The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-01-07
The Paint Creek Miners T.ro
QUIT IN Full Force andVoice
their Confidence i'm their
Officials.

One of the largest mass meetings
of mine laborcrs ever held on
Paint Creek took place at the
grove just above Mucklow last
Sunday afternoon. The audience
was composed of miners from
Aucklow. Standard, Banner,
Wacomah and Burnwell.
All Boyd, of Standard, was
chosen as chairman and addressed
few brief and appropriate re-
marks to the assemblage before
introducing Vice President l.. f.
Lanham who made a short and
i"rccful talk setting forth the pur
pose of the meeting.
President Ben Davis was next
introduced and made two hours
address explaining in full the
settlement with the Paint Creek
operators and all the details lead
ing up to it. He read all the com
munlcations and papers received
IN connection with the case from
ali sources.
He explained to the satisfaction
OF all who are interested in MAIN
tanning the organization in West
Virginia, the conditions and the
situation confronting the District
and sub District officials when the
settlement was. made and showed
beyond the semblancc of a doubt
that their action was the only posi-
bic course to pursue to protect the
members Of the organization and
the women and children from
undergoing untold trouble and
misery and to perpetuate the or
SanlZatlon in the kanawha Valley.
President Davis treated every
phase OF the question in free. fear
less and straight forward manner,
taking great care not to evadc
even the most minor parts. He
defended the position of himself
and colleagues in regard to the
matter in a thorough manner and
lett no grounds whatever for the
persons who have made dcrogatory
charges upon which to substanti-
ate their claims. tie showed the
wisdom of the officials in prevent
ing useless struggle with the
operators, courts and Hguardsn
which was accepted by his audi
cncc in the spirit in which it was
given.
At the conclusion of his ad-
dress it was clearly evident that
That no man who had the interest
"i his family and the organization
at heart could question the official
acts OF the officials who iconSum.
mated the agreement that saved
the United Mine Workers organi-
Zatlon in West Virginia.
During the course of his remarks
President Davis said that the
action Of the officials was endorsed
by every officer of the mine workers
IN West Virginia, including all
the National men who were in the
state.
National Board Member Cairns
followed President Davis and ably
presented the facts in the case
under discussion. He bore out
an the statements made by Presi-
dent Davis and presented many
conclusive facts showing that no
"thcr course was left to the officials
hnt-to make the settlement
Sub-DlStrict President Il. S.
Hastings also made a forceful and
convincing argument along the
same lines os the speakers who pre-,
c"u"d him and carried much
weight with it. He strongly ad-
Nl>eb the men to get close to.
@'ther and build up their organi
1atlon 50 as to strengthen thcil
position III this state.
National Organizer Jas. NJ
"Aigo was next introduced anC
hiade strong and logical address
chcorSing the action of the officials
III making the agreement. stating
SIat he thoroughly agreed with
1h"rn on their every action in that
'"hn"ction and assured his hearers
mat ii was done for the best inter,
'~J Of all concerned and woulG
prove an everlasting benefit to the
"FGanization
others Who spoke along the
same Ilue were Jas. Stewart anC