South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-03
$4,000 MINERS
FAMILIES BORDER
ON STARVATION
Union Men Tell Of Conditions
Existing Due to Numer-
Gus Labor Wars.

NEW YORK. March Thirty
I'VE thousand families Of miners In
West Virginia are in danger OK
star alton because Of the wide un-
employment iu that state. according
20 Fred Mooney. secretary Of District
L OF the United Mine Workers of
America
Mooney came 20 New York with
Frank Z Snyder editor OF the West
Virginia Federatlonlst. and W. T..
Harris. president OF the West Vir-
ginia state Federation of Labor.
raising funds for the destitute
miners
There are 10000 miners I'm West
Virginia out Of work today. Mooney
said. Among them are many VINO
have not worked more than three
months since the armistice was
signed in 1915 They are from the
Kanawha fields and the Grafton
fields IN northern West Virginia.
Little Work Available
Mines In the Kanawha field have
been operating less than 10 per cent
IN the last four months In the
Grafton field. ont OF 121 mines, sew
snteen are operating part time which
is generally about two or three days
a week
a few days ago I talked TO miners
a. Michigan and Elmo. ". Va, who
had not had a bite 90 eat for three
days. Al Beach Glenn. ". Va. In
Fayette county they have only
worked IA days In 1920 and 1921.
In Mount Clare there are 500 miners
who have worked but SO days IN the
last two years.
THE Blooming Rose mine camp.
in Boone county, has no food at all
In many Of these communities where
there are independent stores, as in
Smithers. West Virginia, the stores
have been closed since they suspend.
ed business. about December I. In
Bellsiow. West Virginia, there are
Sc families. and for 10 months they
have suffered without ever making a
direct appeal for relief.
"In Terrible circumstance"
Many Of the statements about
these conditions I'm West Virginia
have been questioned by the state
officials and by their sO-called in
vestigators. Mayor G.. ". Campbell
OF Huntington, ". Va, made "a per-
sonal investigation at Winifrede,
little place about y miles from
the state ca pitaL on his return he
made a personal donation of $3.50
and started a fund az mayor Of the
city OF Huntington 10 relieve the des-
titute families There are 298 fam
iAes in terrible circumstances at
Winifrede.
The reason for the unemplOy-
ment in West Virginia union fields,
as we see il. is because the operators
want the miners 20 break their con-
tracts with them and go TO work al
greatly reduced wages. The con-
tracts whic hthe operators want TO
see broken are those made by the
government in 1919 as result OF
the. bituminous coal commission
award.
The operators asked for a con-
ference to discuss the wage question
about six months ago. They wanted
a reduction in wages.
Just little Work"
we put the question Of employ
ment 90 them direct. Could YOU
promise US 100 per cent timer we
asked them. They replied No.
could you promise US so per cent
tlme?' They replied no" Could
YOU assure US % per cent work
Again they said NO. What could
you give us?' we asked. Just a lit
tie work but we can't promise any
thing was their answer.
THE operators in the fields are
trying 90 bring about an open-shop
policy and 10 smash the union -
badly that when the contracts eN-
pire on April ] the union will be
powerless 10 negotiate with the Oper-
ators."
Mooney and Snyder are under i'm
dictment in Logan county. along with
154 others on charges of conspiracy,
melting 70 riot and treason" as a
result Of the marches Il the union
miners into the non-union fields OF
West Virginia last September. There
are still pending 1900 indictments in
Logan. Almost all are of the local
union officials Mooney estimated
that more than $4,000 is needed
weekly 20 purchase food and keep
alive miners families who are on
the point Of starvation.