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Hellraisers Journal, Friday October 18, 1918
Mother Jones News for September 1918
-Mother Found in West Virginia’s Fairmont Coal Field
From the Fairmont West Virginian of September 2, 1918:
On September 2nd Mother Jones spoke to 10,000 West Virginia miners and their families of the Fairmont Coal Field who gathered at Traction Park for a massive Labor Day Celebration.
DAY DEDICATED TO LABOR OBSERVED
BY MINE WORKERS
—–
Thousands of Them Attending
Six Big Picnics.
—–TRACTION PARK CROWDED
—–
Many Organized Miners Walked
There From Monongah.
—–
More than fifteen thousand organized miners of the Fairmont coal district are today celebrating Labor Day at six picnics held in this section of the state. Celebrations are being held at the following points in the Fairmont region: Traction Park, Enterprise, Jamison Mine, Flemington, Reynoldsville and Clarksburg.
Practically all of the United Mine Workers locals in this region are participating in the big celebration at Traction Park, which is expected to be the biggest Labor Day celebration in the state. It is estimated that fully ten thousand miners will attend the celebration at Traction Park today. In addition to the miners there will be many families, because practically all of the miners have made arrangements to attend the celebration with their families, taking with them filled baskets prepared to spend the entire day.
Miners from the Dakota, Rivesville, Robinson and Barnesville shaft mine assembled this morning at 7:30 o’clock, marching all the way from Rivesville to Fairmont, arriving here about 9:30 [a.m.] As they marched up Main street, accompanied by the Ira L. Smith drum corps, each miner carried an American flag, some carrying United Mine Workers flags. The body departed for Traction Park on special cars leaving for Traction Park at 10 o’clock. Reports from Dakota are to the effect that there will be 800 members of that local attend the Traction Park celebration, more than 300, from the Shaft mine, and a proportionate number from the other miners in that section. The mines along the Minnington line and between here and Clarksburg will be represented as well, each local attending in a body and making an effort to have a fine showing. The Monongah local, of about 800 members, the Everson local and other organizations only a short distance from the park will have a full attendance.
The Monongahela Valley Traction Company, having the burden of handling the large crowds, began early this morning to run extra cars between Fairmont and Haywood Junction. At 8 o’clock five more large interurban cars, and at 11 o’clock several other extra cars. The company will continue this afternoon to operate extra cars in an effort to handle the thousands going to the park. The special cars this morning were not only crowded leaving Fairmont, but were crowded coming from Clarksburg to Traction Park as well.
The program began this morning about 11 o’clock when a monster parade, miles in length, formed at Monongah and marched to Traction Park. All of the persons in the parade were on foot with the exception of Mother Jones , who rode in front in an automobile.
Upon the arrival at Traction Park about noon, an address was given by Mother Jones. William Rogers, president of the West Virginia Federation of Labor, presided, and made the opening address. Following the morning session lunch was spread under the shade trees about the park.
This afternoon additional speaking will be heard, John W. Slayton, a Pennsylvania labor leader, being among those scheduled to make addresses.
Another feature of the afternoon’s program will be the baseball game between the Consolidation Coal Company team and the Lumberport team.
Dancing will be held at the Coliseum building at Monongah both afternoon and night.
Throughout the day there will be band concerts at the park, as practically every musical organization in and about Fairmont has been engaged for the occasion. The Greater Fairmont band, the Polish band of Monongah and the Smith drum corps are all at the park and will furnish music,.
Other Celebrations.
Another big celebration will be held at Reynoldsville, where the miners of that section will enjoy an all day picnic. Joe Angelo, of Bridgeport, O., an international organizer, who has been in this section of the state for the past several weeks, will be the principal speaker at this meeting.
The Enterprise local will hold a celebration of its own, having an all day picnic and a program of good speaking.
Sam Ballentyne, an international organizer from Iowa, who has become very well known in the Fairmont field because of his active work among the miners, will go to Fleming to make the principal address at the Labor Day celebration there. Three thousand miners are expected to attend.
P. F. Gatens, another organizer, who is an international board member, will go to Clarksburg, where he will address a meeting at Norwood park.
C. F. Keeney, president of the Seventeenth district United Mine Workers, is at Charleston today, where the biggest Labor Day celebration in the history of the southern part of the state is being held.
