The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-02-03
YOUNGEST
international Official in
the World is Frank
j. Hayes.
Received Largest Major
lty Ever Given by Mine
Workers---A Power In
the Movement.
}. Hayes.

Youngest international officer the
United Mine Workers of America ever
had was the explanation the miners
delegates to the twenty-first annual con-
ventlon made every time they mentioned
the name Of Frank j. Hayes, of Spring
field, ILL.,, the newly elected international
vice president.
Then the delegates go off into a ex-
planation of how Hayes is the youngest
international officer in any labor organ
lzatlon in this country, and that means
the world. The fact that the miners in
ternational is the largest of any labor or
ganization in America, and second in the
world, only adds zest to the explanation.
Not content with being merely elected,
Hayes swept into Office on the tide of q
33,2l9 majority, the largest ever given
any international officer in the United
Mine Workers organization so far as
memory goes. And this was accomplish
ed against man who had held the Office
for one year and had every advantage
that that carries with it.
Hayes win not be twenty eight years
old until May of this year. It is just
fifteen years ago that he was sent into
tho mines to earn livelihood and ten
years ago that he began his record as
an officer of the United Mine Workers
of America.
"And I haven't succeeded in doing
any damage yet," says Hayes, as the
burdens of his honors bear but lightly
upon him.
Hayes was born the son of miner
in Watcher, Iowa, on May 4, 1882.
Whether the name of his birthplace had
any part in cultivating the cheerful dis
position of out of the future leader of
the United Mine Workers is not known,
1t is admitted, however, that it might
have helped some. Hayes is perhaps the
most cheerful person in the miners con-
vention.
AT thirteen years of age Hayes received
the obligation of the United Mine Work
ers of America, at the hands of his father
N. l.. Hayes, at that time president of
the local at Mount Vernon, Ill. AS young
Hayes toiled in the mines he often dream
ed of the magnitude and power of the
labor organization to which he belonged,
and the further strength that might ac-
crue to it, if directed in the proper di-
rection.
In July, 1899, at the age of eighteen
years, Hayes was elected local secretary
of the Brcese Miners Union, and he
had mounted the first rung of the ladder,
the top if which is now so near. For
four years Hayes kept the books and
helped promote the interests of the Breese
Miners local. In July, 1908, he was
elected secretary-treasurer of Illinois sub
district 6, thus broadening the field in
which he could show what he really could
do. He served in that position until
treasurer of District IL, comprising the
United Mine Workers of Illinois. Last
year the Illinois mine workers reelected
him to this office with majority of
1000 votes, showing the faith they had
in him in spite Of his youth. Hayes has
aided in building up a wonderful organ
ization in Illinois now numbering 10000
men on its membership rolls, which has
sent about 800 delegates to the present
convention.
He has carried on his work from his
Office in Springfield, ILL.,, being associ-
ated with such prominent men in the
mine workers organization as Duncan
Mcdonald, president of the Illinois mi
ners, and John H. Walker, of Springfield,
Ill.
From Illinois Hayes efforts spread out
over the entire jurisdiction of the United
Mine Workers organization.
1t was young Hayes who started the
last convention of the American Fedora
tion of Labor at Toronto, Canada, by
denouncing the officials of the st. Paul
Coal Company as murderers!' in an
impassioned plea that something be done
for the miners who had gone down to
their death in the St. Paul mine at Cher
ry, Ill. Conservative American Fedora
tion of Labor leaders are accustomed to
use diplomatic terms, even in referring
to the iniquities of capital. Hayes threw
all pretense aside, and used the words
that he thought fitted the occasion, and
the convention cheered him for his ear
nestness and outspokenness.
Last fall he announced his candidacy
for the position of vice president. He
b,s conducted no Dersonal camDaipn in