The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1913-09-26
Miners Day
Celebrated
at Wheeliing

Saturday. September 20, was known
as Miners Day" in the city of Wheel
in9. and will 60 down in history as
the red letter day for unioniSm IN
that section of the country. Wheel
ing district has long been known as
the home of American unionism, but
even it was surprised at the demon
Stration made by the miners of Ohio
and West Virginia on last Saturday.
From early morning the incoming
trains poured armies OF miners into
the city. The streets were protuSeIy
hung with flags and bunting, and
bands were marching and counter
marching all over the city. One train
brought delegation of over three
thousand miners. The parade was
the largest labor demonstration in the
history of that section of the country.
The parade. headed by President
White and other officials OF the na-
tional organization, marched through
the principal streets. There were
many women who came with their
husbands or brothers to watch this
monster outpourinG Of the men whose
labor builds the wealth Of the nation
There were eighteen bands in the pa
rale. and ii took just thirty-eight
minutes for it to pass given point,
although the men l-4G7ched twenty az
breast and walked rapidly. The
Wheeling press estimated that fifteen
thousand miners were in the parade.
A great variety OF amuscmentS
we're provided at the fair grounds,
such rs foot ball. motorcycle racing
base ball. etc. The greatest interest,"
however. centered about the speeches
of the national officials. The princi-
pal speech of the day was delivered
by the able president of the national
organization Of the United Mine
Workers Of America, John ?. White.
William Green, national secretary,
Thomas HaeGerty. national board
member and several other well known
speakers made addresses. President
White said that. il was one Of the
most inspiring demonstrations he had
ever witnessed. He dwelt upon the
rapid advancement made in member
ship during the last eighteen months,
and predicted that al equal rapid
advance would be made in the imme-
diate future. 1t was plain to be seen
that President White was elated over
the great work that was being car
ried on. He emphasized the fact
that the real work Of the future must
be in the unorIanized fields.
The significant thing in any move
ment is the feeling and spirit Of the
rank and file. II is there that all adj
vancement has its inception. 1t IS
from below that progress must come.
1t was just thiS-the spirit Of the MI
ners who journeyed to Wheeling on
Miners Day-that carried most ot
hope for the future of the organlZa-
ton. and for that matter. OF all organ
ized labor. The note OF peSSmlSm
vas totally lacking On all sides
could be seen the militant spirit ot
progress. The miners felt that the
future was full of promise for them.
II was the same spirit that found
voice in the last national convention
Of the l. NJ. W, of A. and which
wrote into the preamble Of the ma
tional constitution that the miner is
entitled to the full social product Of
his labor. The miner no longer
rests content with a fair day :
wage He now knows that 50 long
rs the private ownership Of the mines
continues he must work for d wage.
hut he also knows that WAGES are
never fair" TO the miner. Today
they are forming million dollar a>so-
Citations to. stop him. He must per
feet his industrial organization ioT de-
ienSive action against the ruthless
war of the operators. But above all
! he must ever keep in view the ulti-