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Hellraisers Journal – Monday June 9, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for May 1902, Part III
Found Organizing Coal Miners of West Virginia, Date Set for Strike
From The Indianapolis Journal of May 24, 1902:
West Virginia Miners May Strike.
HUNTINGTON, W. Va.. May 23.-Fifty or more organizers of the United Mine Workers of America are in session here to-day. Secretary-treasurer [William B.] Wilson, of the national organization. Mother Jones and others are present. It is believed the session forebodes a strike in the West Virginia fields. Secretary Wilson refuses to be interviewed on the subject.
The most important question considered was that of a suspension of work by the miners of West Virginia, the discussion lasting until after midnight. When a vote was taken unanimous sentiment in favor of suspension was shown. The time for suspension was set for Saturday, June 7. Resolutions were adopted asking the operators for better treatment of miners and a higher scale of wages, no reference whatever being made for a recognition of the union. If the demands of the resolution are acceded to by the operators the strike will be called off.
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[Photograph and emphasis added.]
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SOURCES
Quote John Mitchell to Mother Jones re WV Fairmont Field, May 10, 1902
https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735057897435/viewer#page/82/mode/2up
The Indianapolis Journal
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-May 24, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/167669568/
IMAGE
Mother Jones, Ipl Ns p11, Jan 21, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/37784565/
See also:
Mother Jones News Round-Up for May 1902, Part I
Found Organizing Coal Miners of West Virginia and Advocating General Strike
Mother Jones News Round-Up for May 1902, Part II
Found Organizing Coal Miners of West Virginia, Describes Terrible Conditions
Tag: Great Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902
https://weneverforget.org/tag/great-anthracite-coal-strike-of-1902/
Tag: UMW West Virginia Organizing Campaign of 1900-1902
https://weneverforget.org/tag/umw-west-virginia-organizing-campaign-of-1900-1902/
Correspondence of Mother Jones for May 1902
The Correspondence of Mother Jones
-ed by Edward M. Steel
U of Pittsburgh Press, 1985
https://books.google.com/books?id=EZ2xAAAAIAAJ
https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735057897435
-pages 29-32 (80 of 415) for Correspondence of March 1902:
https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735057897435/viewer#page/80/mode/2up
American Catholic History Classroom, Exhibits
-Mother” Jones Collection, Letter Index, May 6, 1902
(to see original letter in handwriting of Mother Jones)
https://cuexhibits.wrlc.org/exhibits/show/mother-jones-collection/letter-index/may6
May 6, 1902
-from Mother Jones at Montgomary, West Virginia
to John Mitchell, President of United Mine Workers of America
(as written, periods added where necessary for clarity)
Montgomery West Virginia
5-6 1902My dear Comrade Mitchell
Pardon me for failling to carrie out your instructions requesting me to write every week. There has not been a single night since I saw you in Indianapolis that I have not had a meeting. After I walk 8 or 10 miles and talk for 2 or 3 hours which I always do I am a little nervous and have to rest up next day so as to be ready for my work at night. Then I know that some of the others write you all the time.
Well the cause is moving on. our people are responding like braves. I made a raid on Kellys Creek one morning. Captured it. They had a couple of Thugs watching me. I outwitted the pirates and got in took Clark Johnson [Secretary, UMW District 17] and Ben Davis [Executive Board Member from District 17]. These fellows were never in any move like this before and they hardly knew what was going to drop. They are both good honest boys their heart in the work. After three weeks of hard work I feel Kelley Creek is ours. There has been more money spent last Summer to get this place and Ceder Grove organized without any response. They are both in line now. After I capture three or four Strong holds I can move to the Norfolk & Western. This place will Soon be in line.
Dont pay any attention to such letters as [Lewis?] sends. Not that he does not mean alright but it is a trick of the Operators. Some of them are shaking and they don know how to play their game. poor inocent [Harry] Wright [Secretary, UMW District 8] from Indiana he is too tenderhearted for these Crooks. he got wore out. I told him to rest for a day.
