, where he ran publication which merciIessly scored the unions Failing here also, he turned front, join ed the labor hosts, and denounced cap ital. But the workers and capitalist! of Ohio would have none of him, anc so he came West. At Houghton, Mich. he joined the Western Federation, anc drifted to Colorado at the time the bat tle was thickest. There he won the ap ppoyal of the Federation chiefs because of his ability as an organizer. While in Colorado. an humble lieutenant o. Mover and others, his ambition was working and he set his heart on becom ing president of the Federation. Ther and there the Minnesota strike was conceived. Things were looking very