Tag: United Mine Workers Journal

Hellraisers Journal: Little Children of William Blizzard “Quiet as Mice” During Treason Trial of West Virginia Mine Leader

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
Share

Quote Fred Mooney, Mingo Co Gunthugs, UMWJ p15, Dec 1, 1920—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday May 5, 1922
Charles Town, West Virginia – Children of Billy Blizzard at Treason Trial

From Indiana’s Richmond Palladium of May 3, 1922:

Children at Mine Trial

(By Associated Press)

William Blizzard, Regina Leader Pst p16, May 4, 1922

CHARLESTON, W. Va., May 3-A flaxen haired, chubby faced little girl of four years slept curled in her mother’s arms and an equally round faced, tow-headed boy, a year older, sat on his father’s knees and studied with grave blue eyes his unusual surroundings, during a considerable part of yesterday’s sessions of circuit court. They were “quiet as mice” throughout their stay, with far more respect for the dignity of the court than some of their elders, and many times eyes in the courtroom turned wearily away from the witness stand to brighten with smiles at the somber little tots who had much at stake in the proceedings.

The father was William Blizzard, youthful union official who sat by his attorney while a jury heard evidence on which the state of West Virginia bases a charge of treason against him. The mother had been sitting by his side, watchful of every detail since the trial started but this was the first visit of the two children to Charles Town. William, junior, known in the family circle as “Billy” and Marguerite, whose home name is “sister” are sturdy youngsters, full of life outside the courtroom, and showing in their features a striking resemblance to both father and mother.

———-

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

Billy Blizzard at Bat

From the New York Daily News of May 4, 1922:

WV Miners Trials, Blizzard at Bat Close Up, NY Dly Ns p24, May 4, 1922

From Wisconsin’s Sheboygan Press-Telegram of May 4, 1922:

WV Miners Trials, Blizzard at Bat, Sheboygan WI Prs p1, May 4, 1922

Between court sessions at which they are being tried for murder and treason at Charles Town, W. Va., miners enjoy a friendly baseball bout. Here “Bill” Blizzard, first on trial, is shown at the bat.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Little Children of William Blizzard “Quiet as Mice” During Treason Trial of West Virginia Mine Leader” →

Hellraisers Journal: Miners’ Tent Colony at Mingo County, West Virginia, Saved, for Now, from Coal Operators’ Injunction Judge

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
Share

Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday April 30, 1922
Mingo County, West Virginia – Miners’ Tent Colony Saved, for Now

From the Duluth Labor World of April 29, 1922:

TENT-SMASHING JUDGE CHECKED
BY HIGH COURT
———-
Circuit Court Stays Order to Drive Miners
and Families From Tented Homes.
———-

RICHMOND, Va., April 27.—Federal Judge McClintic’s injunction to smash the Mingo tent colony has been ordered held up by Hon. Martin A. Knapp, judge of the federal court of appeals, fourth circuit.

Mingo County WV Tent Colony, Rock Is IN Argus p14, Apr 17, 1922

Judge Knapp’s decision stays this order until it can be heard by the court of appeals. McClintic is also ordered to scrap his injunction machine until the court of appeals reviews his acts.

Several years ago this federal court of appeals set aside the notorious “yellow dog” decision by Federal Judge Dayton, since deceased. This decision legalized the individual contract whereby each worker ac­cepting employment agreed not to join a trade union. The reasoning of the court of appeals was rejected by the United States supreme court, which upheld the “yellow dog.”

—————-

CHARLESTON, W. Va., April 27. —In holding up Federal Judge Mc­Clintic’s injunction to destroy the Mingo tent colony and stop union organizing, the federal court of ap­peals at Richmond has temporarily clipped the wings of a judge who is openly charged with receiving his present position as a reward for sub­serviency to coal owners while he was a member of the West Virginia state senate.

McClintic is recognized as the au­thor of the West Virginia jury law which permits the prosecution to take a man charged with crime out of his county into another county for trial.

Under this law, which is now in effect, the trial of a striking miner can be transferred to a county like Logan, which is under the complete domination of Baldwin-Feltz gun­men.

When McClintic was appointed last year the A. F. of L. made strong objection because of his bias in fav­or of coal owners. The latest exhi­bition of this bias was shown by his issuance of an injunction that would oust hundreds of miners and their families from the only homes they have and which are located on land leased by the union.

The trade, unionists, made no pro­gress in blocking McClintic’s in­dorsement by the senate because he was supported by the two West Vir­ginia senators-Messrs. Sutherland and Elkins.

