West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-03-29
NINE WORKERS UNION.
One OF the Officers Writes n Strong
Appeal 90 the Public.
Tunnelton, w. Va,
March 81, 1906.

"aiSh <B i1Oo'
Editor Argus,
Dear Sir:-
Trusting that you will give
small space in the columns of your
valuable paper for the cause of
justice and liberty, especially for
the working people, / presume to
write few lines upon a question
which 1 believe is dearer and more
sacred than life itself, human liberty.
We have as the motto of our glorious
State "Montani Semper Llberi"-
Mountaineers are always free-and
Notwithstanding that fact there is
a class of people who ignore every
safeguard and violate every statute
of our State law when it comes
to giving the working man the
liberty of choice or privilege of
Joining society of his choice. A
case in point There is a mining
camp at Lillian in Barbour county.
w. Va. The coal company at that
place employs about 60 or IS men,
sober, industrious miners, good
citizens men who are entitled to
all the rights of citizenship. These
men chose to join an organization
of their craft, but 10, and, behold |
an order was issued to all miners
who are members of said union to
bring out their TOOLS. And why ?
Because their work was not satisfac-
toryn No. Simply because they
chose to join society of their
craft. Now we submit to a candid
world if such conduct is allowed to
go unchallenged want to inquire
where is the great state, "Montani
Semper Liberi ?" / further want to
inquire is it any wonder that the
working man is losing his admira-
ton for our fag1 No doubt some
of these very miners voted to send
our dear Uncle Tom to Congress !;
no doubt some of these very miners
voted to send Uncle Steve to the
U. S. Senate.
How long, oh God, how long,
will working men continue to vote
for coal operators and corporation
tools ? Such conduct upon the
part of coal companies is simply
branding across the motto of our
State in burning letters lie. We
do not have liberty and therefore
we are compelled to throw off our
allegiance to the State of our birth.
Our hearts grow sick at the thought
our generation for "Old Glory"
grows less and less. We appeal to
a generous public to give us your
moral support in this cause.
Not content with discharging
these miners az Lillian, the Grafton
Fuel Company proceeded to hire
set of brutes to harass and humiliate
the citizens of Lillian. One of these
brutes, an ex superintendent, man
who has had more jobs than any
man in the county, but just as soon
as his dirty work is done the coal
company has no use for him. If
L mistake not he was reared at
Austen, Preston county, w. Va.
His name l will not mention and il
his name signifies anything he is the
king of the yellow dog fraternity !;
is now engaged in the disreprutable
business of securing the country
for blacklegs for the Grafton Fuel
company.
hope this squib will serve to
warn all miners to steer clear of
such a scoundrel.
now wish to say a parting word
to the coal operators of West Vir-
ginia. Stop and think, lest you go
too far. All the miners ask, is a
living wage and the rights guar
anteed him by the great motto Of
our State, liberty, liberty. You
had just as we'll try to turn the
swift streams over in their course as
to stop or turn the swift tide Of
trades unionism. Lest I tax your
patience Mr. editor, l will bring my
squib TO a close.
Yours for justice,
J. o. TUmLL,