Fellow Workers in the mining industry:

The purpose of this item is to ask your help in getting all the facts about this great mining strike which the labor movement of the world is watching.

We want every reader of this paper to consider himself the special I.W.W. correspondent in his locality, to send us all the local news about the strike.

You do not need to write articles. Just tell the editor in your letter what is taking place where you are. Also, mail to us all clippings from local papers dealing with the strike in any way.

We want full and accurate news about the strike, as our papers must say what other papers leave unsaid. Our papers will have splendid reports on this strike with your help.

Again we urge you to send in all newspaper clippings dealing with the strike. Beside that, Write us all important strike news which the clippings do not tell. Watch out especially for the following things:

1. How many mines are shut down; how many are working.

2. Methods used to keep scabs away.

3. Tactics of the United Mine Workers' officials: tell us whether any camps, and how many men are working with union consent; whether U. M. W. of A. officials are talking in favor of separate agreements and settlements.

4. Watch the railroad workers. If any body of railroad men refuse to haul coal during the strike, tell us at once: that is big news, and will make magnificent propaganda. If any body of railroad workers even considers such action, let us know.

5. Tell us whether gunmen are used in your locality -- company guards, private detectives, cossacks or militia men.

Send in all other important strike news so that all readers of this paper will agree that the I.W.W. papers have told the truth and the whole truth in this great battle of the working class.

Originally appeared in Industrial Solidarity (April 8, 1922)

Originally posted at iww.org

I did not have the opportunity to attend school while I was a child, and as my folks were not wealthy people, I came to the twin cities (St. Paul and Minneapolis) to make my own living, where I have been working for the last eight years as a waitress, long hours and for small wages. An average of $10 to $12 per week, and even less, is what they pay to the girls in Minneapolis nowadays.

I often heard of the Work People’s College and I also met some girls who had been there before. They told me of its principles, and as I am somewhat lacking in English grammar I made up my mind at once to go there.

I went to work more eagerly than ever before to get enough money for that purpose, for it has been my greatest desire to go to school and learn something, for one can never know too much. Finally, I succeeded in my plans so I started as once for the Work People’s College and here I am.

I am taking up English grammar, Finnish grammar, arithmetic and economics, which I have found to be a very interesting study. I am more than satisfied that I selected this college to obtain more education. We still have students coming in from the lumber camps right along.

We also have dances here once a week, on Friday nights, from 8 to 11 o’clock, at which one of the student plays, that is, who ever happens to be a musician.

My advice to all fellow workers, men and women, is: If you are thinking of going to college, this is the best place to come to get more education. It does not matter what you want to study, the teaching methods are such that everyone has a chance to learn.

Our school term closes on the 15th of April for this season and reopens again next fall.

Fellow workers, if you go to the Work People’s College you will never regret it, I am sure.

Marie Huotari,
Student at The Work People’s College

Transcribed by Juan Conatz