The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-03
torial orl,rr1entl
on Current Subiectsl
UNION LABOR AND coRNwELl

UNION LABOR AND coRNwELL
From the National Labor Journal.
In the neighboring State Of West
Virginia, organized labor has aroused
itself TO the dangers to It involved in
the candidacy Of John J. Cornwell for
Governor. Cornwell, whose anti.union
record and views are proven by his
writings, his record as q State Sen.
ator, and his corporation connections.
has the backing OF Clarence W. Wat.
son. Democratic National Committee
man from West Virginia. Mr.. Watson
10 known In West Virginia as union
labor's bitterest enemy He has for
many years met all efforts to union.
lie his mines with force when neces.
sary and 1t has frequently been neces-
sary, 1t seems, with long string
OF fatalities ensuing. wisconsin In
West Virginia is paralleled only by
the conditions which prevailed in Colo.
RADIO mines.
wisconsin Is under a terrific at.
tack In the campaign now drawing to
q close for Governor have been held
up to the light and riddled full OF holes
by State fairly alive with courag.
eous critics. Men are leaders in the
attack who never dared to assert
themselves before.
On the other hand. Judge Ira E. Rob.
inson's labor record is such as to en-.
thuse the friends Of the labor move.
ment. His record has ben scanned
page by page, and there hasn't been
found a fault by committees Of or.
ganized labor, but on the contrary
much to praise. His dissenting opin.
ion as a Judge Of the State Court OF
Appeals which was rendered in the
spring Of 1913. In which he held that
the governor had not the right to try
any civilian by court martial, attract.
ed nationwide attention. Judge Rob.
inson Is known among the miners of
West Virginia as "the man who kept
US out Of the bullpens." This case
grew out Of the great Cabin Creek
strike, where military zone was es.
tablished against striking miners.
We are herewith publishing q state.
ment given to the press In West Vir.
ginia last week, signed by twenty
leading union labor leaders, and
which. according to reliable reports,
turned the tide Of voting sentiment
overwhelmingly toward the candidacy
OF Judge Robinson.
"Believeing that It Is vital to the
best interests OF the State that labor
be fairly treated, and realizing that
Democratic State government will be
bitterly antagonistic to the best in.
terests Of labor and the public well
fare In the tSate Of West Virginia, we
feel 1t our duty to call your attention
to conditions that exist in the present
campaign.
"As citizen, county official Of Tay.
Tor county and State Senator, Judge
Ira e. Robinson's treatment Of labor
was eminently fair; rs q Judge OF the
Supreme Court Of Appeals in his dis
senting opinion in the now famous
martial law case, he stood like a stone
wall, not only in the interest OF 10,
Dor alone, but Of liberty and justice.
When Judge Robinson wrote his de.
cision in the case against the bull
pen he had no thought of being a can
didate at the coming election. BY
that decision he proved that he was a
true friend Of human rights, in the
very sense Of the word.
THE Democratic nominee for Gov.
ernor, John J. Cornwell, both as q
public official and as a publicist, has
been unfriendly to labor. Mr.. Corn.
well is being supported by men whose
lives show them to be bitter, relent.
less foes of the laboring man-men
like Clarence w. Watson, who directs
the Consolidated Coal company, of
Fairmont, the largest operating com.
pany in West Virginia, operating ap.
proximately fiftYone coal mines-a
man who will not allow a representa-.
tive OF labor to get across to men EN-.
ployed In or about the works, unless
they pass the notorious wrecking
crew, which can only be done after
being mutilated and beaten up.
Again, men like Taylor Vinsen, the
notorious corporation lawyer OF Hunt.
ington. whose record as chief corpor.
alton lobbyist before the West Vir.
ginia legislature Is one unre!enting
antagonism to labor, have left their
party to oppose Judge Robinson be.
cause Of his own friendly record to
labor, and to support John ]. Cornwell
because they believe he will be, IL
elected, a willing instrument In their
hands in mutilated of constructive
legislation and oppose TO interests of
the laboring men.
Yet We find Watson. union labor.
ers' bitterest foe. in absolute and un.
disputed control of John ]. CornwelIs
candidacy, moving the Democratic
headquarters, deposing chairmen and
leading Cornwell around with q lash
Feeling as We do, we urge every
man who believes in q square deal for
the laboring man to Join in defeating
this dangerous and vicious effort to
prostitute government, and we earn.
estly urge every worker, rega $dless of
partisan politics. to vote for Judge
Ira E. Robinson, and thus prove labor
does defend her friends and has a
heart Of gratitude"
This is q statement Of the facts.
The National Labor Journal have In.
vestigated them and vouches for them.
II Messrs. Watson and Cornwell sue.
coed in West Virginia next week, It
Ia. indeed. hard to estimate just how
grave a blow the labor movement in
there will have doalf A ctupnIpo q nI