You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Sunday March 7, 1915
From the Appeal to Reason: "Industrial or Community Control Service" Exposed
The following is from yesterday's edition of the Appeal to Reason:
Caught With The Goods!
Here is a photographic copy of a letter sent by a firm of hell hounds offering to betray labor for a mess of pottage. The Appeal came into possession of the original of this letter through some kind friends. The letter shows that there is nothing these hell hounds will not do for money. Please note that they offer to "make history," presumably manufacture riots and trouble generally. You will find this in the third paragraph. But be sure to read the entire letter-it's a wonderful piece of evidence against capitalism:
E. J. Brettell, Gen. Mgr.,
Brettell Brothers
Mingo Junction, Ohio.
Dear Sir: Personal and Confidential.
You, no doubt, are contemplating operating your mines, permitting such of your employees as are willing to return to work, to do so irrespective of the arbitrary position assumed by the leaders of the United Mine Workers. In order to insure the success of this venture you will require assistance such as this company is prepared to furnish, both in the way of giving protection to your loyal employees, as, no doubt, they will be molested and pressure brought to bear in every way to discourage them and in recruiting a sufficient number of workmen to conduct operations. You will also of necessity have to keep yourself informed as to what the attitude of your disloyal employees is and what steps their so-called "leaders" will take to frustrate your plans.
We have handled many strikes and have yet to lose a single one and many of these strikes were won without the use of a single guard or the destruction of one cent's worth of property. Among recent large strikes of national prominence that we have handled we might mention the Boot and Shoe Workers' strikes in Portsmouth, Ohio, and Brooklyn, N. Y.; the Furniture Workers' strike in Grand Rapids; the Teamsters' strike in Indianapolis and the Rubber Workers' strike in Akron. The officers of our company are men of repute and we have a reputation to sustain which we have built up by doing our work thoroughly at the least possible cost to our clients. In handling labor troubles we aim to bring them to a successful issue as quickly as we can, fully appreciating that it is only by our proven ability to accomplish this that we can hope to enjoy the future patronage of our clients. We are widely and favorably known not only in this state but throughout the country, numbering among our clients some very prominent coal operators who have gone on record as saying that our representations are true in every particular, this despite the fact that we have gained but little publicity, it having always been our aim and the desire of the people we do business with to avoid this.
In conclusion let us say a word regarding our industrial or community control service, which comprehends placing men in labor and political organizations with the idea of having them work up to be leaders, not with the object of writing history after somebody else has made it but for the purpose of making history by influencing or dominating that particular organization. This is a big proposition but by no means an experiment with us as we are doing this today for some of the largest manufacturers in this country and there is absolutely no reason why, with the support of the coal operators, it cannot be accomplished in the coal industry.
Our methods as you appreciate, have no place in correspondence, but if you will write or 'phone us, appointing a time when our representative can call so that your time as well as our time -- both of which are valuable -- may not be wasted, we will be glad to explain everything fully to you and know you will be interested.
Anticipating your early and favorable reply, which carries with it no obligation whatever excepting a candid discussion of a subject that is of vital importance to you, we remain
[emphasis added]
The Strike of the Eastern Ohio Miners
Please note that the letter above from the notorious Corporations Auxiliary Company is addressed to E. J. Brettell, General Manager of Brettell Brothers of Mingo Junction, Ohio. Mingo Junction is in Eastern Ohio where the United Mine Workers of America has been conducting a strike since April of 1914. We now offer a few updates on this strike from the February 25th edition of the United Mine Workers Journal:
Eastern Ohio Situation
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Quiet and Determined.
Bridgeport, Ohio. While disappointed that the conference between the operators, the representatives of the miners and the federal conciliators was unable to effect a settlement, the miners in the strike field fully approve of the position taken by their representatives; in fact, would resent any action that would compromise their demand for the state wage scale.
While there is some suffering among the strikers on account of the advanced prices of foodstuffs, and the limited amount of aid, the strikers realize that their fellow workers are donating to the extent of their resources, and are satisfied and grateful. Also as determined as ever to stand for the rate of wages that is being paid in every other section of the state.
Meetings held all over the strike districts passed resolutions endorsing the action of their representative at Cleveland, and also expressed gratitude to their fellow workers for the moral and financial support afforded the strikers of Eastern Ohio.
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MINERS APPROVE ACTIONS OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Barton, Ohio Feb. 16.
The following resolutions were adopted at a mass meeting of the members of Local Unions 245, 319 and 416:
Whereas, The actions of our officers, at a joint meeting with the operators before the board of conciliators, have been commented upon by the operators; the said operators have claimed, and they and other parties have in discussions stated that the striking miners of Eastern Ohio did not approve of the actions of our officers; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, the members of Locals 245, 319 and 416, United Mine Workers of America, do heartily agree with the course pursued by the national, district, sub-district officers and scale committee at the joint meeting of our officials with the operators when they turned down propositions which came from the operators and the conciliators at Cleveland; be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the U. M. W. Journal for publication, as evidence to our brother miners that our officers' faithfulness and efficiency cannot be questioned by any man who understands and views fairly one of the best conducted strikes in the history of organized labor and which will terminate only with victory.