From the Fairmont West Virginian of September 3, 1918:
Ten Thousand People at
Traction Park
—–Labor day celebrations throughout the Fairmont district proved to be a pronounced success, thousands of organized miners turning from their daily labor to enjoy the one labor holiday of the year.
At Traction park one of the largest labor day celebrations ever held in the state and certainly a record event in the history of the Fairmont coal field, was enjoyed. Fully ten thousand people visited the popular park at some time during the day.
The principal address was delivered by Mother Jones who was highly applauded. The opening address made by William Rodgers, president of the State Federation of Labor, as well as the remarks of other speakers were applauded.
[Photograph added.]
From The Wheeling Intelligencer of September 3, 1918:
MOTHER JONES SPEAKS.
—–FAIRMONT. W. Va., Sept. 2.-A monster Labor Day celebrations was held by the United Mine Workers of America at Traction park today. Mother Jones was the principal speaker at both the morning and afternoon sessions. Thousands of miners and their families attended the gatherings. During the afternoon a big ball game between the Consolidation team and the Lumberport team took place, with the Consolidation winning 8 to 0.
From the United Mine Workers Journal of September 15, 1918:
ORGANIZATION MEETINGS
Mother Jones and Organizers David Fowler and Joe Angelo have been holding a number of organization meetings in the Fairmont, W. Va., field.
———-
U. M. W. of A. Membership Reaches 500,000!
United Mine Workers of America Now
Has More Than 500,000 MembersFor the first time in its history the United Mine Workers has attained a membership of more than half a million. This gigantic figure was reached in July, and it was exceeded in August. Reports for July showed in round numbers, 422,000 paid-up members of the organization. In August there were 428,781 paid-up members. This is the high-water mark in the history of the union.
In addition there are approximately 60,000 members of the United Mine Workers in the military service of the United States. These men have been exonerated from the payment of dues while they are in the service, although their membership is maintained under a decision of the international executive board.
There are also approximately 30,000 members of the organization who are exempted temporarily from the payment of dues by reason of disability or other local causes.
Add together the 428,781 members who paid their dues in the month of August, the 60,000 who are in the service of their country and the 30,000 who are temporarily exonerated from the payment of dues, and it makes the total membership of the union in round numbers 518,000.
Nowhere else in the entire world is there an other labor organization with such a vast membership as this. The United Mine Workers stands forth as the largest labor organization, representing a single craft, that the world has ever seen.
This splendid achievement is the result of the careful, aggressive, able and unceasing efforts of the officials and leaders of the workers in the mining industry, who have devoted their efforts, their energies, and their abilities to the great work of welding the workers into a compact and patriotic body. They have over come every opposition and surmounted every obstacle with which the progress of the United Mine Workers has been obstructed. It has been a long, hard and wearing task, but throughout its eventful career the United Mine Workers has been blessed with leadership of the right kind.
Not only has the union grown to these gratifying proportions, but it has won for itself the respect and confidence of the American public through its sensible policies. Without this confidence and without a healthy and favorable public sentiment the union never could have made this progress.
The growth of the organization has not been that of a mushroom. It has been steady but rapid and it is a growth that is permanent. Seventy-six new locals were chartered by the international headquarters in the month of August, just passed. These new locals were located in many different districts, showing that miners everywhere are flocking to the standard of the union. West Virginia came through with more new locals than any other state, due to the very successful campaign of organization that has been in progress in that state.
There are approximately 700,000 coal mine workers in the United States, and more than 500,000 of them are members of the United Mine Workers of America. This leaves 200,000 yet to be brought under the banner of the organized labor movement. The officials of the union are determined to carry on the great work with unabated energy until every mine worker in America is enrolled as a member of the union. With the active and hearty cooperation of the half million present members this tremendous task can be accomplished in due course of time.
Now that the United Mine Workers of America has passed the half million mark in membership, each individual member would be fully justified if he were to take off his hat, throw it in the air, jump seven feet high and let out a war whoop of joy that could be heard from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
[Emphasis added.]
From the Fairmont West Virginian of September 17, 1918:
U. M. W. OFFICIALS WILL EXPLAIN
NEW CONTRACT
—–
Have Started on a Tour of Visits
to Every Local in Region.
—–Just as soon as possible the United Mine Workers in this field will visit every local and explain the provisions of the new contract which went into effect yesterday. This is no small job, as there are 86 locals.
