The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-05-30
PRESIDENT JOHN
NUGENT RESIGNS
Will Devote His Entire Time to His
Office Of State immigration
Commissioner.
VICE PRESIDENT LEWIS IS HERE

The following interview given hv
President John Nugcnt appeared
in the Charleston News of Nav
24th, which is self explanatory
''Hon. John Nugcnt, president
of District II, Uuitcd Mine Work
ers of America, embracing the
states Of West Virginia, Virginia
and the northeastern portion OF
Kentucky, yesterday rendered to
Il. L. Morris, secretary of this dis
trict, hiSrcSiguatiun TO take effect
June /, 1907. His resignation
came rs Il surprise and will he re-.
ccived with much regret among the
organized miners of the state, who
knew him well. His successor as
the head of the United Mine w WorlS-
ers in this district will be j. NJ
Craigo, vice president of this dis
trict who lives at CarbonGalc.
"Alr. Nugent serves his connect
ion with tEFlargeSt body of organ
lied men in the state under tho
most favorable conditions. Never
in the history of the state WAS
there less strife between the miners
and the operator than under the
regime of the retiring president.
Impressed with the idea, or
something more definite, the policy
that the mining industry III West
Virginia, the second COZ! producing
state in the union, could only pros
per with Il mutual confidence be.
tween the miner and the mine
owner, he has worked faithfully
toward that goal and notwithstand-
ing that this policy has been oppos
ed by some of those connected with
the Mine Workers in different
vocations, the wisdom of the Same
has been demonstrated by. the paci
| fic conditions which exist today.
''Thc retiring president of TIL,
Mine Workers came to West Vir,
ginia in 1902 az Il national orgaui.
Zcr from the state of Michigan Ia
September 1904, he was chosen by
the UNANIMOUS action of the district
executive board, as president OF
this district to succeed ID. G. Ken.
ncdy, who severed his connection
with the organization at that time
In April 1893, he was reelected
and again in 1906 and 1907 he was
re elected without opposition. His
term of Office would not expire un
Til April 80, 1908, but he rendered
his resignation in order that ht
might devote his entire time to th,
importation of English speaking
practical miners into the coal field:
of West Virginia.
"Mr. Nugent is Il firm advocat,
of the policy that the introduction
of English speaking miners into tn,
state, men who have been trained
in the coal mines of the old world
where all the dangerous gases ar,
to be found, will mean new cr:
in the history OF mining in thi:
state, and although his plans ar,
now merely formative, he will Il
once begin TO put his ideas into ex
ecution. He is an experienced
miner himself, thoroughly compe
tent. VI 'crStauding all the danger:
of a coal mine, and knows the clas
of miners needed i'll the southern
section of this state.
"Mr. Nugcnt has made himsel
| l'ISucliS it III lit oi gam
zed labor circles of West Virginia
Besides being the head of the mine
: workers he is also the president o
the State Federation Of Labor ant
his pronounced views of la Dor qucs
tionS have ever been conseryativ,
and his subordinates have looked
up to him.
.'During Mr.. Nugent's leader
: ship, peaceful conditions have ex
cited throughout the STATE. Whel
!; he asccnded to the presidency o
the district, a strike was on a
: Cabin Creek, but since that tim
there has been no labor war
among the miners of the state
principally because the employer
: and Mr. Nugent placed faith in eacl
other and reached an agreement
: His successor. Mr.. Craigo is salt
to be an excellent man with man,