Signed by W. T. Roberts, Rec. Sec. Local 245; Chas. Fisher, President Local 245; S. Smereck, Fin. Sec. Local 245; Louis Fugen, Rec. Sec. Local 319; Frank Anderle, President Local 319; Joe Gimwell, Fin. Sec. Local 319; Joe Schwinder, President Local 416; Wm. Moore, Fin. Sec. Local 416....
STRIKING MINERS EXPRESS SATISFACTION WITH, AND GRATITUDE FOR FINANCIAL AID RENDERED.
Dilles Bottom, Ohio, Feb. 16.
In mass meeting assembled at Dilles Bottom, Ohio, by Local Unions Nos. 1256 and 2262, the idea. of the meeting was to take in consideration the call sent out from Dillonvale Local Union 1706 in regard to not receiving enough benefits because they were cut down from 50 cents on children to 25 cents. The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, An invitation has been sent out from Local Union 1706, located at Dillonvale, Ohio, calling for a special convention, condemning the action of our officials by cutting down the benefits; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we ignore and condemn the actions of Local Union 1706, located at Dillonvale, for the action it has taken in regard to decreasing the benefits; and be it
Resolved, That Locals 1256 and 2262 believe that our officers are doing all they can for us at the present time; and be it further
Resolved, That we continue to strike for the 47-cent rate if we do not get one cent of benefits, and thanking the public-at-large for their generous collections and aid in this strike, we are yours for winning, and justice.
Signed by R. U. Wallace, Ben Barnett, Guther Allen, Wm. Koher, Chas. Pratt and G. H. Bpshager, committee. J. P. Henry, chairman of meeting.
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SOURCES
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Mar 6, 1915
(Source also for images within article.)
http://www.newspapers.com/...
The Abridgment 1915: Containing the Annual Message of the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, 64th Congress, 1st Session, with Reports of Departments and Selections from Accompanying Papers, Volume 2
United States. Congress. Joint Committee on Printing
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1916
https://books.google.com/...
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF LABOR.
Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary,
Washington, June 3O, 1915.
https://books.google.com/...
Coal Mining Report
https://books.google.com/...
The United Mine Workers Journal, Volume 23
Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America,Dec 3, 1914-May 6, 1915
http://books.google.com/...
UMWJ of Feb 25, 1915
http://books.google.com/...
The Ohio Strike
http://books.google.com/...
IMAGES
Ohio Miners' Strike
http://books.google.com/...
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MORE ON THE EASTERN OHIO COAL STRIKE OF 1914-15
William B Wilson, Secretary of Labor
for President Woodrow Wilson
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The following is a report, dated June 30, 1915, from William B. Wilson, Secretary of Labor, to President Woodrow Wilson:
Eastern Ohio coal strike. — At the request of the Wheeling, Moundsville, Shadyside, and Martins Ferry Boards of Trade, the Barnesville, Bellaire, and St. Clairsville Commercial Clubs, the Steubenville Chamber of Commerce, and the Flushing Business Men's Association, the department undertook to mediate a large coal strike in eastern Ohio, appointing Daniel J. Keefe and Hywel Davies as commissioners. This strike began April 1, 1914. It directly involved 46,000 miners. At various dates following July 3, 1914, settlement agreements were made affecting about 30,000. The rest were on strike for more than 13 months. Between the submission by the commissioners of a report of progress, July 3, 1914, and May 8, 1915—the latter being the date of final settlement—a delegation representing the Eastern Ohio Coal Miners' Association conferred with the Secretary of Labor and the President, urging that the Federal Government request the contending interests to submit their differences to arbitration. The President suggested that the conciliators submit a plan. This was done March 17, 1915. Subsequently, and in compliance with instructions from the department, the commissioners attended at Canton a conference of the Eastern Ohio Coal Operators and the United Mine Workers, which had been called by the governor of Ohio. T. K. Maher, of the Eastern Ohio Coal Operators, presided. The governor delivered an address, at the conclusion of which President John White for the United Mine Workers and Charles Maurer for the operators made conciliatory statements. An official mining scale was thereafter ratified by the two organizations, that of the mine operators and that of the mine workers.
SOURCE
See above at "Coal Mining Report"
IMAGE
William B Wilson
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
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Which Side Are You On - Natalie Merchant
Don't scab for the bosses
Don't listen to their lies
Us poor folks haven't got a chance
Unless we organize
Florence Reese
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