The United Mine Workers lost no time in beginning the work after the ratification of the contract on Saturday. Sunday four meetings were held. Mother Jones and Sam Ballentyne went to Marathon, near Philippi. They were accompanied by Francis Dram, president of the Sixteenth district. H. T. Wilson and Fred Mooney were at Mt. Clair. Pat Gatens and William Petrey were at Adamston. William Petrey is vice president of the Seventeenth district. Joe Angelo and B. A. Scott were at Hepzibah.
Dave Fowler and Ira Matte were at Rosemont yesterday, where a meeting of the local was held. Today they are at Wendel. Joe Angelo and H. E. Peters were at Monongah yesterday explaining the contract.
P. F. Gatens and Isaac Scott were at Murray, near Clarksburg, holding meetings today. William Petrey and Joe Angelo were at Pt. Cairn. This morning James Dianna and H. E. Peters visited the local at Watson.
Yesterday evening P. F. Gatens and Isaac Scott were at Monon holding meetings.
Until the workers get time to visit each mine and explain the provisions of the contract, miners are urged to keep the mines in operation. The following letter has been sent out to every local in the region:
Fairmont, W. Va., Sept. 16, 1918.
To the officers and members of the United Mine Workers of America throughout the Fairmont, Clarksburg and Morgantown coal fields, greeting:
This is to notify all mine workers at all mines that we ask you to keep the mines in operation, and give the officer time to get to the various local unions to explain the provisions of your contract.
The contract provides ways and means of adjusting all disputes. Therefore, you should continue to work producing coal to meet the government’s needs, and report all grievances to the United Mine Workers of America, office 404 Deveny building, Fairmont, W. Va.
All members of the United Mine Workers of America govern themselves accordingly.
Fraternally,
C. F.KEENEY, President,
FRED MOONEY, Secretary,
District No. 17, U. M. W. of A.———-
Note: emphasis to names added to articles.
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SOURCES
Quote Mother Jones, Fear Not Organize,
Rockford (IL) Morning Star -p3, Mar 19, 1918
https://www.genealogybank.com/
The West Virginian
(Fairmont, West Virginia)
-Sept 2, 1918
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072054/1918-09-02/ed-1/seq-1/
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072054/1918-09-02/ed-1/seq-8/
-Sept 3, 1918
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072054/1918-09-03/ed-1/seq-1/
-Sept 17, 1918
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072054/1918-09-17/ed-1/seq-1/
The Wheeling Intelligencer
(Wheeling, West Virginia)
-Sept 3, 1918
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86092536/1918-09-03/ed-1/seq-1/
The United Mine Workers Journal, Volume 29
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-May 9 to Dec 15, 1918
Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America,
https://books.google.com/books?id=iwxOAAAAYAAJ
UMWJ of September 15, 1918
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iwxOAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PT504
Re: Organizing Fairmont Field, WV
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iwxOAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PT517
Re: 500,000 Members
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iwxOAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PT507
IMAGE
Mother Jones, Ft Wy Jr Gz p3, Dec 17, 1917
https://www.newspapers.com/image/29086040/
See also:
West Virginia Baseball: A History, 1865-2000
-by E. Akin
McFarland, Jul 6, 2006
(search:”newly consolidated traction company”)
https://books.google.com/books?id=D4p_e_FvEAEC
The newly consolidated traction company [Fairmont and Clarksburg Traction Company] built ballparks in Clarksburg and Fairmont…The Fairmont based company pulled out all the stops in its home city. In 1906 Thomas S. Haymond, an energetic and wealthy coal operator and Fairmont civic booster in his mid-thirties, became vice president and, in effect, operator of the Fairmont Baseball Association. He wanted a franchise in organized baseball for the Coalers. He felt he needed a new park close to the center of the city’s population. The Coalers’ home at the fairgrounds he judged inadequate. When the Fleming family of Consolidation Coal Company made available a portion of their farm on the South Side of Fairmont, the traction company built a state-of-the-art park on the site. When completed, the 2,500-seat steel, concrete and stone park was reputed to be the finest minor league park in the entire country. The new park, located on Twelfth Street, was known variously as South Side Park and Traction Park. Portions of the park, including the stone entrance, continue to exist one hundred years later incorporated into East-West Football Stadium.
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Q: Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone?
A: There Is Power in a Union!