The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-06-17
How the Coal Strike Is Organized.
and Spread in East Ohio

of 25 representing both mines day and night
shifts, as well as the young miners women and
children. The National Miners Union is push
ing forward many young organizers who are
sent out into the field to spread the strike
throughout Eastern Ohio,
These young miners in Piney Fork are really
the leaders of the strike the chairman and Sec
rotary of the strike committee picket captains,
etc. all being young miners. The National
Miners Union is practicing real trade union
democracy the rank and file controlling every
move that the union makes in the strike No
more can the old phrase, "lack of forces" be
used as an excuse for inactivity. The miners
themselves are the best organizers you can
find This present coal strike will produce scores
of young forces who will lead the National
Miners Union on forward to new victories,
The very first morning the picket lines were
almost 100 per cent effective all but Is Lewis
strike breakers staying out on strike. The
miners got up at a. m, woke up all the miners,
their wives and children and brought them to
the picket line. At 10 a. m. huge overlooking
strike mass meeting was held at the Miners
Hall, where reports of the picket captains, nego-
tiations committee ETC., we're made.
Organize Spreading of Strike.
The strike is not being spread merely on an
artificial basis, but is being organized and pre-
the union For example, when the negotiations
committee reported that the superintendent
''Mussolini" Simpson, declared that he will mot
talk to the miners until they go back to work.
the miners instinctivey saw the necessity of
Immediately spreading the strike to all other
mines Of the same Hanna Coal Co.
The miners proposed to march to the Fair
point, DilIonvale and Lafferty mines. The first
march was organized on DiLonvale No. l, when
the miners with motor caravan Of over so cars
invaded the company camp. The whole mining
community, all the women and children of the
miners came out with open arms to welcome
the NJ NJ. U. motor caravan of the Piney Fork
strikers We organized mass meeting right in
front of the mine pit just as the miners were
quitting work. We raised our immediate de-
mands that the miners were striking for, and
called upon them to support the strike by walk
ing out the next morning We also distributed
leaflets, calling them to attend the strike meet
ing after work at the Bohemian Hall, to which
at least 100 Dillon No miners turned out. At
this meeting we elected another strike commit
tee of Is rank and file miners of Dillon No.
mine, made arrangements for picketing and as
signed some so striking miners and their wives
to help picket Dillon also. The next morning,
on the basis Of these preparations, we had 90
per cent walkout.
Inc morale OF the strikers is wonderful we
are keeping up the enthusiasm of the strikers
by constantly keeping on the offensive, pulling
out at least one mine every day, dramatzing
the struggle through mass picket lines, mass
marches upon different mines, long motorcades
with signs and slogans, singing of strike songs,
etc. We keep constantly in touch with the
miners through daily strike meetings and by
putting up a strikers wall bulletin in the hall
where meetings are held.
OF course it would be wrong to say that mis-
takes are not being made. We still have many
shortcomings to overcome. The strike commit
tee, for example is still too loosely organized.
The preparations could be much more thorough
and systematized. but, in spite of this the Ma
tional Miners Union organizers are sWamped
daily with miners from outside mining camps
who urge us to come to their mines to pull them
out on strike.
n. M. u. Grows.
The strike struggles are the best time to build
up the local unions. Already about 300 miners
joined the N. M. u, with scores of cards rolling
in every day. We constantly remind the miners
that without joining the N NJ u, even if all
demands are won, that their gains will be short
lived unless backed up by a strong National
Miners Union.