—————

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Miners’ Tent Colony at Mingo County, West Virginia, Saved, for Now, from Coal Operators’ Injunction Judge” →

Hellraisers Journal: Jack Sellins, Seeks Justice for His Mother, Martyred Mine Workers’ Organizer, Fannie Sellins

Janet RayeFannie Sellins
Share

Quote M. Robbins, for Fannie Sellins, Wkrs Wld p4, Nov 28, 1919—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday April 2, 1922
Jack Sellins Seeks Justice for Murder of Fannie Sellins and Joseph Starzeleski

From the United Mine Workers Journal of April 1, 1922:

 

SON SEEKS JUSTICE
———-

ASKS THAT SLAYER OF HIS MOTHER,
MRS. FANNIE SELLINS,
BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
———

WNF Sellins Starzeleski Monument, The Woman Today p9, Sept 1936

Editor of the Journal: I am writing you concerning the bringing to justice the persons responsible for the death of Fannie Sellins and Joseph Starzeleski, who were murdered in wanton cold blood over two and a half years ago.

For this length of time every effort has been made to find the persons responsible for this crime, and on January 26, last, three deputy sheriffs were arrested for the murder. Even on the information on which the arrests were made the court granted them their liberty on bail, which was only $2,500. However, on February 14, the grand jury returned an indictment against the three, and we are now waiting for a date for the trial to be set.

The three men indicted are: Edward Mannison, John Pierson and James Reilly, former deputy sheriffs.

A copy of a resolution is herewith enclosed asking that the two attorneys we have employed be appointed as special district attorneys. I would like to see this resolution adopted by local unions over the country and be sent to president judge of the Allegheny County courts.

Fraternally yours,
JACK SELLINS.

The writer of the above is a son of Mrs. Fannie Sellins, so brutally murdered by deputy sheriffs in the Brackenridge mine strike. He has had a heroic effort to have the slayers of his mother brought to justice, and says he is taking no chance of a failure of prosecution in the hands of the district attorney’s office.

The resolution is as follows:

Whereas, The District Attorney of Allegheny County has failed to proceed with the prosecution of the murderers of Fannie Sellins and Joseph Starzeleski, or to take any action to bring these offenders to trial, said murders having been committed at West Natrona, Pa., on Aug. 26, 1919;

Be it Resolved, That we believe that private counsel should be employed for that purpose, and that the court be asked to appoint two attorneys as special deputy district attorneys to take charge of said prosecution, and, further, we recommend that the court appoint John S. Robb, Jr., Esq., of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Victor B. Benton, Esq., of New Kensington, Pa., as such special deputy district attorneys, and that a copy of this resolution be mailed to the president judge of Allegheny County courts.

—————

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Jack Sellins, Seeks Justice for His Mother, Martyred Mine Workers’ Organizer, Fannie Sellins” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the United Mine Workers Journal: “The Miner” -a Poem by Thomas McPherson of Sullivan, Illinois

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

———————-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday November 17, 1921
“The Miner” by Thomas McPherson of Sullivan, Illinois

From the United Mine Workers Journal of November 15, 1921:

The Miner by Thomas McPherson

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the United Mine Workers Journal: “The Miner” -a Poem by Thomas McPherson of Sullivan, Illinois” →

Hellraisers Journal: Editor Pew Wires Governor Morgan, Demands Explanation Concerning Arrest of Mildred Morris

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
Share

Editor Pew of INS to WV Gov re Mildred Morris Held Captive at Logan, UMWJ p8, Sept 15, 1921—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday September 17, 1921
Editor Marlen E. Pew Wires Protest to Governor Morgan of West Virginia

From the United Mine Workers Journal of September 15, 1921:

DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION

Battle of Blair Mt, Mildred Morris re Taken to Logan, WDC Hld p1, Sept 5, 1921
The Washington Herald
September 5, 1921

NEW YORK, Sept. 3.—The shooting and arrest of newspaper correspondents in the West Virginia reign of terror, which included a woman reporter, has aroused members of the press throughout the country.

An indignant protest was sent to the governor of West Virginia tonight by Marlen E. Pew, of the International News Service. Mr. Pew wired as follows:

Hon. E. F. Morgan, Governor,
Charleston, W. Va. 

Sir: Miss Mildred Morris of our Washington staff, one of the best known, most accomplished and conscientious reporters in this country, assigned to Logan because of her special knowledge of industrial affairs, wires me tonight that she was slightly injured, arrested and submitted to indignities today by state guards. Miss Morris weighs, I should  say, about 100 pounds, but I do not believe that all the thugs in the livery of your state can terrorize or intimidate her when she is sent on a mission for the press.

I think I am justified in asking you if there is a censorship of terror in your state. If the state guards of West Virginia, their native sense of chivalry dead and buried, are of the belief that they can prevent the publication of the truth concerning not only the surface, but the underlying facts of this private war, by insults and injury to a woman representing some 600 newspapers and equipped with credentials from the commander of the federal forces in your state, I am here to tell you that they are mistaken. Please advise me by telegram tonight what you propose doing to redress this wrong to this lady, and whether we may expect some respect for the constitutional right of the press from the government of West Virginia, if indeed West Virginia still has a government in the meaning of the original democratic institution.

