davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
Accuse Thugs Of Numbering
Inc ffending C|aTkSburg Men:

The following letter has been receiv-
ed by the Majority with a request for
NO other information
bearing upon the matter has been re-
ceived. but the letter makes the most
serious allegations, which, however,
are in keeping with the tactics COM
mon among the armed gunner en-
ployed BY the coal barons of this state
to tyrannize over the workers in the
mining towns.
Clarksburg, May Z, 1914.
W. B. Hilton,
Editor Majority,
Dear Comrade and Brother.
On the LIST day Of May, Hurley, Rob
ert, ames, Andrew and Harrison Ken
dali, the latter the son of Robert.
were on the hill above North View,
three miles southwest Of Clarksburg,
peace and doing no harm. All are
brothers, with the one exception not
ed. They thought of no danger. They
were out Of the city limits.
Suddenly two men in plain clothes
came UP and said: Consider your.
selves under arrest" Hurley got up
and asked: what for?" and he would
not tell him. He asked the man call
ing himself policeman what he had
DONE" and he answered nothing ;,
Then the man calling himself a "chief''
said II don't want you; go home.
Hurley turned his back, and the chief
fired at him and missed him. He
turned quick and the man fired sever.
al more shots at him. Just then James
who had been lying on the ground
turned to get up, and the man shot
him through and through. Harrison
said: Don't do that" and the men
then shot Harrison In the mouth, In
the knee, and shot three fingers on
his hand. The would-be murders then
ran.
Hurley dragged James and Andrew
carried Harrison down the hill to the
road. A buggy was passing and they
got the driver to take them In to the
st. Mary's hospital at Clarksburg
They had gone about half mile when
one of the same men who had shot
them leaped into the road and caught
the horse by the bit, and man with
his named Queen, had Ratchet, and
said: q viii split your brains out.
They wanted to take the two wounded
boys from the buggy and throw them
/ in the dirty Jacket up at North View
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
$4,000 Miners In Ohio
Are Called On Strike

The entire state of Ohio is in the
midst Of a mine strike. The mines
have been idle since April 1st. but he
strike was not called until Tuesday.
The miners were locked out by the
ona+ators who Aefused to run their
mines according to the new law pass
cd 6y the Ohio legislature, compelling
coal mined to be paid for according
ID 4be run Of mine" basis. Hereto
fore they have paid by the screen sys-
tenn.
The decision to strike was the re-
mIt of a vote of the men, who had
previously voted to accept the policy
committees decision of allowing each
district to settle its own scale.
Calling the strike will have the eff
feet of putting all the men on strike
benefits, which they have not been re-
ceiving until now.
The proposition to strike the Ohio
mines was put up to the executive
hoard Of the international, but action
was deferred, and the Ohio organiza-
tion then called the strike without
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

but the driver drove on with them.
The boys are lying at the point of
death in the hospital, and Hurley, Rob-
ert and Andrew are in the county jail
ut Clarksburg.
They were arrested on complaint OF
the same plain clothes men, who said
that they had thrown stones, hatehets,
bottles and clubs at them AS God 10
my judge this it not true.
Their mother just came in the jail
and told them that Harrison died this
morning, and James is little better.
Harrison will be buried at Shinnston,
beside the body of his little sister. o,
the sorrow and agony of his brothers
and father in jail. They don't know
whether they will get to see Harrison.
They are held for the grand jury,
which meets on June 5. The plain
clothes men are running loose yet.
Hurley has a mother SO years old,
. wife and three babies, all dependent
upon him for support Robert has
three motherles boys to support, his
his wife. HARRISON leaves a wife and
oen little baby
Now, comrades and brothers, these
men are honest, hard working men,
please take an interest in their wei.
fare.
A BROTHER.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
Brick|ayers And
Engineers Join

Bricklayers and Engineers have join
ed in an Offensive and defensive al
lance" So goes the march Of labor
solidarity. This is the latest develop
ment, and Business Agent John J.
Sheehan of the Stationary Engineers
has received copies of the agreement
from the international offices of the
union. The agreement will be effec-
tive in the Wheeling district imme-
diately.
The agreement specifies that men,
bers Of neither organization will work
withnonunion workers of the other
craft, and that she will take joint act
ion wherever possible. !.
This means, in the end, joint wage
agreement. The craft idea is rapidly
dying, and in its place is coming every
where the spirit of solidarity.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
Corset Striker
Is IN. Wheeling

