Hellraisers Journal: Mingo County W.V. Holds First Mine Workers Convention; District is 100% Organized

Quote Mother Jones, Doomed, Wmsn WV, June 20, 1920, Speeches Steel, p213 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday July 4, 1920
Williamson, West Virginia – Mine Workers Hold First Mingo County Convention

From the United Mine Workers Journal of July 1, 1920:

Every coal miner in Mingo county, W. Va., is now a member of the United Mine Workers of America. Mingo county, up to this time, has been one of the worst hotbeds of anti-unionism in the entire state of West Virginia. It was only a few weeks ago that a gang of Baldwin-Felts gunmen undertook to clean out the union from that ﬁeld, and as a result there was a battle in the streets of Matewan, Mingo county, in which seven of the gunmen, Mayor Testerman and two miners were killed. This battle seemed to mark the end of the reign of the vicious gunmen system of terrorism in Mingo county, for soon afterward the remainder of the thugs disappeared from that county.

The international union and the District 17 organization sent a number of organizers into Mingo county at once and instituted an intensive campaign of organization. The miners were ready and anxious to join the union, but they had been prevented from exercising this right by the brutality of the Baldwin-Felts thugs in the employ of the coal companies. Once these outlaws were out of the way there was a great rush for membership in the union.

Mingo county is now 100 per cent organized. Approximately 6,000 new members have been taken in in that county since the Matewan battle.

The first convention of the United Mine Workers of America ever held in Mingo county was held at Williamson, the county seat, on June 23. The sessions were held in the court house, the purpose of the convention being to formulate a set of demands as to wages and working conditions to be presented to the operators. The above photograph was taken on the court house steps, and it shows the delegates, some of the officials of District 17, and also some of the international organizers who were active in effecting the organization.

Now that Mingo county is 100 per cent organized the union proposes to push ahead into other counties until West Virginia eventually becomes 100 per cent organized from one end to the other. The gunman and his reign of terror will soon live only in the memory of those who have suffered so much from this terrible system.

As far as can be learned, the officials of the State of West Virginia have done little or nothing toward clearing up the terrible conditions that prevail in the mining districts of that state-conditions that brought about the battle between hired gunmen and coal miners at Matewan. About all that has been done, according to reports, is that Town Marshal Hatﬁeld has been arrested on a charge of murder. The leader of the gunmen killed Mayor Testerman and tried to kill Hatﬁeld, but Hatﬁeld ﬁred first and killed the gunman. For that he was arrested.

Governor Cornwell, of West Virginia, has withstood all efforts to induce him to take a hand in the matter and bring about proper respect for the law. He has been asked to protect the miners and other citizens of the state in their constitutional rights. He has been asked to drive the hated thugs and gunmen out of the state so that the lives of men, women and children may be safe. But he has failed to act. The gunman, the thug and the black jack bully still swarm in West Virginia and do their bloody work unmolested by those whose duty it is to enforce and administer the laws.

Senator France, of Maryland, introduced a resolution in the United States Senate, following the Matewan affair, calling for a Senate investigation of conditions in the mining fields of West Virginia, and calling for protection of its citizens, even to the extent of sending Federal troops into that state for that purpose. Of course, the presence of Federal troops in West Virginia would hamper the brutality of the gunmen, and this prospect apparently did not suit Governor Cornwell, for he sent a scathing telegram to Senator France, denouncing him and his resolution in bitter words and informing him that West Virginia would resent any such action.

This situation came to the attention of the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor at Montreal, and a resolution prepared by John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America was introduced by Delegate James Riley, of West Virginia, and was adopted by a unanimous vote. The resolution was as follows:

Whereas, in the coal regions of West Virginia there are forty thousand mine workers who are yet arbitrarily denied the opportunity of becoming members of a Labor organization and are also prohibited from enjoying many of the privileges and prerogatives which accrue to citizenship, and

Whereas, the methods employed by the coal interests of that state to intimidate and coerce these citizens through the employment of hundreds of armed detectives and gunmen who inflict unspeakable outrages upon the mine workers, have become a matter of national shame, and

Whereas, the officers of the United Mine Workers of America have from time to time appealed to the Governor of West Virginia for a correction of these conditions and have even upon occasion brought before him in person the bruised, maimed and bleeding victims of the gunmen employed by the coal operators and have in every instance failed to secure redress or an enforcement of the laws of the State, and

Whereas, there has recently been a most serious armed conflict between agents of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency and the Municipal Officers of the town of Matewan, resulting in the loss of many lives, and

Whereas, at the present time great numbers of these armed agents, acting without authority of law, are being mobilized in the counties of Mingo and McDowell thereby threatening the further peace and security of the citizens of the State. and

Whereas, the officers of the American Federation of Labor and the United Mine Workers of America have asked for a Congressional investigation into these conditions and there has accordingly been introduced into the Senate of the United States a resolution providing for such investigation, which is opposed by the Governor of West Virginia who has so miserably failed to discharge his obligations as a public officers and properly protect the citizens of his Commonwealth in the exercise of their constitutional prerogatives, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the American Federation of Labor in convention assembled go on record as approving Senatorial or Congressional investigation into conditions obtaining in West Virginia, and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Secretary of this convention is instructed to immediately transmit to members of the Congress of the United States proper notification of this action with the request for co-operation in securing such investigation.

President Lewis pointed out the necessity of prompt action on the resolution, and moved to suspend the regular order of business and give consideration to the resolution at once. The motion was seconded and carried.

[In addressing the convention, President Lewis said:]

The resolution is entirely self-explanatory and the facts are self-evident, and I shall not occupy the time of the convention with any speech upon the question other than to say that the United Mine Workers stand behind everything which is said in the resolution and urge the co-operation of the American Federation of Labor in securing Congressional investigation. We are aware, of course, that Congress has, for the time being, adjourned, but we have in mind that an early reconvening of Congress is possible. Whether or not that is true, we desire the moral approval of the convention of the American Federation of Labor in order that the American people might know that labor is demanding an investigation and rectification of the wrongs which exist in the Commonwealth of West Virginia.

The President of the American Federation of Labor, in a letter to Senator Kenyon, of the Committee on Education, has called attention to those conditions which exist contrary to our law and has asked for an investigation. The officers of the United Mine Workers of America have from time to time sought to secure redress for the citizens of West Virginia who live under these intolerable conditions, but the laws of the State have been flagrantly violated and we have been unable to secure that action. We are asking the approval of the American Federation of Labor, with the idea of bringing to bear all possible pressure in order to bring about the relief desired.

On motion of Delegate Mahon, Street and Electric Railway Employee, the resolution was adopted.

The coal miners of West Virginia and of the entire country, as well as labor in general, has a right to expect action that will meet the situation. Undoubtedly, in any case where the authorities of a state refuse to afford protection to its citizens, the Federal government has authority to step in and afford such protection. The theory of government in this country is that the Federal government is superior even to those coal operators who hire bullies, toughs, thugs and murderers to terrorize their employes.

[Emphasis added.]