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By: Emily Cruse By: Emily Cruse

Mine strikes in wv

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The mine wars that occurred in West Virginia

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Page 1: Mine strikes in wv

By: Emily CruseBy: Emily Cruse

Page 2: Mine strikes in wv

Life in a Coal Camp would not be Life in a Coal Camp would not be referred to as the “Good ‘ol Days!referred to as the “Good ‘ol Days!

Page 3: Mine strikes in wv

The men depended on their job in every single part The men depended on their job in every single part of life. The Coal Camps were Communities of life. The Coal Camps were Communities owned by the Coal Company.owned by the Coal Company.

•They lived in the coal camp; therefore, they had to pay the coal company rent.

•They bought their groceries from the coal owners at the company Store. They were paid in script; therefore, it was only good at the over priced company store.

•Men worked all day in the mines, while the women worked hard to keep the home, family, and possible animals taken care of.

•The Miners had to purchase their own tools, shoes, gloves and clothing

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Life in the Coal CampLife in the Coal Camp

Page 5: Mine strikes in wv

These communities were created by coal companies so that workers could live near the mines. The coal companies built and owned everything, including schools, churches, stores, theaters, and residential structures. Several were found around the state. The most familiar camps were located in Logan County.

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Cribbing-Miners were also denied their Cribbing-Miners were also denied their proper pay through this system. proper pay through this system. Workers were paid based on tons of coal Workers were paid based on tons of coal mined. Each car brought from the mines mined. Each car brought from the mines supposedly held a specific amount of coal, supposedly held a specific amount of coal, such as 2,000 pounds. such as 2,000 pounds.

Page 7: Mine strikes in wv

•cars were altered to hold cars were altered to hold more coal than the more coal than the specified amount, so specified amount, so miners would be paid for miners would be paid for 2,000 pounds when they 2,000 pounds when they actually had brought in actually had brought in 2,5002,500

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•Miners were often cheated by the weigh men. They were not paid for rock or slate.

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1890-1912- West Virginia had a higher 1890-1912- West Virginia had a higher mine death rate than any other state. mine death rate than any other state. Worst coal accident in WV-On December Worst coal accident in WV-On December 6, 1907, an explosion at a mine owned by 6, 1907, an explosion at a mine owned by the Fairmont Coal Company in Monongah, the Fairmont Coal Company in Monongah, Marion County, killed 361. Marion County, killed 361.

Page 10: Mine strikes in wv

In response to poor conditions and low In response to poor conditions and low wages in the late 1800s, workers in most wages in the late 1800s, workers in most industries developed unions industries developed unions

Attempts to form a union failed many times in West Virginia!

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1912- the union had lost control of much 1912- the union had lost control of much of the Kanawha- New River Coalfield. That of the Kanawha- New River Coalfield. That year, UMWA miners on Paint Creek in year, UMWA miners on Paint Creek in Kanawha County demanded wages equal Kanawha County demanded wages equal to those of other area mines. to those of other area mines. The operators rejected the wage increase The operators rejected the wage increase and miners walked off the job on April 18, and miners walked off the job on April 18, beginning one of the most violent strikes in beginning one of the most violent strikes in the nation's history. the nation's history.

Page 12: Mine strikes in wv

Strike-to stop work in order to force an Strike-to stop work in order to force an employer to comply with demands employer to comply with demands

•Union-an association of workers banded together in the interests of its members UMWA-United Mine Workers Association

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County Coal Operators Association in County Coal Operators Association in 1903-the first such organization in 1903-the first such organization in the state. the state. It hired private detectives from the It hired private detectives from the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency in Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency in Bluefield as mine guards to harass Bluefield as mine guards to harass union organizers. union organizers.

Page 14: Mine strikes in wv
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Paint-Creek StrikePaint-Creek Strike

This was the Beginning of the great Coal This was the Beginning of the great Coal War in West Virginia.War in West Virginia.Those that participated in the strike were Those that participated in the strike were evicted from their homesevicted from their homes

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Bull Moose Special- Both sides committed violent Bull Moose Special- Both sides committed violent acts, the most notorious of which occurred on the acts, the most notorious of which occurred on the night of February 7, 1913. night of February 7, 1913. An armored train, nicknamed the "led by coal An armored train, nicknamed the "led by coal operator Quin Morton and Kanawha County operator Quin Morton and Kanawha County Sheriff Bonner Hill, rolled through a miners' tent Sheriff Bonner Hill, rolled through a miners' tent colony at Holly Grove on Paint Creek. Mine guards colony at Holly Grove on Paint Creek. Mine guards opened fire from the train, killing striker Cesco opened fire from the train, killing striker Cesco Estep. Estep. In retaliation, miners attacked a mine guard In retaliation, miners attacked a mine guard encampment at Mucklow, present Gallagher. In a encampment at Mucklow, present Gallagher. In a battle which lasted several hours, at least sixteen battle which lasted several hours, at least sixteen people died, mostly mine guards.people died, mostly mine guards.