Miss Ida LaPorte, representing Lo-
cal Union No. -, Ladies Garment
Workers International Union, which
comprises the striking corset makers
of Kalamazoo, Mich, is in the city in
the interest of her fellow girl workers.
She is visiting the merchants of Wheel
ing, explaining to them the conditions
under which corsets are manufacture
ed by the Kalamazoo Corset Company
and giving them the list of corsets
made by this concern.
She will also visit local unions
while in the city and tell them of the
two years struggle waged by these
girls for decent working conditions in
this big sweat shop
Almost all the merchants stop
handling the corsets when give them
the evidence that l have" said Miss
HaPorte to Majority representative.
They have had no idea that condi-
lions could be SO bad But when l
back up my statements with a satchel
full Of affidavits, they see the terrible
injustices that have been imposed sup-
on the girl workers of the corset max
ing industry and they join with US in
helping to better our conditions.
SIN the Kalamazoo corset factory
the girls are helpless, by reason of the
fact that the protection of organiza-
ton has been denied them They are
subject to obscene remarks, to the lib
ertlne attempts of bosses, and to COM
pulsory association with all manrNr of
vile things, including loathsome dis
eases. Added to all this is a wage
less than enough to live honestly up
on.
when we attempted to protect our
selves by organization we were locked
out, and the power Of the city govern.
ment, the courts, and even the chriSeh.
was used against us. One of our mems
bers, Miss Beatrice Phillips, was order
ed to quit the union or quit the church
this order coming from the pastor,
Rev. ]. G. Schaap, and the clerk, j. l.
Bushouse of the Third Christian Re-
formed church of Kalamazoo, of which
she had long been a faithful member.
She tearfully gave up the church, com.
PEELED to see that even the church to
which her soul had chung, had been
captured by her masters and was be-
ing prostituted to help Cypress her."
Miss LaPorte showed the Majority
man the letter sent by the church off,
Gals to Miss Phillips, and her reply.
The letter made no charge except the
girPss activity in behalf of unionism,
and said that this was not proper for
a. Christian"
Her reply closed with: II do not
want you to think that am disguised
with religion, for my belief in Chris
tianity is still the same, and / intend
to live as good life as l know how
to live, but | am Disguised with the
tactics you are using in your church,
and therefore l cannot be a member"
Miss LaPorte spoke before the Or
ganization Campaign Committee on
evening, and will address the
Trades Assembly next Sunday.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
More Letters To
Congressman Nicely

That Congressman M. M. Nicely may
be diven to act in the Dayton Investi-
cation now seems likely More than
four thousand appeals from citizens
have been received by him, and the
case Is beginning to look serious to
him, from political viewpoint. He
does not seem to be worried much over
the justice or injustice of the matter,
he does not seem to be pertubed over
innocent men in jail, and their homes
destroyed by Judge Dayton's orders,
but he is beginning to be worried over
ris political prospects.
He has probably figured out that,
allowing for all deductions of non-vot-
ers and political opponents from the
list Of those who have asked him to
bring about the investigation, there
are still enough of his own party who,
by scratching him, can bring about
his defeat for reelection. And he
wants to be reelected.
More Letters.
Letters are constantly pouring in to
him urging him to bring about this
investigation. Following are some of
them:
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
Belmont Assembly
Defends Lab0rerS

Defending the interest of the Hod
Carriers and Building Laborers, the
Belmont Central Trades and Labor
Assembly Sunday declared unfair the
contracting firms of Charles Keyser
and Criswell & Gates, charging their
refusal to pay the union scale for ex-
cavating of l25 cents per hour for an
eight hour day.
Work was called unfair on the build
ing of thine Shardyside Bank, being
erected by Criswell & Gates, and the
tearing down of the old Christian
church to make way for business
block, this work being done by hey-
ser
The excavating of the Federal build
ing was also unfair, but the contractor
who refused to observe union rules
later threw up the job, and the gener-
al contractor, who will have the re-
mainder of the work, Schellenberg,
says none but uio labor will be en-
ployed.
With Arbitration Board.
The matter has been put UP to the
arbitration board of the Bellaire Com
mercial Association, with the hope
that that body will induce the employ
ers to grant the very modest requests
of the hod carriers and laborers.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

