Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-12-30


dstres failed? It has been answered that the etnpTry
nature of the employment gave men something 70 h2
for in proportion as they had nothing to lose but tfs
does not make for permanency Of organization e mas
resulted in organizing the migratory workers OF the cou
try It has been explained that other industries nave ma
unusual obstacles set in their path Could any obstacles
be more formidable than the Mine Workers have sur
mounted? Bribery, threatening, have been resored tc
when the studied plan Of keeping mine workers III lgno
ance had failed When that too had failed the operators
stopped at nothing Assaults and murder nave peeh per
petrated upon awakening miners with sch frequency as
ia no longer occasion comment West Virginia and Colo
RADIO have been the latest examples ct through II al
through isolation and starvation against violence bpe
legislators and corrupt judges the miners nave forged on
ward until they have improved their WORKING conoltio
100 per cent and built up organization Wcn the WIo
American Labor movement can lean against in times OF
trouble
To this success there have been contributing cause
which this paper locks the space to enmerate But tn
chief cause has heen the efficiency OF their ohcers Ihef
something about the life in the bowel OF the eath tha
develops real men, with the cleamess to perceive th(
the stachness to have convictions, and the courage
maintain them These officers have held together this
mighty group of aarenty conflicting factions OF work
RS first with their trade differences and later with the
supposed race preudices 1t is surely the most stupe
Gus thing in the history Of the Labor movement that
nearly half million men, Of every shade OF reglous pc
lief and nonbcef of every race beneath the SUM- speaking
every language of the Tower OF Babel have been Kept 70
gether and IN spite of the fact that mine work is divided
into MANY trades. have found harmonious way III
completely industrial organization.
We cannot give TOO mucn cfeull, tIleH " l1ol
Charles Albasn He is brilliant sample OF the type OF
men whose leadership has teered the United Mine ork
er through the shoals Of human seshness and the traps
set by the employers For year and half ne generated
the strike of 1900 Eastern Ohio when the hrst
two weeks exhausted their finances and through the
weary months that followed there was aid whatever
Even when benefits started lar there was about
$4,000 week to raise with no weeks promise sure
week before On the side the operators united
in wall of iron the other was the workers. hungry
with their wives and children needing food their mer
chants clamoring for pay Between these and in varying
degrees Of activity but all leaning toward the side Of the
operators we're the business men, the professional men
and the newspapers Actively aiding the operators by
their unavoidable philosophy directed against the union
officials, we're the W. W. Keeping the discordant eIe-
ments together checkmag the schemes Of the operators
mailing the lies the press overcoming the arguments OF
the professionals countefactng the influence Of the bs
ness men, combating the REASONABLE Vaccinations OF the
III W W. within the ranks-surey these made full man
size lob! But Albasin not only equal to THIS put 10
addition he worked hundred honorable plans and met
the enormous financial drain During all that long strike
i NOT one man. woman or child starved.
The success Of the United Mine Workers Of America
lis assured the members will continue to improve thel1
conditions and the ranks will continue to grow bringing
larger life to millions Because they will continue to snow
their good Judgment by electing officials like Charles
Abasin the fighting president Of Sub-Gstnct o.