The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-13
TOO DRASTIC AN EDITORIAL.

We very much regret that our
friend, Mr.. Claude Atkinson Editor
should have permitted himself to des-
cend to the use Of such Incorporate
language as characterized his editor
ial headed "An Improbable Enter
prise" in the last issue of the Mesaba
Ore.
Vitriolic assertions, teening with
denuneiation, and the words Of VIM
dictiveness and hatred, do not carry
conviction to the minds Of fair and
impartial men. Truth does not need
to be fortified with a pyrotechnical
display of acrimonious statements.
The subject of Mr.. Atkinson amin
for the Western Federation of Min~
ers, AMI who has succeeded in per-
fecting the organization of a local
branch on the range. Evidently, this
action preciptate'1 the avalanche of
unseemly epithets contained in the
editorial referred TO-
We do not know the man Petriella
personally, but TO characterize any in-
dividual as being "a degraded ire
sponsibe whep' when his only wrong
is, that he succeeded in forming into
a union some 800 miners, more or
less, for their mutual interest and
protection, is anomalous to say the
least.
The apprehension tina: Petriella,
whom the editorial in question calls
pest breeding labor agtator," may
precipitate a strike, is a groundless
fear. Under the constitution and
Petriella has no more authority to
. order strike than has the editor of
the Mesaba Ore
The following is the editorial:
An Improbable Enterprise.
"Since the commencing Of ore ship
ping last spring there have been per-
sistent rumors Of strike Of the la
borers employed IN the Hibbing dis
trict, and the grum bling is still in the
air. Just what the grievance Is no
one seems to know, but there never
theless is evidence Of a feeling Of dis
content, which is kept primed by the
pest breeding labor agitator Petriella
and his following Of misguided men.
Petriella has been in Denver in con-
ference with the head officers of the
Western Federation of Miners, and it
is rumored that re intends to call a
general strike for the purpose Of ty-
Ing up all Of the iron ore producing
mines of the Mesaba range, and Incl
IDENTIFY close up all business enter
prises in the Same territory. There
are about five thousand laborers en-
ployed at the mines Immediately about
Hibbing, and it is learned that Petri-
elias local branch of the Federation
of Miners has a membership Of less
than three hundred. 1t remains to be
seen whether the vicious CRATER, Pc.
whip the big army of laborers into
line to cut off their only means O.
gaining a living for themselves ant
their families. That Is evidently wha
Petriella is figuring on, but it look
like an impossibility. Petrlella, will
be remembered, ran himself for village
president at the last annual meeting
and was given 1C6 votes. 1t is sal,
he is sore as a result, and being
said that he VII! adopt the strik
measure for the purpose CT gettinl
even. Petriella should have bee
promptly run out Of. town At the tim
he so venomously assailed the peopl
Of Hibbing. and The Ore might re
mark in passing, that it is not yet to
late to make amsnds for the ommis
sion. Petriella is purely an adventur
er, with an unsavory reputa ton, an
trouble. The Western Federation {
Miners is just now appearing in
most unfavorable light, and If the ha
told Is true it Is not to be Wondere
that such characters as Petriella al
= sent out as emissaries of the organi
cation. The quicker the attempt
p the Petriella gang to get a foothold O
the Mesaba Is cut off the better
will be for the whole range and Til
553 Ore believes it is a mistaken idea
NJ longer tolerate such a class of despe1
n ADDE'S. There never was a time in til
Is history of the Lake Superior iro
NH ranges when conditions were as pros
sg porous as now, for the business ma
ss@s mad for the wage Garner. and II is
Il Il the vital interest Of all persons to CT,
81 l3.3 cumvent every attempt to bring abo,
$ 4 shut down Of the mines, practical