dealing with issues, as they arise, to put themselves in the other fellow's place; to view the question from all sides fairly and justly." "The reason why you succeed so, Mr. Secretary, is because you have seen all sides—you have seen life!" I remarked one day. The Secretary of Labor smiled his kindliest, and his cheeks glowed like the typical Scotchman's. "All workers," he said, "all workers see life!" One doubts that. Many workers are machines, wound up to go so many hours per day and (again one recalls Scripture) because there are those who, having eyes, see not! But the boy who was buried beneath the rock of the Arnot mines when he was nine years old, the man who led the search for William Hogan, the entombed miner, and the man who spent years of his life “robbing the pillars" of the Pennsylvania coal mines does know life, because his keen blue eyes were not given him only to pick his way through the dark tunnels under the earth. He can see September from the broad piazzas of his Blossburg farm and sing of the dusky shadows falling fast, CHAPTER IX SOMETHING ABOUT FARMING W. B. WILSON was always known to have good judgment. His reputation for giving a fair, unbiased. opinion began when he was in his teens. He never was moved by hate or prejudice; neither did he become enthusiastic and carried away with new ideas. Although deeply interested in the labor movement, his interest came from a love for his brother workers and their families. He was never a radical, but always a conservative. His judgment was appealed to, not only in connection with labor problems, but also in connection with business problems. His advice on "prospects" was eagerly sought. If W. B. Wilson thought that a certain stratum of coal would pay for working, the men and money could always be found ready for making the attempt. Even the rich mine owners liked to get Wilson's opinion before opening up a new vein. Even while persecuting him and trying to discipline him for his interest in the unions, they would seek his advice on other matters. Arnot, Wilson's home town, is a little village all owned by a corporation. It is about five miles from. Blossburg, a borough of about 2,700 inhabitants. About half way between Arnot and Blossburg there are outcroppings of coal. They are clearly visible today. I have seen them myself while tramping over these pastures. At one time some men got together with the idea of opening some mines here. They consulted various people, among them being W. B. Wilson. Every one of these men advised the opening of the mine except Wilson. His report was that the veins were so located that it would not pay to work them. However, the property was purchased and an attempt was made at mining. After a very short time it was found that W. B. Wilson's opinion had been correct, that the property was not worth developing. As more or less money had been spent, and as a farmhouse, outbuildings, etc., already existed on the property, the owner went to W. B. Wilson and said: “Wilson, you gave me good advice. You were the only man who gave me good advice. This property is not worth developing for coal, but here are one hundred acres. If you wish to work them as a farm, go ahead and we will share profits together." This was in the year 1896. To one like W. B. Wilson, who had been for so many years working underground in the mines, living only in a stereotyped shanty of the mining company, the idea of being free and living in the open, as God intended, greatly appealed. He immediately moved his family from Arnot, about three miles down the road toward Blossburg, to this farm. The farmhouse was a humble but comfortable dwelling, with large rooms and a small piazza. The farm was pretty hilly, with only a few acres suitable for tilling. There were also about forty acres that gave a fair crop of hay. Most of the land, however, was not only hilly but rocky and consisted of woodland. Still, it was near enough to Arnot for Wilson to work in the mines to eke out while carrying on the |