The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-05-25
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
...!A||IS'|P|REsIDIIE:I|llI'I|'i
POP U.LAR MINE WORKERS i oFFl.
GAL WILL DEVOTE HIS en-. y
TIRE TIMElTo lMMleRA.
TON OFFICE.

CHARLESTON, May 25-Hon. John
Nusent, president of Of District Il,
United Mine Workers Of America, EN-.
braclng the States of;West Virginia
Virginia. and the northeastern portion
Of Kentucky, yesterday rendered 10 B.
II. Morris, secretary of this district,
his resignation to take effect June |,
1907. His resignation came as a sur.
prise and will be received with much
regret among the organized miners Of
the State, who knew him well. His
successor as the head Of the United
Nine Workers in this district will be
II. N. Crafgo, vice president Of this
district who lives at Carbondale.
Nj. Nugent sewers his connection
with the largest body OF organized
men in the State under the most IA.
vorable conditions. Never In The his.
tory Of the State was there less strife
between the miners and the operator
than under the regime Of the retIr.
Ing president. Impressed with the
idea Of something more definite. the
ipoiicY that the mining industry In
West Virginia. the second coal pro.
lucIng STATED II the union, could only
prosper with mutual confidence
between the miner and the mine
owner, he has worked faithfully 10.
ward that goal, and Notwithstanding
that this policy has been opposed
by some Of those connected with the
mine workers In different vocations,
the wisdom Of the same has been dem,
onstrated by the pacific conditions
which exist today.
The retiring president Of the mine
workers came to West Virginia In
1902 as national organizer from
the State Of Michigan. In Septeln.
Iber, 1904, he was chosen by the UT.
animois action OF sthe district exec,,.
tive board. as president OF this dis.
trict TO succeed D. C. Kennedy, who
sevcrd his connection with the OF.
sanization at that time. In April,
1905. he was reelected and again
in 1906 and 1907 he was reelected
without opposition. His term Of OF.
nee would not expire until April 30
1865, but he rendered his resigna.
ton in order that he might devote
his entire time TO the importation
Of English speaking practical miners
ir'o the coal fields Of West Virginia.
Mr.. Nugent Is a firm advocate Of
the policy that the introduction "
English speaking miners into tho
State. men who have ben trained In
the coal mines Of the old world,
where oil the dangerous gases are
10 be found, will mean n new era
in the history Of mining In this State,
and although his plans are now mere.
" formative he will at once begin
TO put his ideas Into execution. He
is an experienced miner himself
thoroughly competent understand.
Ing all the dangers OF coal mine,
and knows the class OF miners need.
ed In the southern section Of this
State. u
Mr.. Nugcnt has made himself Il
conspicuous figure in the organized
labor circles Of West Virginia. Be.
sides being the head Of the mine.
workers he Is also the president OF
the State Federation OF Labor and
|llis pronounced views on labor ques.
lions have ever been conservative
and his snbordinaies have looked
up TO him. r
During Mr, Nugent's leadership.
peaceful conditions have existed
throughout the State. When he As.
cenGed to the presidency OF the dis.
trict, strike was on at Cabin creek
but since that time there has been
no labor wars among the miners Of
the State, principally because the
employers and Mr.. Nngent placed
faith in each other and reached an
asreemnt. Ills successor, Mr.. era
igo, is said 10 he an excellent man
with many qualifications for the 'po
sition. . lE.
Replying 10 question concerning
the differences that have been alleg
ed TO exist among some OF the min
ers' officials. and his resignation, Mr.
Nugent said:
! Being unable to agree with Pres
ident Mitchell, who has never been
friendly to my administration, and
denied the. right Of home rule In
directing the work OF organizers In