The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-04-23
IN THIRD ARTICLE OF SERIES ON
CONDITIONS IN STRIKE
ZONE.
Tells OF Miners Relief Work, Joint
Agreements and the Right
to OrosnI<-.

This article treats OF the mining
laws OF the state of West Virginia.
in relation to the right OF the coal
miners 10 organize or join a labor
union.
This act creating the department
OF mines and providing a more suf-
hcient system OF mine inspection.
passed February %. 1907. was ap-
proved By the governor February 81,
1901. and went into effect May %.
1907.
Section 10 reads. Nor shall any
person or persons or combination OF
persons. by force. threats. menaces
or intimidation OF any kind prevent
or attempt TO prevent from working
III or about any mine. any person or
persons who have the lawful right
to work In or about the same. and
who desires so TO work: but this pro
vision snail not be so construed as TO
prevent any two or more persons
from associating together under the
name OF Knights OF Labor or any
other name that they may desire. for
/ any lawful purpose. or for using NOR.
al suasion or lawful argument to in.
duce anyone 10 work in or about any
mine any person or persons who
shall violate the provisions OF this
section shall. upon conviction be
fined not less than fifty nor more
than five hundred dollars. or be i'm
prisoned in the county jail not less
imam ten days nor more than ninety
DAYS In the discretion OF the court"
Thus IL Will be seen that il is not
highly personal privilege but a law
ful right for any two or more per
sons TO associate together and form
n labor union. The law expressly pro.
vides that a member of the union
may use moral suasion or lawful ar.
Rument TO induce anyone not to work
in or about any mine. Vet il is the
rule the moment n strike is declared
TO issue an ex parte injunction
against the strikers. or to call out
the cossacks. as in Pennsylvania. or
the militia as in West Virginia. II
Is safe TO say that in labor disputes
where the injunction Is resorted Ia
there are more strikers intimidated.
and there Is more coercion In the pro
cess than Is ever thought ~ by the
strikers In labor dispute that Is
fought out strictly on its merits.
Attention Is called 70 the decision
" Jug iall upon me r. shtS OF Ia
/ Dor. The able Judge says:
IT may be coded al the outss, that
the employees nave the right to or.
! game into. or join labor union
which should take joint action as n
I their terms Of employment II is ci
B bcnefit 10 them and 10 the public
/ that laborcrs should unite in their
: common interests and for lawful pur
/ poses. They have labor to sell. II
| they stand together they are often
| able al of them command bet
| ter prices for their labor than when
| dealing singly with rich employers
| because the interests Of the siuclo
} "mployc may compel him 20 accept
3 any terms offered him. Tho accumu
3 lation ~ fund for the surpor- q.
3 those that foel thai the wa"c. ,fgrr.l
are below marker prices. i- one az IN.
] lccit!mate objects n such an orrani
~ ion. they have tho rirh' 10 appoiri
4 Officers whom shall advise as 10 IN.
course 10 be- taken by them i'm their
2 relations WIKI their employer Thcy
may unite wi'h ether unions The
officers they appoint or ans Other
A person 10 whom they choose to listen