The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-11-10
JOHN 7. WHITE At. HONE
Gives the Herald an Interview on
his Visit in the East.

PHEASANT time in pennsylvania meet
Ing old friends and acquaintance.
While there, he addressed a meeting
Of the miners at Lansford, IN the an
thracite region, on Mitchell Day, and
attended the Special Convention OF
the Pennsylvania State Federation Of
Labor, which convened at Greens
burg TO deal with the cause OF the
striking miners in the Northumberland
coal fields, or what is known as the
Irwin District
President White addressed the con.
Vention as one OF the fraternal dele
gates and spoke to large meeting
OF the striking miners at Latrobe on
Tuesday evening, Nov l. Thous-
ands formed in parade and march
ed for miles to the city of Latrobe,
where President White was the chief
orator OF the occasion.
The strike has been in effect, ac.
cording to Mr.. Whites statement,
since last March. The miners and
their families have been subjected to
the most brutal treatment; hundreds
have been imprisoned and driven
from their homes--or rather their
hovels-and IL or IA have been muir
dered, including three women. The
mounted constabulary OF Pennsylva-
MIA, famed for their brutality, togeth.
err with special deputies known as
thugs" prey upon defenseless men,
women and children, and the liber-
ties OF the people are taken away from
them by these cossacks of corporate
power. -... g..
The miners surrounding the town
of Greensburg, which is the county
seat of Westmoreland county, and
nearly 600 delegates that were in at
tendance at the State Federation of
Labor, paraded the town headed by
brass band. Thousands were in
line and great demonstration in be-
half OF the suffering miners and their
families took place. H
Tho convention unanimously adopt.
ed a report pleding the support OF or
ganiZed labor throughout the state of
Pennsylvania, and the fraternal dele
gates from various districts also
pledged their moral and financial sup
port to the strikers in this district.
Mr. White states that the miners are
living in tents on the mountain
slopes. The national organization is
furnishing financial assistance to
some extent and the determination OF
the strikers and their wives to win
this struggle certainly appeals to ev-
cry lover of fair play. Not one overt
act has been committed on the part
OF any OF the miners in this long
ldrawn-out struggle. They are strik-
ing for recognition of the union and
the right to belong to labor organ
fzation, together with improved CON
ditions OF employment such as exist
in the western portion of District
No. 5.
| The coal companies in this district,
according to Mr.. Whites statement,
have dominated the situation for
many years and have successfully
kept the organization out of this
field. Nineteen deputies are in Jail
In Greensburg convicted Ior man
slaughter for the killing of a striker,
On June %, the scales in the out
stretched hand of the Goddess of
Justice that adorns the Court House,
fell to the street, and in view of the
fact that the day was very calm, it
is considered very mysterious.
Pennsylvania is the greatest indus
trial center, probably, in the world.
Yet these people are subjected to tho
worst form of oppression, but they
will receive the entire support OF or
ganized labor throughout the COM
monwealth OF Pennsylvania, and the
Mine Workers of the country in gen.
eral.
The strikes throughout the country
have practically all been settled, with
the exception of q few places, and
the expectation of every one is that
the International Union will pay at
tention TO this strike that is of such
vast importance to the Mine Work
ers of the country. Great credit is
due President Feehan OF the Pitts
burg District, and his colleagues and
co-workeTs for the splendid conduct
of this strike. Few men could have
accomplished what he has done in
the face OF such odds, and with such
meager means at his command. He
Is certainly q stalwart leader and is
entitled to the entire support of or
ganized labor in this gigantic "strug.
gle, for the winning of this strike
will be OF vast importance not only
to the miners OF Pennsylvania, but
to the miners of other states as we'll
Possibly no strike OF a local charac.
ter in recent years has attracted
such attention as has this one. Prom
inent club women, ministers of the
gospel and other helpful agencies are
assisting the miners to administer to
their sufferings in every way that
they can; yet these heartless corpor.
ations prey upon these defenseless
people with their dogs OF war and
brutality in the hope that they win
eventually yield and return to the
mines and accept the conditions die.
tated by their employers. But Presi
dent White is strongly impressed
with the ultimate success of the
strikers cause, and will do every.
thing in his power to place the mat
l . = = .