This fellow Tinchure is no Gods Earth good and when they tell you that he could not get work it is false. I got the fellow work in three places he would not take it. everything belonging to him blackeleged. I do not trust him. any fellow would scheme as he did to saddle himself on to his fellow man for support is not Safe. he is an indiscreet talker has no knowledge of the movement. he went to Mount Hope Local the other night, called the men a narrow minded lot. You told him to go to Lens Creek he never went. [J. A.] Richards [President, UMW District 17] told him go to Paint Creek he never went—he went to fayette last week Called a meeting. The men Turned out he never showed up nor told any one else to go there. The men came after me and told me how they were treated. The sooner this fellow is got rid of the safer for all concerned. More so for the movement. he is an office Hunter. from the time he left the National Convention where he remained longer then he Should untill the State Convention he did not work a day but going round the Locals getting himself nominated for Vice President. he got defeated the men showing him that he had [more?] gaul than principle. I understand the statement was made that his father lost his job because he harbored the National organizers. that is not true. No organizer stoped at his fathers house. They did not have to because there were boarding Houses and Hotels around there. None of us ever stops at a miners House. We Steer Cleer for we know they will have themselves discharged the next day thinking the organization will [make?] them. These people in here must be made to know this [is?] their fight and that we have no nursing bottle for them. The miners are finding falt with a black legs son being carried when honest men have to suffer and fight. The Co bought his father to blackleg for a Suit of Clothes and the women went in the mines pulled him out. I wont trust him. I told Pres Richards not to let him come on this river. I wont work with anything I am suspicious of their honesty this is a cruzial hour for this State. Those fellow working for their rotten Selves at the expense of the Human race, will do things we cannot undo. I am of the candid opinion this fellow is not safe.
I have writen a longer letter than I thought I would when I began. We have no meeting to night. The Red Men are here. So that is why I have time to right.
I find this boy Davis an honest earnest worker quite Inteligent in time he will make a factor in the movement.
I hope the anthracite Trouble will be settled without a strike. I know you must be worn out. I often wish I could bear part of your heavy burden. I can only do my part here. When the Sun of Amancipation begins to shine for these poor wretches we can take our long looked for rest.
I have the R R boys with me here. They give me some good pointers. one sent me a note Saturday about how the operators were going to head me that night. Their trick did not work. The boys came to the meeting and we took 22 new members last Sunday. I had a mass meeting billed for Smothers Creek. The bosses went round all day telling men not to come out. It was the largest meeting ever held there. That just how much they feared him. I roasted the fellow before I closed.
Jack Roahen [Coal Company Manager] holds a meeting after mine. I go back and hold another tear his argument all to pices. I showe him for bringing out such pauper Idies. he has quit. he gave up the job in disgust. I sent a Com down to ask [?] who went to shoot P. W. to come to my meeting. he said he did not have time. I organized the men that Sunday at Green Wood. he sent a [racist term] to watch me I took care of the N. while Ben read the obligation. Take care of yourself.
Good bye
Mother
May 10, 1902
-to Mother Jones, from John Mitchell:
St. Charles Hotel, Scranton, Pa.,
May 10, 1902.Mother Mary Jones,
Montgomery, W. Va.
Dear Mother:Your favor dated May 6th is received at Scranton.
I have read very carefully what you say of the situation there, and the action of Organizer Tincher. Replying will say that I am writing him to-day, notifying him that his services will not be continued after the 15th of this month. When I met him in Indianapolis I was impressed with his apparent ability, and he was strongly recommended by Board Member Carroll and President Richards, and in the belief that he had been victimized because of his activity in the organization I thought he might make a good local organizer.
I am glad to note the progress that is being made, and I wish things were so that you could leave that field and give the boys a hand either in the Fairmont or on the Norfolk & Western. I think the Fairmont would be the place in which you could do the most good, as the coal companies up there have evidently scared our boys, and of course, with good reason, as they have brutally beaten some of them. I dislike to ask you always to take the dangerous fields, but I know that you are willing to go wherever you can perform the best service; however, remain where you are for the time being.
You have, no doubt, learned from the daily papers of the situation in the anthracite field. A temporary suspension has been ordered, to take effect Monday; and a convention of the three districts will be held at Hazleton on Wednesday, at which time I have every reason to believe that the strike will be made general and permanent. I am of the opinion that this will be the fiercest struggle in which we have yet engaged. It will be a fight to the end, and our organization will either achieve a great triumph or it will be completely annihilated. Personally I am not quite satisfied with the outlook, as the movement for a strike is strongly antagonized by the officers of the lower District, and of course the success of the strike depends entirely upon all working in harmony and unison.
I think, Mother, that it would be advisable for you not to exert yourself as much as you are doing, and you should take a rest now and then, so as to recuperate your strength. We cannot expect to do all the work ourselves, or see it done even in our lives, and I hope that you will not destroy your health and usefulness in the labor movement by over exertion.
With love and best wishes, I am,
Yours truly,
John Mitchell [Signature]
President U. M. W. of A.
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She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain -Ken Carson and the Choraliers