The Cordova daily times., 1920-08-05
WEST VIRGINIA
 COAL MINERS
 ORGANIZING

WILLIAMSON, w. Va, Aug. (by Associated Press). campaign of the United Mine Workers to organ ize the 5000 miners in the Mingo county bituminous coal field has pre- cipitated a situation which each side | declares it can only end when it has won a complete victory. In the con- flicts growing out of this move 12 or more persons have lost their lives. Wages, apparently, form a secondary consideration, the battle being waged around recognition of the union and the right of mine en- ployers to employ private detectives in and around the mines.
 "The men and the operators could get together and settle this thing were it not for the question of the mine guards" said Charles F. Keeney, president of District No. IT, United Mine Workers, who is in command of the union forces. But in their pres ent temper these men are not to be fooled with Right now this situa- tion is a powder mill"
 There is not mine guard in Min go county and there has not been for years" said George Bausewine, secretary of the Coal Operators Asso- citation, of Williamson. Private de- tectives are employed as other cor porations employ detectives for in telligence work in and around their properties. They are not used for guarding the mines"
 The question of wages hinges on the scale paid in the Kanawha field. The union leaders declare that the adoption of this scale would increase | the earnings of the miners in MingO, while the operators insist that their miners, under the new scale now in force, are being paid more than it is possible for the Kanawha miners to earn. However, little attention is be- ing paid to that phase of the con- troversy Recognition of the union is the big issue.
 The Mingo field includes all of Mingo county and the mines along the Kentucky side of Tug river, a shallow and narrow stream which for miles in this region forms the boundary between Kentucky and West Virginia. High mountains rise abruptly on each side of the river, their sides covered with a growth of bushes. Along the mountain sides are the drift mines from which comes the coal and nest ling in the narrow valley are the little towns where live miners and 1 their families.
 Fully 75 per cent of the miners in the region are native born, many of them the descendants of pioneers who are proud of their lineage. Some foreign-born miners can be found in the camps, while numbers Of negroes are employed. Often the miner owns a small acreage, for which in the planting and harvesting season he will abandon the mines.
 In some places the miners live in brick cottages, each having it's own garden ploc and front porch. Such a village is Bordentown, where early this month miners were fired upon from the mountainside while going to work. In other villages the houses are of frame construction, each set in it's own garden plot, and for which the miners pay ct the rate of two dol lars per month per room
 Williamson, the center of the region. is pleasantly placed in the valley, with substantial buildings and good stores. The Mingo county court house is one of the best structures, but the city hall also is a complete office building, while there is in course of construction theatre cost ing $250000. The 5000 residents of the town very generally enjoy the prosperity which has come to the coal trade in the past few years.
 Early in the year the movement to organize the United Mine Workers was inaugurated by President Keeney from district headquarters at Charles l ton, and organizers were sent to