The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-02-09
WHITES HOME COMING
Fraternal Order Of Eagles Give Him
Formal Greeting.

John p. White, national president
of the United Mine Workers of
America, arrived home Friday evening
from Indianapolis and the national
convention at Columbus, where his
victory over T. l.. Lewis was an.
nounced. He came over the Rock Is.
land via. Ottumwa and was met by q
demonstration, q welcome home ex.
tended by friends, comrades, co-work.
ers, citizens and fra.ernal associates,
such as is given to but few men. The
meeting at the train was q spontan.
eous outburst of enthusiasm and re.
gard that amounted to an ovation
Mr.. White was somewhat embarrass.
ed by this show of sentiment in his
honor, but he was hurried away from
the noise and cheering and the music
of the band to lodge and club rooms,
where he was in the hands of his
brothers for the evening and had
little time for reflection.
The train was, met by great
crowd. The fraternal order of Gag.
les, of which Mr.. White Is an honor.
ed member, secured the Iowa Brigade
bnd and marched to the station, two
hundred and fifty strong. Also gath
cred at the Rock Island depot were
citizens, mine workers, friends and
acquaintances. The platform when
the train pulled in was filled to over
Hauino opA oil cnooa ohnuf tho sta
ton was occupied by those eager 20
get glimpse of the Mine Workers
able leader AS the train pulled into
the station the band played When
Johnny Comes Marching Home" and
the selection was not lost on Mr..
White, who caught the idea the mo-
ment he stepped on the platform
AS soon as Mr.. White was seen, the
cheering began and was continued
until the march toward the city was
started. The crowd did not give Mr.
White a chance to step upon the
station platform before hands were
laid upon him. The reception com.
mittee had difficulty in getting Mr.,
White through the great crowd to the
carriage, where Mrs. White was wait
ing to greet him. The band headed
the way to the city and with the
Eagles marched to their hall, where
his lodge members rendered recep'
ton to Mr.. White. Almost every
Eagle in the city was out for the oc.
casion and the hal! was crowded.
The reception at the Eagles hall
was as much. of an, ovation as the
demonstration at the railway station
upon Mr.. Whites arrival. James A.
Dewitt OBLIGATED In p the capacity OF
master of ceremonies. Mr. White
was taken to platform near him.
Mr.. Dewitt made few remarks con.
corning the occasion In general and
Mr.. White in particular and chen
called upon John C. Williams, who in
characteristic and forceful language
gave expressions to sentiments that
met the full approval of the gathered
company. The address was OF par
ticularly happy nature, just wha;
might be expected of Mr.. Williams,
and he is at his best upon an occa'
sion of this kind.
Something, too, was expected Of
Mr.. White and he was next called
for. He spoke with convincing force
and ease Of manner, but the home
coming, The reception and the ex-
pressions of welcome accorded in
this manner had visibly affected him.
He voiced mis- appreciation of hon.
ors and attentions extended and
spoke of his victory only as an ex-
preston of the will of the majority.
He said, had that expression been
against him in place of for him. he
would have been equally subserviant.
He acknowledged thai his heart was
with his people in their efforts, their
work and their struggle for bettered
and that his work in the
future, as it has been in the past,
would be for the betterment Of the
mine worker and the conditions I'M
der which he labors.