Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-11-01
OFFICIALS OF UNITED MINE
WORKERS REFUGE TO SPEAK
From PLATFORM WITH
HIM.
HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD BILL
CHANGING MINE GUARD sYs.
TEN CAUSES
TROUBLE.
MEASURE WHICH WOULD HAVE
PREVENTED CABIN CREEK
STRIKE KILLED BY
HIM.

The labor record OF DR. II. D Hat
Geld. Republican nomisee for gov.
ornor Of West Virginia is such that
|G H. Edmunds and President cairnea.
national officers OF the United Mine
Workers Of America, refused 10
speak from the same platform with
him at The Labor Day celebration at
Montgomery. West Virginia. on Sep
terber 2. 1912
Mr.. Edmunds. who Is one OF the
national organizers OF the United
Mine Workers, In explanation Of the
refusal OF the labor officials to speak
with Or. Hatfield, stated chat the
miners and Dr. Hatfield we're not in
sympathy In regard to labor qaes-
lions, and that they could not appear
with him at the Labor Day eeletra-
ton In the flahor Argus, published
| at Charleston a few days after Labor
bay. Mr. EdmuRds published the fol-
flowing report OF the Labor Day cele-
bration and his refusal TO speak with
| Dir Hatfield.
Labor Day at Montgomery.
Labor Day was celebrated at Mont
gomery, w. Va. by the miners to
| the number ~ 1900
1T has been circulated abroad that
Tho celebration was goyen by Dis
trict No II, u. NJ w. A. This Is
not true The celebration was got
ten up by the business men Of Mont.
qomery The district officers were
in no wise responsible for the cele-
ibration
onr. IT. D Hatfield was billed to
address the public, and the bills read
THAT the miners would be addressed
lbv district and national officials.
Upon the arrival OF President Carmen
land myself we we're approached by
1.-THE committee to take part In the
| program We then and there In.
formed them thai we could not par.
ticipate in labor program with DIR.
| Hatfield, az the people whom we
| represented we're not In sympathy
with DR. Hatfield and for that rea.
son. at such critical time In the
| affairs of the miners, our motive
flor appearing would likely be mis-
understood
| In sympathy With Guard System.
"In other words, DR. Hatfield is
believed by the miners OF thss vicin.
Ilty 10 be In sympathy with the guard
lsystem Last spring, when be was
In candidate before the primaries, he
REFUSED TO plainly and emphaticaliy
take . stand against tho guard sys.
tenn, and as the guard system 10 the
paramount issue IN the campaign. we,
las officers OF the miners union, could
mot take part in such an arranged
affair
| "The COMMITTEES then declared to
Ius that DR. Hatfield would not be
present and that the celebration was
Given for the benefit OF the Paint
lCreelt strikers, and that no politicians
would be permitted TO appear as
speakers, only the officials OF the
miners union; that II was a labor
meeting pure and simple. and we
were assured OF the same. So we
consented to speak. and at two-thirty
Ia the afternoon. the parade OF nsen.
women and children, accompanied by
| four brass bands. wendell their way
to the residence OF Mayor r. J. Davis,
and there the speaking took place"
Killed Mine Guard Bill.
The feeling Of the miners toward
DR. Hatfield and their statement that
he Is not IN sympathy with the labor
people seems 10 have been based
upon his action az President of tho
State Senate In regard to bill known
as the Mine Guard Bill At the SEES
sion OF the Legislature in January,
1911, Delegate n. M Hudnall OF Ka-
Inawha County introduced In the
House a bin which had been prepared
with the approval Of the officials OF
the United Mine Workers and WHICH,
II passed as drawn, would have placed
such safeguards around the mine
guard system that II was believed all
objections 10 1t would have been
overcome.
II is a vol known fact that the
trouble on Paint Creek Kanawha
eosnty, which has resulted In the loss
OF numerous lives, the closing down
OF coal mlnes for several months and
the expense Of more than s100,001 to
the state for keeping troops In the
field, grew out OF the employment
Of mine guards by the coal operators
| This tremendous cost in life and
money would have been prevented
| and the prosperity OF that section
would have continued. in the opinion OF
| the coal miners. had the HudnalI
bin been passed. and all responsible
ity for preventing the passage Of the
bill is placed by them upon DIR, Hat
field, who was then President of the
Senate, and is now a candidate for
IGgyernor.
Big Majority In House.
DR.. Hudnalrs bill hayhg the ap.
proval OF the miners as well as the
approval Of coal operators. passed the
House by vote Of sixty 10 twenty,
DIR. Hudnall and Delegate Liller were
appointed 10 notify tho Senate OF its
passage. Together with VIM. Stan
| ley representing the mine workers,
they called upon Or. Hatfield and ex-
planned to him the purpose of the
bill. asking that it be referred to the
committee on labor which was known
to be friendly to the measure. They
we're very much astonished when the
bin was finally reported to the Sem
ate to hear DR. Hatfield refer it to
the committee on railroads. The bill
still rests in a pigeon hole in the