Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-09-09
COMMENT over
WEST VIRGINIA
THE CIVIL WAR IN WEST
VIRGINIA
"POLITICAL DYNAMITE"


When the question of sending the
federal army into the southern coal
fields of the state for the purpose
of quelling the Instruction of arm
ed miners came up for decision at
Washington one or two correspond
ents there who should have known
better sent out dispatches to the ef-
feet that, in the words OF one or
them the West Virginia situation
was Charged with political dyna-
mite"
In one sense, the West Virginia
situation was and is charged with
political dynamite and this is that
it has and is arousing the public
generally to realization that some
of the fundamental political theories
which have allowed the uprising OF
armed and irresponsible mobs In
this state must sooner or later IN
dergo revision and improvement.
But in the sense conveyed by the
Washington commentators mention
ed, there is no more political dyna-
mite involved than there is in the
head of a parIor safety match which
the side of it's box.
This has been proved beyond any
question in this state and elsewhere
IL the Washington writer's to whom
reference is made believed that the
United Mine Workers of America by
the tactics they have employed In
the West Virginia mining sections
are welding a political menace
which is ominous and must be treat
ed accordingly, they are most GER
tainly mistaken.
The Keeneys and the MONEYS ana
the Montgomerys and the COMPRISES
came to a well prepared test on the
political mat in this state at the last
fall election, and they lost decisive
ly. They moved heaven and earth
to make good their threats of WELD
ing a powerful political weapon. They
even cajoled and inundated and
used what was then the majority
party organization for the purpose
of serving their own ends. But
they lost out, as they should have
lost out, and the figures OF the last
election yet show that radical union
leadership has definitely lost its po-
litical grip. The better element of
organized labor voted its disgust
of it Enthusiastically and emphatical-
Fly.
The United Mine Workers of
America under the present radical
and irresponsible leadership of such
men as keeney and Mooney, melted
aIoa xIff
ces Of John l.. Lewis and Samuel
Gompers, have lost virtually all the
political influence in this state they
ever had. They have preached the
gospel of force and of intimidation
'ather than that of peace and good
will and mutual understanding,
such as should rightly characterize
the purposes and actions of all labor
organizations. These radical lead
ers have been responsible for the
instruction and bloodshed that have
occurred in Mingo, Logan, Boone
end Kanawha counties.
Now the people will not counter
ance any program Of this sort. The
state and f"iaral authorities OBJ
0usly cannot, for laws must be up
held and enforced. The public has
turned against it. And, included in
that public is great majority Of
the rank and file Of organized labor
itself. The sane and sensible, peace
loving aud '~-v "Ni.ling members Of
United Mine Workers of Amer
lea have ..-.I3 GiSgusted with it.
The same hindG Of members of 9th
cr union labor organizations have