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 by
President John Nugcut appeared
i'll the Charleston News of Nav
oath, 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
Is. F. Morris, secretary of this dis
trict, hisrcsgnntion to take effect
June l, 1907. His resignation
came as Il surprise and will be re.
ceiVcd with much regret among the
organized miners of the state, who
knew him well. His successor as
the head of the United Mine Work
eIS in this district will be j. NJ.
Craigo, vicc-prcsident of this dis
trict who lives at Carbondalc.
"Alr. Nugent serves his connect
ion with thelargrst 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.
compressed with the idea, or
something more definite, the policy
that the mining industry IN West
Virginia, the second coal producing
state i'll the union, could only pros
per with a 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-
tic conditions which exist today.
''The retiring president of the
Mine Workers came to West Nir-
ginia in 1902 rs Il national organi-
ger from the state of Michigan. In
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 timcl
In April 1903, he was collected
and again in 1906 and 1907 he was
re elected without opposition. His
term of Office would not expire I'M
til April 80, 1908, but he rendered
his resignation in order that he
might devote his entire time to the
importation of English speaking
practical miners into the coal fields
of West Virginia.
HA1r. Nugent is firm advocate
of the policy that the introduction
of English speaking miners into the
state, men who have been trained
in the coal mines of the old world
where all the dangerous gases are
to be found, viii mean new era
in the history OF mining i'll this
state, and although his plans are
now merely formative, he will at
once begin to put his ideas into ex-
ecution. He is an experienc ed
miner himself, thoroughly compe-
tent, understanding all the dangers
| of coal mine, and knows the class
of miners needed in the southern
section of this state.
''Mr. Nugcnt has made himself
Noi'S IiSbohS Ale III lHt
zed labor circles of West Virginia.
Besides being the head of the mine
workers he is also the president OF
the State Federation of Labor and
his pronounced views of labor uueS-
lions have ever been conservative
and his subordinates have looked
up to him.
''During Mr.. Nugent's leader
ship. peaceful conditions have cx-
cited throughout the STATE. When
he assembled to the presidency OF
the district, a 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.. Nugent placed faith in each
other and reached an agreement.
His successor. Mr.. Craigo is said
to be an excellent man with many