The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-07-10
BACK TO WEST
VIRGINIA MINES
Men Who Have Left State will
Return.
GOV. HATFIELD COMMENDED
In the New River Field AS a Re-
suit Of Agreement Between
Miners and Operators.

Charleston. w Va-That coal
miners working in other states and in
other fields in West Virginia will now
seek employment in the New River
field of this State, since an agree
ment has been reached between the
miners and operators, is the opinion
expressed in statement given out by
Thomas Haggerty international board
member of the United Mine Workers
of America. The statement reviews
the struggle by the miners in that
field, which resulted in the agreement
that became effective July l and will
extend until March 81, 1915. The
statement given out by Haggerty is,
in part. as follows:
Now that an agreement has been
reached between the New River opera
tors and miners, and because many
conflicting reports relative to the
same have been circulated. it is deem
ed best to make an authentic state
ment. The miners of the New River
district have, for the past year desir-
ed to become organized, and, accord
ingly, local organizations have gradu-
ally become established Learning OF
this, some of the operators discharged
their men for joining the union. there
by creating discomfort and ill-feeling.
In accordance with our policy. we
urged the men who sympathized with
the discharged miners and wished to
60 on strike at once to return to their
work, advising them to wait and move
slowly. On the other hand, the opera
tors not understanding our tactics and
believing that We would not encourage
the men to organize. took advantage OF
that belief by discharging union men.
In view of the policy adopted, in which
we had considered the interests OF
the public at large and which was to
avoid strike If we could do so and at
the same time protect the best inter-
ests of the men. our ingenuity was
taxed to give the operators a square
deal and at the same time safeguard
the rights of the miners.
1t became evident that unless a
speedy and satisfactory understanding
with the operators could be obtained.
a strike would be unavoidable Realiz-
ing from long experience that il was
impossible to strike under the condi-
tiOns on New River without violence.
We used every effort TO bring about an
adjustment of the difficulties. Per
sonel conferences were held with sew
eral of the more conservative opera
tors who were also anxious to settle
the trouble amicably but not being
able TO induce other operators to join
in any agreement, they approached the
Governor with the request that he ac-
cept proposition from them that
would be satisfactory to a majority of
the New River operators. and to ef-
feet a settlement on the New River
as he had done on the Kanawha.
This the Governor agreed to do. bat
acting as a citizen of the State and not
In an official capacity and the opera
tors submitted their proposition. After
much arbitration, an agreement was
finally reached and the authorized rep
resentatiyes of the New River and the
Winding Gulf operators signed the
proposition, which was accepted by
the officials of our organization and
confirmed ar a mass meeting of the
miners at Oak Hill, in Fayette county.