These men are still in Jail for you.
They are serving because they have
been sent to prison by Judge Dayton's
high handed goSernment-by-injunct-
ion orders.
They have not been released on
bond, as has been enormously reported.
No decision has as yet been handed
down from the higher court to which
all the injunction cases were appeal
ed. Judge Dayton granted the injunc-
ton asked for by the Pittsburgh-West
Virginia coal company and strikers
were arrested under its provisions.
The decision was promptly appealed to
the United States Circuit Court of Ap-
peals, but before that tribunal decides
as to whether Judge Dayton's decision
can stand, Judge Dayton grasps the
opportunity to throw these men in
jail. If the higher court decides
against Judge Dayton these men will
have been illegally imprisoned, but
they will have no redress.
This would not happen to a rich
man, for he would be out on bond
pending the appeal.
Writing Letters.
Many are writing letters to these
martyrs to the cause of labor, telling
them of their sympathy. Any work
ing man who does not do at least this
is not doing his full duty to even him
self, and deserves the conditions OF
slavery to which such judges as Day.
ton are driving him.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

ored by the coal barons of West Vir-
ginia. They have such body now,
practically, as coal and railroad police,
but they must pay them themselves,
the State Cossack system such as
Governor Hatfield favors would SIM
ply give the stamp of legality to their
depredations and make the citizens
pay the bill.
States Position in Letter.
Governor Hatfeld's position in fav-
or of a State Constabularly is made
plain in the following letter recently
written by him to W. W. Rogers Of
this city, who, in letter to the gov
ernor, made a grand stand play about
organizing a calvary company to fight
for the Standard Oil company in Mex
leo.
The letter follows:
State of West Virginia, Executive De
partment, Charleston, w. Va,
April "A, 1914
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
STEUBENV|LLE MASS MEETING j.:
APPEALS TO PRESIDENT WILSON
TO PARDON DAYTON VICTIMS

A mass meeting was held at Steu-
benville, Ohio, under the auspices of
the Jefferson county Trades and La
Dor. Assembly, on Sunday, May Bird,
to protest against the action of Judge
A. G. Dayton in sentencing the or
ganizers and miners also Miss Fannie
SelIins to terms of imprisonment with
out a just cause. Spledid talks were
made by speakers from East Live
rpool, Vice President Roy of District
and President Van Bittner of Dis
trict 5.
The following was unanimously ad-
opted: -.s-se4...--->>s r.
Hon Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States.
Dear Sir:
We the citizens of the Ohio Valley
in mass meeting held at Steubenville,
Ohio, on the Bird day of May, 1914,
appeal to you as the executive head
of our country, for the immediate re-
lease from prison of the organizers
land miners, members of the United
thluC w vi h61 w liz WC1C
sentenced to- terms of Imprisonment
for violating an injunction which for
bid them to organize and pay relief to
men on strike. Also Miss Fannie Sell
Inns who was sentenced to a term of
Imprisonment at the same time as the
above members of the organization
~1or nothing moge than helping the
wives and children of the strikers by
? soliciting and in the way of clothes,
shoes and other necessities of life by
A. g. Dayton; Judge of the Northern
District of West Virginia on the 25th
day of April, 1914.
We further appeal to you to take
Immediate action whereby the Judicial
acts Of Judge A. G. Dayton maybe
investigated as we believe his actions
towards members of labor organiza-
lions are the actions of a man who
has lost all sense of reason, and JUS
stlce according to the laws of our coun-
ny and%tends to anarchy in the worst
form.
We<sdo not want the, civil war Of
Colorado to take place in West Vir-
slnla. but as sure as night follows day
IL the above Judge A. G. Dayton's acts
are not Immediately taken up and
thoroughly investigated and our fellow
citizens given justice, as granted by
Inc constitution of our country, we
lear, that in the near future we have
nothing to expect but civil war for
justice. in West Virginia.
[ FRED BUECHE,
r. GEORGE PGIILLIPSON,
WILLIAM .RALSTON,
HARRY BRADY,
R. D. SELWAY,
Committee
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

