The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-09-26
Strike
History Does. Not Bear Out
Claim That Democrats Are
for Union Miners.

II 10 fts-
The watson Machine journals seem
to have learned no wisdom or disere-
ton from their unfortunate attack
upon DR.. Hattield which directed pub.
lie attention to the license record and
I sentiment OF their gubernatorial can
\ didate. Thompson, and have rushed
in where angels fear to tread" TO tell
the good people that the Republican
party is responsible for the mine
guard system. and all the ills, real and
fancied. which affiict the mine work.
! ers. The truth is that strike condi-
lions in any mining region cannot
Justly be laid at the door of any po-
litieai party. However, since the is
sue has been raised by the partisan
Democratic press 1t may be well. in
the Interest of historical accuracy. 10
relate Few facts which may have
been fofgottene In this direction
'"Mother" Jones has done much in the
speeches she has delivered at various
points in the state.
The first attempt of the miners
union to organize the men who dig
coal in West Virginia vas few years
| ago. The scene of the sindustrial
drama was laid in the Fairmont coal
! region, and the employers involved
was the Fairmont Coal Combine OF
which the present senator. c. w. wat
son was the president. That COM
pany resisted the attempts of the
union with mine guards, special
/ deputy United States marshals. blan-
ket injunctions issued by the late
Judge John. Jay Jackson. and all the
implements and resources which are
now being employed in the Paint
Creek region. Judge Jackson earned
or was given the sobriqueti of "The
Iron Judge" at that time, and his
court sat almost night and day dis
posing of so-called Contempt" cases
as fas as the prisoners were arraigned
before him by the. mine guards and
special deputies employed by the
Fairmont Coal Combine. President
Watson. now senator, was in active
charge of his companys interests in
the Industrial battle. Corporate
wealth conquered in the end.
Mother Jones is recalling those
stirring days. She was a conspicuous
actor in that drama. She was in Gus
tody OF the Jackson court for many
weeks charged with Contempt" and
was finally tried and adjudged guilty.
But she received no punishment for
her alleged ofrenses. When the time
came for that, the strike was ended
and the Watson forces had won over
the miners. In her speeches, Moth
Ter" Jones has told the story OF that
conflict and criticised wason's part
in 1t In bitter and scathlng terms.
much to the delight OF her large au-
dienees." we are told in the press dis
patches.
Whatever benefit the miners Of
West Virginia have received from the
state government, and they have been
numerous and OF great significance,
were bestowed upon them by the rep
resentatlves of the Republican party.
The miners hospitals are the especial
pride of that party and upon them
large sums of money have been spent.
The splendid laws which govern the
mining industry. which are SO skill
fully and satisfactorily administered
by Chief Mine INSPECTOR John Laing
and his stan of efficient inspectors, all
practical mining laws, were composed
and enacted by the Republican party
No greater friend OF the miners If
West Virginia ever lived, or ever ran
for high Office, than the great big
] hearted, courageous. fair-minded,
able statesman and leader who is
carrying the banner Of the Republi-
can party to certain victory this year
DIR. H, d. Hatfield. of Eckman, Nc
Dowell county He has sacrificed
years of his life that the conditions of
the miners and their families in
southern West Virginia might stead
lily improve. and his great sacrifices
have not been without avail. for he
has lived to see the standard OF iiv-
ing greatly elevated in the great in
dustrial empire in which he resides.
and to receive the praise and loyalty
of the thousands OF men who make
that region the potential Industrial
factor II Is.
This subject, together with SANDER
ing DR.. Hatfield on the license ques-
ton, will also probably be quickly ia
booed by the censor at the Watson
state headquarters. It. too. is "lud-
ded"