Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-09-25
Greatest Demonstration Ever
Seen In The City Of Wheeling

kind ever seen in Wheeling took place
last Saturday, when ten thousand Goa
miners, with fifteen bands, paraded
the streets of this city. People were
simply surprised. What news they had
had-ef1the coal miners of this section
dished up to them by the lying capital
ist dailies, had given them an entirely
different idea of these, subteranean
works., and when theyssaw 10000 men
many of them accompanied by theii
wives, marching through the streets Of
Wheeling, they were forced to realize
that the organized mine workers O.
this section constituted force thai
had to be reckoned with.
The appearance of the marchers
too, was unique Unused to marching
there was no compact-column of tours
in fact, little pretense at marching
was observed; they simply durged
through the streets like giant wave
spectator put it: -1f they had been
spread out like the Elks, they'd have
been marching yet.
Officials Walk.
The officials walked with the rest
At the head of the column were Inter
national President John Up. White
Secretary treasurer William Green
District Vic President Lee Hall, Sub
District President, secretary and vice
president Charles Albasin, William Ap
pelgarth and William Roy, Organizer
Frank Ledvinka Dean of the Execu
tive Board Thomas Haggerty, Walter
B. Hilton, President Thompson of Sui
District 5, and others. 1t was the first
time, in any local parade, that the
officers, including the parade marshall
walkedw it'll the rest, and it was a
good object lesson, showing that all
workers are equal in their rights. An
other notable featurew as the absence
of civic dignitaries and even police
detail; it was just ten thousand work
ing men.
The order maintained was remark
ed on all sides. Not one intoxicated
man was observed in the parade.
At the Grounds.
The parade started from Bridgeport
shortly after 10 O'Clock. The men
were marshalled in the Bridgeport
: streets as they arrived from different
localities, and the town was soon
jammed full with men from every
where. 1t exceeded all expectations
even of the interchangeable William
Roy himself, who said it was the hap
piest day of his life. President Alba
sin, as chic marshal, land the only
one who ever walked) displayed such
generalship that he was called bis
mark" by many, and Secretary Appel
garth did his work so we'll that all the
tiny detils were dovetailed together
perfectly. Indeed, all the local officers
did themselves proud, and all paid
their tribute to the rank and file Of
the membership for turning out anC
making the affair such a great sue
cess. Max Schafer was resident man
ager of the whole affair, preliminarles
parade and picnic, and he VS. uniVer
sally .complimented for the remarkable
ability displayed Altogether, there
was glory enough to go round.
The paraders moved from Bridge
port. across the Island, where, al
Tenth and Main streets, they were
joined by the Fourth Division which
had come down over the Wheeling &
Lake Erie. The parade then proceed
ed down Main to Twenty-frst, to Mar
ket. to Tenth and thence to the Fail
Grounds, where the rest of the pro
gram was carried out.
The Speaking.
This consisted chiefly of speaking
The meeting was held before tht
grand stand, where a platform hat
been erected President Albasin pre-
sided as chairman, and first introduced
John Moore, president of the Ohit
miners. He was followed by Dean o
the Executive Board Tom Haggerty
who has charge Of the West Virginl'
situation, and William Green, interna
tional secretary and ais
state senator Of Ohio. ALI spoke elo
quently and feelingly, and were re
ceived with great applause by the vas
throngF The last speaker was William
Pogianni editor Of the official organ o
the Miners, who spoke in Italian.
The Chief Addres.
The chief address was that Of the II
ternational president. John P. White
Punctuated by applause, and listene
to with deep attention, it was mas
terful effort The address is given l
FULL as follows: