The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1920-07-23
SITUATION IN BITUMI\OUS
FIELDS OF WEST VIRGINIA
Is TENSE WITH BOTH
SIDES DETERMINED
TO WIN
UNION MEN LIVE WITH
FAMILIES IN TENTS
ARMED GUARDS PATROL
THE MINE PROPERTIES
FOLLOWING EVICTION
BY OPERATORS OF
STRIKERS

Williamson, w va, July 30 IA'
campaign OF the United Mine Work
ers TO organize the 5000 miners II
the Mingo county hituminous Goa
field has precipitated situation
which each side declares can onI,
end when II has won complete vic
tory. In the conflicts growing out OF
this move twelve more persons have
lost their lives. Wages, apparently
form secondary consideration. the
battle being waged around recognf
tion Of the union and the right o.
mine owners 10 hire private detec-
tives in and around the mines.
THE men and the operators could
get together and settle this thine
were 1t not for the question OF Tho
mine guards" said Ches. F. Keene>
Efesident OF District No. II. United
Mine Workers, who Is in command
OF the union forces. But in thea
present temper these men are not Il
be fooiod with. Right now this situa
tion Is a powder mill.
There is not a mine guard in Min
go county. and there has not been foi
years" said George Bousewine, sec
retary Of the Coal Operators asso-
citation of Williamson Private de-
tectives are employed as other cor
rstions empoly detectives for II
telligence work In and around theii
properties. They are not used foi
guarding the mines
The question Of wages brings oi
the scale hid In the Kanawha field
The union leaders declare that adop
tion of this scale would increase tn,
earnings of the miners in Mingc
while the operators insist that thei
miners. under the scale now in force
are being paid more than II is pos
sihle for the Kanawha miners {
earn. However little attention Is be
ing paid to that phase OF the contro
versey. Recognition Of the union
the big issue.
The Mingo field includes all OF Mir
go county and the mines along tn,
Kentucky side OF the Tug rivera sha
low, narrow stream which for mile
in this region form sthe houndar.
between Kentucky and West Virgin
Ia High mountains rise abruptly on
each side Of the river, their sides GOV
cred with a heavy growth of bushes |
Along the mountain sides are tn,
drift mines from which comes the |
coal and nesting in the narrow val
ley are the little towns where I've |
the miners and their families.
Fully rs per cent OF the miners II
the region are native born, many OF |
them the descendants OF pioneers who |
entered the county more than 10
years ago, and who are proud OF thei
can be found in the camps. whii, |
lineage. Some foreign born miners
numbers OF negroes are employed /
Often the miner owns a small acre
age, for which In the planting an
harvesting he will abandon the mines
In some places the miners live fr
brick cottages, each having its gar
den plot and front porch. Such a
village Is Boordertown. where early |
this month miners were fired upon
from the mauntainside while goinp
TO work, In other villages the house
are OF fran construction. each set h
its own garden plot and for which
the miners pay at the rate of So per
month per room.
Williamson, the center Of the re
gion, is pleasantly placed in the val
ley. with substantial buildings. ant
good stores. The Mingo county cour
house Is one OF the best structures.
but the city hall also Is a complete
office building. while there Is IN
course OF construction a theatre |
which will cost s250.0oo. The 5000 |
residents OF the town very generals |