The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-08-17
LABOR ACITATOR
SENT OUT OF TOWN
HAD ARRANGED TO MAKE A SPEECH
HERE THURSDAY EVENING.
SAYS ORGANIZER is COMING
KoIou Claimed to be Soliciting Funds
OnIyr-Mass Meeting Adopted Rsso-
lutions Condeming Agitation.

AT the time the Mesaba strike
was at it's height the statement was
made that emissaries would be sent out
TO the Michigan ranges TO organize the
men on the old ranges and to assist in
the strike.
The threatened invasion has com
menced and Crystal Fails had its first
taste OF IL last Thursday when John
Kolou of Virginia. Mimi. dropped into
town and planned TO held meeting in
the Finn hall in Maple Grove.
The news got noised around and a
committee Of the business men i'm
mediately got busy aud gathered in
formation as to the plars OF the man
and found that he was advertised 30
deliver a speech in the Finn hall about
90 O'Clock.
About AS twenty OF the business
men went 10 the hall and Mr. Kolou
was called out. He was very civil and
came right out 10 met the committee.
Mayor Webb was spokesman and told
Mr.. Kolou the feeling Of the com
munity and asked him not TO attempt
TO talk. Mr.. Kolou consented and ask
ed the few persons there to turn off the
lights and go away. He accompanied
tho committee 10 the Lockwood and
visited with some Of the committee
while big mass meeting was being
called at the fire hall
About 100 businessmen and other
citizens assembled at the fire ball and
talked the question of the hour over
The meeting organized by electing r.
Il. Webb chairman and Thos. Conlin
secretary. A set of resolutions was
then drafted by the meeting which
read AS follows
WHEREAS II has been represented
TO the people of this city that an
agitator has been sent into our midst
by the Western Federation of miners
and other socialists to preach anarchy
to the laboring men of this community.
and WHEREAS the mining companies
Of this district have without solicitation
increased the wages Of the men EN-
ployed at their mines on several
different occasions within the last two
years. and
WHEREAS the laboring men are
satisfied with their present wage and
are happy and contented people.
therefore
BE IL Resolved that IL Is the express
sion or the people OF this city that tine
presence OF the said agitator Is detri
mental TO the interests OF the business
men and laborers Of this district, and
that he be requested to leave this city
on the irst train out as the people of
this district will not tolerate anarchy
or allow agitators 10 stir up strife
among our people.
When they were ready for adoption
Mr.. Kolou was invited to step over
from the Lockwood Honse. which in.
vitation he accepted The resolutions
were read to the meeting and when the
matter Yas open for discussion Mr.
Kolou was called upon for some re-
marks He talked about fifteen minutes
in very entertaining way explaining
the purpose of his visit to this com
munity.
He stated tnat he was sent ont by
the Western Federation OF Miners 10 |
collect funds for the support of the
strikers on the Minnesota ranges and
that he had no intention OF organizing
the miners here. but that an organizer
might come In later on.
He carried credentials from the Fed
GRAFTON which he asked 10 have read
and his request was complied with.
The credentials stated that Kolou was
appointed solicitor 10 gather funds
during the month of August and they
were signed by Acting President Ma
honey.
Mr.. Kolou stated that he made
mistake when he came 10 Crystal Falls
In not going Immediately 10 the mayor |
OF the city and making known his
business and that II he had the thing
10 do over again he would follow out
that plan.
He stated that he believes that the
miners in this district are better with
out any agitation as from what he had
learned In his days stay here our
workmen are making more than they
are ON the Mesaba where the strike Is.
He further stated that II is not the
intention Of the Western Federation
10 make industrial war against the In
dependent mine owners. The Steel
Corporation alone is the object OF their J