Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-07-03
JOS EPH VASEY
WITH OLD LOVE
In West Virginia to Assistance
Of Struggling Miners.

Joseph Vasey is again with the Nat
ional Board of United Mine Workers
of America Mr.. Vasey formerly liv-
ed in Whitwell, whittier he came from
England when a mere boy. He was
assisted upward in life largely by
Capt. John Frater, now dead, who for
years was the most prominent coal and
iron authority in the valley. When
the United Mine Workers of America
formed their local at Whitwell Mr..
Vasey was a leading spirit, and later
became Board Member, organizing
other locals After the mining troub-
lie at Whitwell, which ended in tue re-
fussl of the T. G. & 1, Co. to recognize
the union, and it's defeat, Mr.. Vasey
moved to Knoxville, where he accept
ed position as member of advisory
board for some companies, but it
seems now that he has returned to his
old love,
The Kanawha, Charleston. W. Va,
Citizen, speaks of the work of Mr.. Va
ey in that labor-troubled state He
addressed large number of miners
recently at Bancroft, West Va, and is
speaking at different points. Mr.. Va
sey as an organizer and promoter of
miners unions is not rauting speak
or, but cool headed business man,
advising always to cool methods, but
advising steadily to persistent ad
vancement toward the point sought.
He is in seat of labor war where
trouble is very extensive and where
Congress has been asked to make an
investigation. In the New River field
where he is speaking ultimatum has
been given the operators that If they
did not give recognition to the union
by acceeding to the just demands of
the men, 5000 would lay down theii
picks on July 1.
The following is from the Kanawa,
W. Va, Citizea:
San enthusiastic meeting of the coal
miners of Black .Betsey, Bancroft and |
other places in that vicinity was held
at Bancroft yesterday afternoon, and |
Members Thomas Haggerty and Joe
Vasey. The meeting was largely at
tended in spite of showers and clouds,
and the Red Mems hall was filled
with miners, accompanied in many
instances by their wives and children.
''Mr. Massey reviewed at length the
10 months Of strike and strife in the
Paint Creek and Cabin Creek coal
fields, and of the efforts of 20 or 80
years to organize the state. He spoke
II the Baldwin Felts mine guards AS
me of the prime causes of all the trou-
Die. And the difficulty in organizing,
le said. was due in large measure to
The system of espionage maintained by
The Baldwin-Felts men.
"Mr. Vasey warned the men to pay
10 attention to the ranting of the La
,or Argus concerning Mr.. Haggerty,
whom the Argus has set about to dis
redit. The speaker paid fine trib-
tie to Mr.. Haggerty, telling of the
offering endured by the dean of the
International board in his efforts to
improve the conditions of the miners,
md describing him as "the most
vhole-souled, the most sincere and
ne most honorable leader and the best
ghter of whom the United Mine
Vorkrs have ever been able to boast"
"He told Of the improved conditions
n states in which the miners organi-
alton have built up working organ
cation, and showed by statistics what
UGH an organization would DO for
he miners Of West Virginia.