Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-04-24
Chicago Asks Nation 4
Wide Aid For West
Virginia Mine Strikers

~
That the West Virginia coal strike
situation is assuming nationwide pro-
nortions now is evidenced from many
sources. Senator Kern has introduced
in the United States Senate a resolu-
ion calling for Federal investigation
1,,f the mining conditions in, West Vir-
ginia. and from all over the country
resolutions similar to the following,
from Chicago, are coming:
The Resolution.
Chicago, Ill, March 10, 1918.
The Coal Barons of West Virginia
have always. fought union labor, and
have on the mefest pretext called upon
and used in their interests the state
eonstabulary and militia; as a result
the conditions of the miners in the
mining region of the state are we'll
nigh unbelievable. 1t has forced the
miners at last to rebel; demand was
made upon the mine barons that they
respect certain rights of the workers;
among which was the right to organize
Under union conditions with union wa
ges. When this demand was made
upon the coal barons, they at once
answered with the police and militia,
and instead of giving the mine workers
a living wage and reasonable working
conditions, they offered them the mi
lta, the injunction Judge and the bull
pen. and the answer of the cry for
bread was bullets.
The Cossacks would run through the
strike bound territory at night with
a train full of soldiers, and when they
got to the miners camp the train
would be darkened. all lights being
put out, and then the hirelings of the
coal barons would fire a fusillade of
shot into the miners camp. wounding
men, women and defenseless children.
There are numerous instances of this
kind
Civil law has been abolished in the
coal regions of West Virginia, and the
military court martial has taken its
place. The leaders of the strike who
dared to face the hired thugs of the
coal barons either have been killed or
wounded OF thrown into jail or into
the bull pen. Amongst those in jai.
at the present time are Mother"
Jones, Paul Paulsen, organizer of the
union of mine workers, C. H. Boswell,
editor of Socialist paper, Charles
Botley and about so others, Socialists
and union men.
The state in which this labor battle
is being fought at this time gave the
largest percentage of increase in the
Socialist vote at the last presidential
election; the increase being BIT per
cent. This perhaps, is one OF the rea-
sons why the coal trust is doing every
thing in its. power to suppress the wage
slaves. This should also be good
eason why the Socialist Party OF
America should come to the front at
this time as it has done on numerous
occasions before, and take firm stand
on behalf of the miners, giving them
all possible moral and financial asSis-
lance.
WHEREAS, therefore, this condition
Of warfare between the working class
and the capitalist class of West Vlr-
ginia is still raging. and whereas, the
Socialist Party should be at all times
exploiter and the exploited, and where
in theEforefront of battle between the
as. it is the chief function of the So
cialist party to fight in the class trug-
gle of the working class.
THEREFORE. be it resfved that
We. the Sixth Ward Branch> OF the So
cialfst Party of Local Cook County,
State of Illinois, call upon the Socialist
Party of America to open up its press
and urge from the platform, all us
members and sympathizers to hasten
to the support of the miners in their
class war in West, Virginia.
Be it further resolved that we urge
upon the National Executive Commit
tee of the Socialist Party of the United
States to take immediate action to Sc
cure the desired publicity and moral
support as well as every possible nnan-
eial aid for the military prisoners anu
the strikers and their families. !.
AND BE IT further resolved tnat
we condemn the brutality and 1nhu.
mainly of the State Government OF
West Virginia as a travesty on justice
and civilization.
AND BE 1T further resolved tnat
We call upon the working class OF the
State of West Virginia to unite upon
the political as we'll as the economic
field and place such men in the legis
lature aud judicial power who VIII
promulgate such measures as shal
take the government of the state out
of the hands of the coal barons and
place it in the hands of the workers.
And be it further resolved that
COPY of these resolutions be transmit
ted to the Executive Committee OF tnt
Socialist Party of America, the Social-
ist-and Labor Press and the struggling
miners union in West Virginia, and 10
the Governor of West Virginia.
By order of the Sixth Ward Branch
Socialist Party, Local Cook County.
DAVID J. BENTALL,
G. T. FRAENCKEL,
MAY WALDEN,