I am indignant and I want your blood to boil as a man as well as a governor and punish this particular infamy.

MARLEN E. PEW,
Editor and Manager, International News Service.

—————

[Emphasis and newsclip added.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Editor Pew Wires Governor Morgan, Demands Explanation Concerning Arrest of Mildred Morris” →

Hellraisers Journal: United Mine Workers Journal: “Newspaper Reporters Fired on by State Police” by Mildred Morris

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
Share

Quote Mildred Morris, re Reporters Held in Logan WV, UMWJ p4, Sept 15, 1921—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday September 16, 1921
Mildred Morris Describes Her Sojourn into the Battle Zone of West Virginia

From the United Mine Workers Journal of September 15, 1921:

HUNTINGTON , W. Va .– Four newspaper correspondents who have the memorable experience of penetrating the mountainous regions where war between the miners and state police has been raging for nearly two weeks and being the first to obtain an eye-witness picture of the firing line, are alive tonight by the grace of God.

As a member of the party I arrived here after escaping from Logan, where the four of us had been placed under guard.

Under a shower of bullets from both sides we convinced ourselves that war–real war-has been going on in West Virginia.

Three times a fusillade of steel bullets poured on us from the Springfield rifles of the state gunmen and three times we were fired on by the miners.

And after it was all over we were taken with our wounded to Logan, under guard.

Boyden Sparkes, of the New York Tribune, was shot through the leg and a bullet all but penetrated his scalp. One of the miners whom we had persuaded to act as a guide was shot in the ankle and is seriously wounded. When we were able to convince the state police, whose lines we had penetrated, that we were non-combatants merely on a sightseeing tour all military operations ceased while officers stared at us in amazement and asked:

“How in h–-l we had got there and what we meant?”

Military passes we presented from General Bandholtz, representative of the War Department, and commander of the United States troops now in the war zone were scorned.

“We don’t know nothing about him. Nobody has told us federal troops are here and we haven’t seen them, so we don’t know nothing about them,” the young officer in charge informed us.

Charged with being spies and “red necks” we were taken to state military headquarters in Logan and after an insulting examination by Sheriff Don Chafin of Logan county, we were ordered taken to a hotel. Each of us, including the wounded members of our party, was placed in charge of a guard, who was given orders to accompany us wherever we went.

For more than three hours I was subjected to indignities by this guard and other members of the state police.

Only after frantic appeals Mr. Sparkes was permitted to communicate with his office in New York in order that his wife might know he was not seriously injured. None of the rest of us was permitted to establish our identity and our passes from General Bandholtz were received with the same scorn by Sheriff Chafin and his attaches as the officers of the state police on the battle front had shown. My guard, an insolent youth, insisted on going with me into the bedroom assigned to me. When I objected he said he was acting under orders. To avoid this indignity, I was compelled to sit in the hotel lobby while more insolent and youthful members of the state police made insolent queries and threatened me if I refused to answer.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: United Mine Workers Journal: “Newspaper Reporters Fired on by State Police” by Mildred Morris” →

Hellraisers Journal: United Mine Workers Journal: West Virginia’s Militia Intent on Driving Miners’ Union From the State

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
Share

Quote Mother Jones Princeton WV Speech Aug 15, 1920, Steel Speeches, p230—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday August 2, 1921
West Virginia’s State Militia Serves Interest of Coal Operators

From the United Mine Workers Journal of August 1, 1921:

[-from pages 3 & 4]

Mingo Co WV, Lick Creek Tent Colony, UMWJ p3, Aug 1, 1921
General View of the Miners’ Tent Colony, Lick Creek, W. Va.

More complete details of the raid which was made upon the headquarters office of the United Mine Workers at Williamson, W. Va., by the so-called military authorities of that state have been received at the Journal office, and they are of even a more harrowing and outrageous character than was at first suspected or realized. The raid was a down-right act of brutal disregard for all of the constitutional rights that are supposed to be enjoyed by every American citizen, but which seem to belong only to coal operators in West virginia. More and more it becomes apparent that the military raid on the union headquarters was merely another part of the plan of the Williamson coal operators to run the United Mine Workers out of that field. Of course, they will not succeed in doing this, but their failure to accomplish this end will not be through any fault of the West Virginia military establishment.