That Governor H. D. HatfAld wants
State Cossacks for West Virginia will
be an unpleasant shock for those of
his friends in this vicinity who have
been claiming him to be the friend
of the working man. The Cossack
system, as transplanted from Russia
and now in use in Pennsylvania, I'M
der the name of State Constabulary, or
Mounted State Police, is kept up for
no other purpose in the world except
to suppress the workers of any sec
tion who strike for better working con-
ditions. It was used against the
AmaIgamated Association strikers in
PENNSYLVANIA, it was used in the Pres
sed Steel Car Strike, in the Bethle-
bem Steel strike (Schwalb's) and has
Eheen used wherever the coal miners
nave tried to crawl out from under
|the system of horrible oppression that
prevails under nonunion conditions
A State Constabuiarly has been fay-
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
A Few Words From Behind The Bars
We REAP ONLY WHAT WE sow

Randolph County Jail, Elkins, w. Va.
have no complaint to make for be-
ing in Jail, because we, the workers,
select them first, then we select peo-
pie who dominate them, and conse-
Quently the dominatof places us work
ers in the jails to fill them. Funny is
| it not? but true. Therefore we should
have no complaint for being in jail.
Why not work for humanity as zeal
ously as we do for slavery and jails,
and have humanity Instead of slavery
and jails! we sll~v reap what
we have sowed, and not until then
will the working class be able to en-
joy life, liberty, and happiness when
we learn to support ourself and not
the fellow who places US in jail, as
a matter of reward for supporting
him.
This year is a record breaking year
for oppression, tyranny, and persecu-
ton. 1t matters not where we may
turn, the brutality from the ruling
class against the working class is IT.
repressible Undesirable. Why do we
stand for all that? l do not know.
Are we in the minority? Oh, no! we
are not; on the contrary we are in an
overwhelming majority if we would
only know how to use our power, but
the trouble is so many working men
don't care nor try to know it.
While this is fact then We have
no right to lament about the tyrani-
cal treatment we receive from the
privileged class.
Let US for a moment review the
partially of our government, the work
ing class is forced to obey the laws
to the letter and even where opin-
ions of people (injunctions) must be
complied with or the workers is sent
to jail. Let us now see the other side,
say for example, J. d. Rockefeller, Jr.,
on the Colorado situation. He defied
every branch of government of this
Republic, the entire country, he .defied
the highest tribunal, the humanity in
a soverin state, and established barbar-
ism. Wire is the judiciary with in
functions? Why not issue restrain
ing order prohibiting employing gun
men? Oh no, this is impossible be-
cause he is ]. D., Jr.
We have been arrested for support
ing miners and their families from
I.starvation and protecting them from
gunner, and because we did so we
committed a crime, and were sent to
Jail, why not do the same with ]. D.,
Jr? The lives were lost in Colorado,
i through the brutalities of hired gun
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
Engineers Have
Fine Meeting


stationary Engineers No. 131 were
.osts last night to a crowd Of their
t q and friends that filled the A.
y. y ". halls every chair. The af-
talF proved to be one Of the most en-
sossole Of all the social meetings yet
p Wl .oy the labor organizations Of
"neeFng in the organization cam
pa1gn now in progress.
The following program was carried
ooYerture-Marsh's Orchestra.
SS a'g Address,. v. Barton.
'oLo.Gladys PETER. Miss Mignon Len
pa Aalo Accompanist.
SS,eaolng-Miss Lenora Adams.
pt ali Alta Keldsing.
SS es with Music.
DIV Femarks-Walter B. Hilton.
p tano solo-Miss Adelede Schockey.
Se e,salng-Miss Lenora Adams.
PPtltection-o Orchestra.
Committee
uths = Barton. Otto Barth,. B. r. Car
c. H H. 'E samuel Lenkard, VIM Eyel, @
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
Golfers Strikers Pass
Resolutions Against
Dayton

Golfers, NV. Va, April 80, 1914
We as members of Local Union
1926, District No. 5, U. M w. Of A.,
located at Golfers, W. Va.
Resolved, the resolutions, condemn
ing Jud ge Dayton's Court for the i'm
prisonment Of our Brothers and Sis
ter, names as follows: Tony AMIGA,
four months; Frank Ledinvka, six
months; James Oates, six months;
Hiram Stephens, six months; Thomas
Smith, five months; Fannie Sellins,
six months; Seconds Coliffe, six
months; Charles Stevens, two months;
Weiner Nnnigan, six months; Ernest
Howald, three months; Samuel Bee
neck, thirty days; Dan Brown, thirty
days; Riley Stout was sentenced to
pay a fine Of $275 and 10 iaprison-
ment; David Altman was sentenced
to pay a fine of $500 dollars and no
Imprisonment For this reason our
local condemns Judge Dayton's Court.
For passing the sentences upon our
Brothers and Sister, without commit
ting crime, according to the laws of
the State. of West Virginia.
There is one more reason we con-
denim Judge Dayton's Court for kid
mapping Brothers Thomas Smith and
Seconds Coliffe and James Oats from
the State of Ohio into the State Of
West Virginia, under Judge Dayton's
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
Gov. Hatfield Wants
State Cossacks Here

