The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-07
SOUNDS
Note OF WARNING !;
TO COAL Miners
RADICALISM GREAT
DANGER OF THE HOUR
In Address at Bluefield, Tue
Governor Foresees Anothei
Coal Strike Sc

BLTEFIELD, w. Va. Feb. 6.--G0Ss
ernor John j. Cornwell, In an address.
before the Chamber Of Commerce herr
tonight. warned trade unionists tAAt
"ir they arc going to allow radical leoes-
crs To trail them off from their Je1rtiss
mite field of endeavor and induce 5hems
to stake their future on a radical reN0tu-
tionary program OF Matchmaking fAno5
socialiZing the industries Of the country.
as we'll as public utilities, they asp g.
ing 10 encounter the fsturdy oppooitoN
been their very good friends and hsip+
crS. slfsfst-s-s.
Governor Cornwcll touched upon IT,,
question Of labor organizations and 5tAs
tho announcement that John L.. LeWe4
acting president Of the United 'MRes
Workers of America had been in Biz:
field arranging TO organize the Norfo1D
L. Western coal field 49,
Il have always been trade unicnfstH
said the governor. Il have always, -
licved not only that wage cafn6no
have right to organize 10 better fhettl
wages and their working conditio19
but they have accomplished much
through such organlzatio The he1kt;
tits secured would have come, perhatAs
in time. without the organization. co,,lt
az the world progressed and men cat
Ia think more Of their duty to their ci3llI
less about themselves and their Own ~:
tercsts. but certainly trade unions ha$H.
accomplished great deal and hastenS6s
the improvements In wages and WORKING
conditions. 80
Danger Of Radlcalisln. 20
There is just now great danger t1o
unions will lose much they have Rain(1ss
There is danger that the primary pass
poses for which they were orEanlna1'
viii be lost sight Of. There is danHOF
that ambitious leaders will succeed In,
their attempt to drag trade unlolas
away from the task they have foiloN(
and through which they have ACCOM-
Pushed great deal for their membeSA
That task was to secure fair waNs9
and proper living conditions. Pu6ate
sentiment and sympathy have alNaOn,.
or nearl" always. been with the unioiSd
In heir f:shts. for the public has re,
oEnizcd the justice OF their cause. How
ever. in the recent steel and coal strih002
public sentiment and sympathy were 1T
with the strikers. fsSsy
Why this change? In the case ,oe
the steel strike the public knew the m1Sls,
were getting good wages. some Of thGo
enormous wages. The public knew, tia
the steel corporation. at which ~
strike was largely aimed. had sold atclok
to its employees below the market vn109
looking work to better the conditioN q Z
its employees. sss.-
But even these things were nat a.
decisive factor in determining puN'1e
sentiment. The determining faAfiS.
perhaps, was the type Of men VIM !.
ganizcd and conducted the strike, or ekke
things for which those men stood = ~;
The Steel stfitA w. w
The people knew that ostse ~ Is!
syndicalist. though his defenders, q
Guiding MI. GomperS. claimed he ~;
reformed. changed mis- mind.
The 2eople knew. that II the Itt6l;
strike was won Foster and FitSEGfGo3
ana the newly organized steel w0skSt7
would be declaring for the natioHaliHe,
ton of the steel mills and ore lanids aD1
mines and demanding Of congress- tha1
through. -, ~
The people knew that such q pfo-
gram is un-American. so the steel strtkG
was not an industrial strike or contfo.
versy In the ordinary sense where rne4l
were striking for better wages and bots
ter working conditions. The people
knew IT was political, social, reyoiu-
tionary. And 90 they did not give n )
their sympathy or their aid. Many oFSf
ghnlZed workers in other lines Of ii1dun:
try understood this thoroughly and n. z
(continued on Pags Nt1s.)