The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-27
G0VERNOR HEARS SAD
STORY FROM MINERS
Minnesota's Chief Executive
Comes to st. Louis County to
Investigate.
Listens to Simple But Effective
Story From Finnish Leader
of Miners.

Upon the invitation Of Sheriff Bates
Johnson came to Duluth Wednesday
afternoon to size up the strike situ-
alton. There has been a demand from
some interests for the calling out Of
the state militia, and the governor
thought 1t best to look over the ground
himself.
Unless the situation greatly changes
there will be no necessity for the use
of the military arm Of the state gov
ernment. The chief magistrate Of
Minnesota held conferences while in
Duluth with officials Of the steel trust
and committees Of the strikers. His
first audience, after visiting the VOL
vim building was with a committee Of
ore handlers, who impressed the gov
ernor most favora bly,.
Listens to A Miner.
His next interview was with John
Macki. an organizer for the Western
Federation Of Miners. Macki is a
simple-looking fellow about "a years
of age. At first appearance he does
not impress one with possessing any
qualifications as a leader among his
people. He begins his tory in most
simple. but straight forward manner.
Finally before one knows it his argu-
ment becomes ponderous, while his
voice remains calm and gentle, with
out the faintest display Of malice.
There wasn't a movement in the room,
which was filled with repo1 ters and
friends Of the governor, while the mod
est little miner told his simple and
pathetic story. Reporters forgot their
notes and listened with intent to what
the sincere little Finnish leader had
to say. Once or twice he was inter-
rupted by a question from the gov
ernor. His reply was given in a deli
berate and honest manner, which went
right to the: heart Of every person in
the room. This is what he said:
John Maki's Story.
my name is John MAXI I am "a
years old. I came from Finland with
my father in 1901, and am an Amer
lean citizen since I came Of age.
II went to school three days. I
learned to read and write when I was
out OF work. The hoboes taught me
to read when was idle year and a.
half. Sundays and other times read.
There are 100000 nen in this
country always looking for toll, not to
enjoy themselves, but for chance to
work.
Il am a socialist. I believe these
mines ought to belong, not to the COM
pany, but to the people Of the coun-
try. In the stores I believe in co-op-
Grafton.
About the red flag. When there is
picnic or doings the socialists carry
the red flag after the American flag
In the parade. It is red because the
socialists are made Of all workers.
They could not take black or white
or any other color because that would
be only part Of them. They took the
red, which is the color that runs
through them all.
1T is the symbol of the workers..
We are not anarchists. There are
three sorts Of anarchists. Some are
not organized. Some are the philoso-
phic anarchists. Some are organized
Tor violence. I do not know Of any
anarchists on the range. There are
not any organized.
The socialists are a political marty
In economics we belong to the West
ern Federation of Miners. All the
socialists on the range belong to that.
but not all the members of the feder-
alton are socialists. There are about