W. w. Rogers,
My dear sir:
Your communication recently date,
relative to authorizing you to organize
a regiment of cavalry for service in
case it is demanded in Mexican strug-
gle, has been received.
shall be glad indeed to file your
letter and keep you in mind, and if
an opportunity affords itself | shall
be pleased to do what / can for you
to give you a chance to bring about
such an organization as you discuss in
your letter.
I think that you are quite right, the
state should have company of cav
airy at all times. 1t would be nat-
erial assistance if we could have con-
stabulary organization such as you
suggest for the purpose Of maintain
ing law and order.
With best wishes, believe me,
Yours very truly,
81. D. HATFIELD.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
MITCHELL CLUB GIVES
STEAMER EXCURSION

A steamboat excursion on the beau
tiful Ohio river will be given by the
Foresters Team, Mitchell Club of the
Modern Woodmen of America on the
evening of May d. The new steamer
Ohio" will be the scene of enjoyment
and the boat will leave the wharf al
1880 o'clock.
The committee has issued handsome
cards announcing the event, and prom
Using an evening of music, dancing
and general enjoyment. The music
will be by Bachmar's orchestra. The
committee comprises III. D. Claus, Joe
Weishar, John NJ. Postlewaite, Lloyd
Kyle; and Charles Hobitzell.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

waiting for further action by the in
fternational.
May Settle Hooking Valley.
There is a possible chance of set
ling the matter insofar as the dock
ing Valley is concerned, as the operat-
ors of that district have given reason
to believe that they will be willing
to sign a scale on the run Of mine
basis, and the only question will be
the price. This will affect 10000 men,
and would doubtless result in fore
ing the other operators to come in
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
PICKETING LAWFUL

Kansas City, Mo-, May Judge
John M. Kennedy does not agree with
the views of his predecessor in regard
to peaceful picketing. Five union
men were arrested on the charge of
picketing nonunion shop and the
court held that picketing in this state
is lawful if within bounds, and he will
allow men to walk UP and down while
picketing as long as they do not stop,
congregate or disturb the peace.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
PAINTERS HOPEFUL

San Francisco, May 7.-Oficers of
the striking Painters in this city re-
port that nearly $50 contractors have
signed the unions new wage scale,
which calls for a substantial increase.
The strike has been on a week, and
these workers are confident of victory
inethe very near future.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

Conditions Bad
Says John L.LeNiis

Conditions throughout what is call.
ed the Pittsburgh district are indes-
cribably bad" said John L. Lewis to
a Majority man last week. Mr.. Lewis,
who is organizer for the American
Federation of Labor, was in the city
to address the open meeting of the
Wheeling Stationary Firemen.
''In the industrial centers about
Pittsburgh there are so many idle men
that one cannot walk on the sidewalks
for them. They are there in such en-
ormous crowds that they simply block
the thorOughfares.
"As a natural consequence Of such
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

Ernest Howell, County Jail,
* MOrgantown, w. Va.
Chas. Clemens. County Jail,
Moundsville, w. Va.
Tony Amicone, County Jail,
st. Mary's, w. Va.
Hiram Stevens, County Jail,
Clarksburg, w. Va.
Dan Brown. County Jail.
Wellsburg, W. Va. g
Walter Finecum, County JAIL
Kingwood, w. Va.
Fannie Sellins. County Jail,
Fairmont, w. Va,
Sam Beeneck, County Jail
New Cumberland, w. Va.
Second Caleffe, County Jail
Parkersburg, w. Va.
James Oats, County Jail
Parsons, w. Va.
Frank Ledvinka, County Jail
lElkips w Va. -
Tom Smith, County Jail ,
New Cumberland, w. Va.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

CONTINUED on Page 20
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

CONTINUED ON Page 81
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

CONTINUED ON Page g.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07

tcontinued on Page 81.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-07
News Snapshots
OF the Week

killed and many wounded ii
the death Of 172 miners. {
the worst of recent Americs