Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-07-22
PoCAHoNTAs IN THE oLDEN
DAYS.

..eBio Tvs Ut Ohe over On HUNKS.
Clinch Valley News:
Public works will sooner or later
have their labor union problems to
deal with, and the Southwest Vir-
gInia Improvement Company was no
exception to the rule. After the ex-
plosion referred to in last article and
things were apparently running
smoothly, there began to be murmer-
lngs among the union men, who at
tina. time were principally ,colored
men, that foreigners were being Civ
en- the best places. 1t was charged
that the mine foreman were accept
ing brides from the Hungarians and
other foreigners in consideration of
this favored treatment. Whether this
was true or not. there is said to be
no doubt that there was almost open
discrimination in favor of the Hun
garlans. Chances are that they were
better miners than the Americans.
and the company did give them a
good show, as they wanted to get
the coal out. 1t Is not thought by
NY one that the coal company show
Ell favoritism: but if any was shown
u was these foremen, who were prob
rbly proiiting by it. Denial was made
81 the charges. by the bosses, but it
iidnt go. The union kept on "rais-
ing sand" about it. and finally call
"a mass meeting to publicity state
heir position. AT this public meet
hg there appeared before the union
I merchant of the town who had not
oeen there very long, but was be-
coming well known and prominent.
rms was John l.. Babcr, and having
quite an extensive trade among the
nuhgarians it seems that he was
prompted (either by their solicitation
or ON his own iniative to address the
mass meeting. II developed as he
proceeded that his sympathies were
IN the side of the Hungarians, and
ne members of the union refused TO.
lsteh 10 MN, but proceeded to make
'uch demonstration against him
mat he was forced to bring his
speech to close. Another man smoke
and if we remember correctly his
name was John A. Dinsmore. whose
gray hair and long white beard won
nm more respectful hearing than WINS
accorded to Mr.. Baber. Pcrhaps there
were other citizens who addressed
the meeting, but none of the mine.
posses were present. 1t was decided
that they would not work anv moro
until conditions. were remedied and
notices were ordered to be posted to
| that effect. 1t was also decided to
| take steps to see that the other fell
lows did not work. The notices that
were posted forbade any one to en-.
| ter the mines.
/ The company officials read the no.
tices, and for the protection of thr
men (Hungarians) who were afraid
20 attempt to enter, they decided To
march them up in IA body. enter the
mines and go to work.
The members of the union (princ.
| ipaily negroes as stated abovc) went
early to the drift mouth the ncxi
morning and took positions abov.
! inc drift mouth and on the side OF
the mountain near the entrance. To
use the expression of one of the mer
,hey were as thick as buzzards about
the mine, and on hill above the
place where the Hungarians would
come Everybody in town was LOOK.
ing Tor some excitement that morn.
'nG and they were not disappointed
The Iungarians began to shor,
signs of weak nerve before thew
neared the drift mouth, but were ure.
ca on by "Bill" Moody and "Bili'
Jones, both mine foremen. 1t could
DC seen that they were constantly
talking to the Hungarians in the
march, cheering them up. They
marched up the railroad track in .
BODY, and large body it was for
several hundred were employed at
mat time: The negroes kept quiet in
thelr position until the Hungarians
came nearly to the mine entrance
ldrift MOUTH, when such an avail
anche CT rocks, coal, picks, pick
handles and every other available
weapon or chunk that could be thrown
or hurled at the foreigners was turn
ed loose down the mountain side to
ward them: The Hungarians broke
and ran pell nell heller SHELTER down
the rairoad tracks the same wav
they came, Bill Moody and Bill Jones
10 TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
Ihey went back to town much quick
Gr IMAM tney came up, and in much
less orderly fashion. Moody and
Jones might have been soldiers at
one time and possibly commanded a
company of men, but whether thew
ana or not they certainly had no con-
.rol over these Hunks after that
shower of rocks, coal, picks, etc. II
was some fun to see them getting
back to town, pursued by the negroes
Tor some distance. THE union had
carried their point so far. But the
coal company wired the governor for
troops to operate the mines. The
soldiers came, and work was resum-
ed. An adjustment was soon made
with the American miners who were
given n more equitable distribution
OF cars and places to work, and SO
everybody was happy for time.