Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-23
Labor Leader in Simple and Attractive
Manner Tells Narrative of His
Own Life.
Especial to The Argus.)

ministration, discussed The Farmer
as a Factor in the Upbuilding of a
City" He showed the Importance of
the rural settlements and declared
that no community could progress far
without the aid of the tiller of the
soil. Selections were given by the
Farmers chorus and the Moline Cres-
cent band.
THIS AFTERNOON.
The program for this afternoon fol-
lows:
Music-Band.
Song-Farmers' chorus.
| Piano Solo-Laura Lawson.
| Address, Farmers That l Have
Known"-Will McMeekin.
Music-Band.
Farming c. Bailey.
| Song-Farmers' chorus.
Paper, How Our Grandmothers
Kept HCuse''-Mrs Margaret Bailey.
Song-Farmers' chorus.
Address, 1.-The Farmer as a Factor
in Commercial Life"-John Weckel
Riding exhibition on high school
horses, with music by band-Mr and
Mrs. Fred Ward.
WHITE TALKS.
John P White, president of the
United Mine Workers of America, ad-
dressed his old friends and school,
mates at Coal Valley yesterday after
noon. AS he arose to speak, in his
own way that it is impossible to imi
tate, he said: "As president of the
Miners union, ] have been asked to
address many notable gatherings, but
l assure you that no gathering has
ever afforded me the pleasure that il
does to address so many old friends
here.
"All that | am, or ever expect to be
| attribute to the sweetest woman
in the world, my mother, although il
was not without persuasion of a hick
DRY stick that she made me what
am today. AS you early resident!
know, was born in poverty in this lit
tie town and entered the mines at the
| age of years for the princely sum o
SO cents a day. 1t was here that
first rebelled against the conditions
miners work under and here were lait
my first plans for the betterment o
my fellowmen. Some men are 1lesset
with the privilege of helping their fel
lowmen, and l thank God that he ha
l blessed me in this way. | shall fee
D that my life has been well spent if
: have done some little thing that Wi
have put this vast army of subterrs
mean toilers on better footing in thi
y life. 1t is no mean honor to be tn
r chosen head of this great army of mel
to know that many, many times hol
g their future destiny in my hands, ye
= through all the cares and worries
p can always remember my old friend
t from Coal Valley.
J AT the time of the great West vi
ginia strike, | was standing on a prom
e inent corner in New York, swelterin
n under load of care fighting off new,
papermen who were trying to get
e statement from me on what would d.
when some man pushed and elbowe
9 his way. through the crowd and SAT-
G John, you don't know me. You ju!
bet do; you're Max Lyons from Coz
?, Valley / replied. | never recall a
s. unhappy day spent in Coal Valley, an
right here, friends, let me tell you tn;
e, if one were born in Coal Valley, tn;
is sufficient certificate of good chara
r ter to enable him to go through lii
and to enable him to make a GOO
t, showing with his fellowman.
EARLY HISTORY.
E 81 have here a docun ent made
e. the miners of Coal Valley in 1860 TIL
II is really the first step toward the fo
" nation of the now great organizatiC
* of United Mine Workers. 1t is a d
mand that they be paid in curren,
e. and that they receive their money e
" cry two weeks. 1t shows that the
people have always been able to Z
's' mand what they wanted for their b.
by terment, but until recently have be
NJ unable to get many of the things tn
would be a real benefit to them
have been trained in a different dir,
ton than to consider greatness
m wealth real greatness. Real gre
IS, ness depends upon what one is al
er to do for the betterment of the con
6. lions of his fellowmen. Children c;
not do the work of men without la
paying the penalty in some way. [
der my reign as president of the or
IN nization, the work OF children
,ur mines has been practically eliminat
Higher standards of industries ma
higher standards of men, and this
FL. what we are all the time working (
be- HAS TITLE.
wi friends, do not look surprised. /
I'd not a doctor of medicine = q
leo title means just plain mule d
an. er, but l would not trade t