The last issue of the Journal contained the bare facts of the raid on the office of the Union and the arrest of David B. Robb, International Fiscal Agent; Ed Dobbins, International Board Member, from District 12; International Organizers, John W. Brown, Robert Gilmour, Jasper Metzger and Herbert Halls; J. B. Wiggins and Henry Koop, local workers; Claude Mahoun, Charles Lee, Whetrell Hackney and J. H. Reed, striking miners. A squad of the improvised militia, led by Major Davis, invaded the office and ordered the men to line up on the sidewalk in front. Next they marched the twelve men to the Williamson City jail and locked them up. The twelve men suffered terribly from the intense heat and close confinement, but even this fact did not appear to satisfy the authorities, for two days later they handcuffed the men in pairs, loaded them on a train and took them to Welch, county seat of McDowell county, and placed them in the McDowell county jail.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: United Mine Workers Journal: West Virginia’s Militia Intent on Driving Miners’ Union From the State” →

Hellraisers Journal: From United Mine Workers Journal: Thousands Gather for Memorial Services at Ludlow Monument

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Quote Frank Hayes, Here on Ludlow Field, UMWJ June 6, 1918—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday July 6, 1921
Ludlow, Colorado – Memorial Services Held at Ludlow Monument

From the United Mine Workers Journal of July 1, 1921:

Memorial at Ludlow Monument, UMWJ p8, July 1, 1921

Ludlow Monument ed small, UMWJ -p6, May 16, 1918

LUDLOW, Colo., June 20.-A crowd of more than 4,000 attended the annual memorial services at Ludlow monument yesterday. Ludlow monument was erected by the United Mine Workers of America on the scene of the inhuman massacre in 1914 of eighteen men, women and children by thugs and assassins in the employ of coal companies in the murderous campaign to prevent the mine workers of Colorado from joining the union. It was the largest crowd that ever attended a memorial service in memory of these heroic, helpless victims of the gunman’s fury.

An almost perfect June day and the published announcements that the international heads of the U. M. W. of A. would be present served to create more interest than usual.

There was considerable disappointment when a telegram was read by President Jno. McLennan of Dist. 15 stating John L. Lewis and Wm. Green would not be present because they had very important business on hand early Monday morning in Denver and, in view of the disarranged train schedules, feared they could not take a chance on delay.

Instead the principal address was delegated to Philip Murray of Pittsburgh, International Vice-President. Mr. Murray was the last speaker of the program and held his audience with a talk that was a mixture of real oratory, sentiment and humor, all delivered with a very pleasing and pronounced Irish brogue…..

[Vice-President Murray] spoke directly to the women and children during part of his address, urging them to use their influence on the non-union miners to join the organization…..

Reference was made to the Mingo county mine war in West Virginia, which Murray said had cost the lives of fifty union men in the past year. He said the miners there were made of stern stuff and were prepared to defend their homes with their lives.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From United Mine Workers Journal: Thousands Gather for Memorial Services at Ludlow Monument” →

Hellraisers Journal: United Mine Workers Journal: Photograph of Miners Acquitted of Murder in Battle of Matewan

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
Share

Quote Sid Hatfield, Matewan Friends, NYT p6, Mar 22, 1921—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday June 26, 1921
“Miners Who Were Acquitted of Murder” -Photograph by Henry Koop

From the United Mine Workers Journal of June 15, 1921:

Matewan Defendants Acquitted, UMWJ p14, June 15, 1921

[Photograph cropped:]

Matewan Defendants Acquitted, WV Hx Center, see UMWJ p14, June 15, 1921

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: United Mine Workers Journal: Photograph of Miners Acquitted of Murder in Battle of Matewan” →

Hellraisers Journal: Striking Miner Alex Breedlove Shot Down in Raid on Lick Creek Tent Colony, Mingo County, W. V.

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
Share

Quote Mother Jones, Pray for dead, ed, Ab Chp 6, 1925—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday June 16, 1921
Lick Creek Tent Colony of Mingo County – Striker Alex Breedlove Shot Down

From The New York Herald of June 15, 1921:

ONE KILLED, TWO HURT IN NEW MINGO FIGHT
————— 
47 in Tent Colony of Idle Miners Are Arrested.
———-

Mingo Co WV, Tent Colony, Map, WVgn p1, May 19, 1921

WILLIAMSON, W. Va., June 14.-One men was killed, two others were wounded and forty-seven residents of the Lick Creek tent colony of idle miners near Williamson are held in the county jail as the result of the fight to-day at Lick Creek between authorities and the colonists.

Alex Breedlove is dead, while James A. Bowles, State trooper, was wounded and Martin Justice, in charge of the colony, received wounds in the cheek and leg.

The fight started after Major Tom Davis, commanding Mingo under martial law proclamation, had returned to Lick Creek with reinforcements of citizen State troopers to arrest about two-score of the idle miners, as his forces had been fired on in the vicinity earlier in the day. Trooper Bowles, in charge of a party of citizen State police [deputized company gunthugs], encountered several men near the colony. Orders from Bowles to throw up their hands brought shots, it was said, resulting in Breedlove’s death and in the wounding of Bowles.

—————

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Striking Miner Alex Breedlove Shot Down in Raid on Lick Creek Tent Colony, Mingo County, W. V.” →