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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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came from the department and other friends. It was a long, long procession into which half the people of Scranton entered. They joined on behind. The streets were full. All business had been closed for that day. This was about two or three o'clock in the afternoon. All business was closed down. Everything was shut. Scranton was down in honor of John Mitchell - her great son.

I had never realized until then that he was a great man in the mining areas - not only a great United Mine Worker, but a great man with the whole community. His influence, his personality, his principles and his success had involved the whole community. He was beloved and greatly respected. As we walked up the streets, buildings had these mourning draperies and banners or shields saying, “We Mourn John Mitchell - A Great Man Has Gone To His Rest” or “Scranton Mourns Its Beloved Son.” It was that kind of thing. These were in the windows or on the buildings.

We marched to the church. The mayor and all the dignitaries of the town marched in. The body lay in state in the church, which is most unusual in the Roman church. The body was placed in the church and we had the vespers of the dead immediately while we were all there. Then the priest announced that the body would lay in state throughout





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