The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-09-03
INDIANA COAL
MINERS MEET
Militants Convene in
- Bicknell
ARTICLE 1

BICKNELL, Indiana (By MaiD
The Indiana District Convention
of the National Miners Union was
formally opened here with the hold
ing of a large mass meeting under
the auspices of Local COL, Bicknell,
in Miners Hall. The speakers were
Patrick Toohey, National Secretary
Treasurer; William 4. Boyce, Ma
tional President, a native OF
Indiana; Mrs. Ora L. Boyee, repre-
senting the National Ladies Aux
iliaries of the N. NJ. u; Nels Kjar,
Trade Union Educational League,
and local speakers. Herman Col
Inns, President of the local union
COL, largest of N. III. u. locals in
Indiana presided.
Holding the Convention in Bick-
nell, with number of Negro dele
gates present, is of the greatest
significance. For years, Bicknell has
been noted for its anti-Negro atti-
tude, fostered by the Ku Klux- Khan
and the coal companies. There. are
signs at all entrances to Bicknell
reading: "Niggers, this is Bicknell,
keep on travelling" The National
Miners Union determined to wipe
this out if it ever secured strength
in Bicknell, and upon building L. U.
COL into a powerful local union of
more than 600 members took or
ganizational steps to challenge the
discrimination against Negroes. Con-
sequently the convention was sched-
uled for Bicknell and Negro dele
gates brought to attend, and to
speak at the public mass meetings.
+ Economics of Race War.
William A. Boyce was the first
Negro ever to speak in Bicknell. The
speeches of Boyce and Mrs. Boyce
were enthusiastically applauded
throughout the meeting. Boyce ad.
dressed the meeting principally with
regard to the economic base for ra-
cial discrimination, and the organi-
cation of the Negro miners as an
necessary task in the building of the
N. NJ. U. into a powerful organiza-
ton. "The Negro miners, perse-
cuted both as race and as class
are DESTROYS of organization, but
because of. the race prejudice sys-
tematically fostered by the employ
ers and gullibly absorbed by many
workers, they are being driven from
the side of the workers and into the
camp of the enemy"
Mrs. Boyce, in addition to discus
sing discriminate in, dealt with the
necessity of the organization of the
women and establishment of aux.
iliaries for the women and daught'
ers of the miners, as force of or.
ganizationa support to the miners
in their struggle against the mine
owners. Arrangements were made
for the establishment of Auxiliaries
in Bicknell and in several adjacent
towns.
D. w. Jones, District President
welcomed the delegates and spoke
of the rapid achievements of the
N. M. u, in Indiana district, anc
stated that the constructive deci'
sions of the convention would guar.
antee the development of a strong
N. M. U. in the state of Indiana
Condemning the U. M. w. A. fol
their many betrayals of the Goa
miners, Jones declared that the In
diana miners look to the N. M. U
for militant leadership in theil
struggle.
New Trade Union Center.
Kjar, organizer for the Trade
Union Educational League, spoke Of
the historic significance. of the
Cleveland Convention, which will
form a new militant trade unior
center.
Toohey presented the program Of
the National Miners Union OF
INFLAMMATION and unemployment
and called attention to the fact thai
today the miners of Indiana face the
most bitter struggle they have ever
known, due to thousands being dis
placed and driven from the industry
by the installation of machinery, the
growth of perma m unen,.- loyment
] and the lack of social insurance