The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-20
ORDER ISSUED TO MINERS
SEVEN THOUSAND WILL QUIT WORK
IN WEST VIRGINIA FIELDS.
Employers Must Recognize Unions be-
fore They VIII Return-Vfce Pres
ident Lewis Talks.

An order was circulated from the head
quarters of the United Mine Workers OF
America yesterday which called from their
work In the Loup Creek and New River
coal fields in West Virginia between seven
and eight thousand workmen, who will not
return to work until the recognition of the
miners union is forced upon the mine
owners. The strike was authorized by
President Mitchell, Vice President Lewis
and Secretary w. b. Wilson, and has al
ready begun.
The following proclamation was issued by
Duncan Kennedy, district president of the
miners, as a result of the convention of
the representative of the Loup Creek and
New River districts, held IN Mount Hope,
w. Va, week ago:
LAS you are aware there has existed a
strike on New River for some time. During
the strike many have suffered hardships
and privation. Some OF you returned 10
work. while others have struggled on with
that great faith which sooner or later
brings success.
be members of the United Mine Workers
of America. Where is your freedom, If any
man can say that you must not join a union
If you want to? They have denied your
right to employ check-weghman TO see
that the coal mined by you is properly
weighed and honestly credited to your &C
count. In THIS the operators the
laws of West Virginia. They deny your
right to spend your earnings where you
please. They insist that when you have
worked hard, to earn the money that ought
] to be your own, you must spend il in the
company store at whatever price they see
fit to ask for the goods. They deny you
the right to receive your wages twice a
State, and thereby make you more de-
pendent on the company store. The opera
tors refused TO meet your representatives
&c to6 in
strike.
!"Since the strike began, many of our
members have been sent to Jail without
just cause, the sole purpose being to fright
en- them or their friends into accepting the
terms Of the operators. "A number of our
members have been assaulted and killed for
the same purpose. Others have been threat
ened by men claiming to act in the inter-
est of the operators.
Every effort has been made to meet the
operators and end the strike, but without
success.
MANY of you who are now at work were
imported by the operators through misrep-
ing on Loup Creek and New River. Some
of you returned to work because you were
told that the national organization had not
approved of the strike. Many of you have
expressed a desire to respond to a strike
order if issued by the national organization
of the United Mine Workers of America.
After careful consideration of all these
facts by the representatives of the local
unions of Loup Creek and New River, in
convention assembled, it was unanimously
decided to issue another call to the men
now at work 10 join the ranks of the strik-
ers and remain out until the operators
agree to recognize your rights
You are requested and urged to stop
working on and after Monday, May Is,
1903. Remain idle until the operators con-
cede you increase in wages, the right
to belong to a union, payment of your
wages twice month and right to employ
check-weighmen as required by the laws
1.-The strike has been Endorsed by the ma
tional organization Of the United Mine
| Workers of America and preparations
| made to furnish provisions to all mine
| workers both union and nonunion who will
| respond to this call.
''The success of the strike will depend
largely upon your individual efforts. Do
| your duty In keeping away from the mine
and persuading others from working. 1t is
| only through united effort that we can
| win. Keep within the limits of the law.
Preserve the peace at any and all hazards.
| Refrain from committing any act that may
| be construed as unlawful. The strike can
| and must be won by peaceful methods.
| Show by your conduct that you can and
| will respect the law in every particular
If others violate the law. 1t is no excuse
| for United Mine Worker to do
Exercise your rights as free men. Join
| in this movement and give your employers
| to understand that your rights must be
| respected"
Vice President Lewis discussed the West
! Virginia situation yesterday afternoon and
said that people who had not personally
| become acquainted with the facts and the
peculiaritieS OF the situation could not I'M
| derstand the conditions in that State. The
operators seem TO be backed by the au-
| thority of the law, which is disobeyed and
| disrespected by them and helped by Of
| ficers of the law. who use their Offices for
| the perversion of just administration of the
| law, Mr.. Lewis says. Specific instances
where men indicted for murder have been
| unlawfully liberated are we'll known in
| West Virginia, he says, and probably an
| adjustment of the differences of opinion
between the State courts and the Federal
Court will be made when some definite
| decision in the cases in hearing can be
| appealed to the Supreme Court by the
miners who are prosecuting the murderers