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Mary Harris Jones- was known as the Mary Harris Jones- was known as the "white-haired 'Mother' Jones" of the labor "white-haired 'Mother' Jones" of the labor movement. Jones is best known for her movement. Jones is best known for her struggles to win decent living and working struggles to win decent living and working conditions for the United Mine Workers.conditions for the United Mine Workers.

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Cont…Mother JonesCont…Mother Jones

On September 21, 1912, Jones led a march with On September 21, 1912, Jones led a march with coal miners' children.coal miners' children.February 12 she was arrested while protesting February 12 she was arrested while protesting the conditions in the strike area. She was the conditions in the strike area. She was arrested and convicted in a military court of arrested and convicted in a military court of conspiring to commit murder, and sentenced to conspiring to commit murder, and sentenced to 20 years in prison. 20 years in prison. She was at least 68 years old and suffered from She was at least 68 years old and suffered from pneumonia. However, newly elected Governor pneumonia. However, newly elected Governor Henry D. Hatfield pardoned her.Henry D. Hatfield pardoned her.

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Henry D. Hatfield was sworn in as governor. Henry D. Hatfield was sworn in as governor. Hatfield, a physician, personally examined Jones, but Hatfield, a physician, personally examined Jones, but kept her under house arrest for over two months. kept her under house arrest for over two months. On April 14, Hatfield issued a series of terms for On April 14, Hatfield issued a series of terms for settlement of the strike, including:settlement of the strike, including:

a nine-hour work day (already in effect elsewhere in the state),a nine-hour work day (already in effect elsewhere in the state), the right to shop in stores other than those owned by the the right to shop in stores other than those owned by the

company, the company, the right to elect union check weighmen, right to elect union check weighmen, elimination of discrimination against union miners. elimination of discrimination against union miners. The settlement failed to answer the two primary grievances: the The settlement failed to answer the two primary grievances: the

right to organize and the removal of mine guards. After additional right to organize and the removal of mine guards. After additional violence on Cabin Creek, that strike was settled toward the end violence on Cabin Creek, that strike was settled toward the end of July. The only gain was the removal of Baldwin- Felts of July. The only gain was the removal of Baldwin- Felts detectives as mine guards from both Paint and Cabin creeks.detectives as mine guards from both Paint and Cabin creeks.

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Page 22: Mine strikes in wv

The Matewan Massacre The Matewan Massacre Non-union miners in Mingo County went on strike in the Non-union miners in Mingo County went on strike in the spring of 1920 and called for assistance from the District spring of 1920 and called for assistance from the District 17 office in Charleston. 17 office in Charleston. On May 6, Fred Mooney and Bill Blizzard, one of the On May 6, Fred Mooney and Bill Blizzard, one of the leaders of the 1912-13 strike, spoke to around 3,000 leaders of the 1912-13 strike, spoke to around 3,000 miners at Matewan. About half that number joined the miners at Matewan. About half that number joined the UMWA. UMWA. On May 19, twelve Baldwin-Felts detectives arrived in On May 19, twelve Baldwin-Felts detectives arrived in Matewan. Families of miners who had joined the union Matewan. Families of miners who had joined the union were evicted from their company-owned houses. The were evicted from their company-owned houses. The town's chief of police, Sid Hatfield, encouraged Matewan town's chief of police, Sid Hatfield, encouraged Matewan residents to arm themselves. residents to arm themselves.

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Sid HatfieldSid Hatfield

As a result of the Matewan Massacre, As a result of the Matewan Massacre, Hatfield had become a hero to many of the Hatfield had become a hero to many of the miners. On August 7, a crowd varyingly miners. On August 7, a crowd varyingly estimated from 700 to 5,000 gathered on estimated from 700 to 5,000 gathered on the capitol grounds in Charleston to the capitol grounds in Charleston to protest the killing. protest the killing. They Began to call for a March on LoganThey Began to call for a March on Logan

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On August 24- the march began as approximately On August 24- the march began as approximately 5,000 men crossed Lens Creek Mountain. The 5,000 men crossed Lens Creek Mountain. The miners wore red bandanas, which earned them miners wore red bandanas, which earned them the nickname, "red necks.". That afternoon, the nickname, "red necks.". That afternoon, Keeney met a majority of the miners at a ballfield Keeney met a majority of the miners at a ballfield in Madison and instructed them to turn back. As a in Madison and instructed them to turn back. As a result, some of the miners ended their march. result, some of the miners ended their march. However, two factors led many to continue. First, However, two factors led many to continue. First, special trains promised by Keeney to transport special trains promised by Keeney to transport the miners back to Kanawha County were late in the miners back to Kanawha County were late in arriving. Second, the state police raided a group arriving. Second, the state police raided a group of miners at Sharples on the night of the 27th, of miners at Sharples on the night of the 27th, killing two. In response, many miners began killing two. In response, many miners began marching toward Sharples, just across the Logan marching toward Sharples, just across the Logan County line.County line.

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Those who surrendered were placed on Those who surrendered were placed on trains and sent home. trains and sent home. Those perceived as leaders were to be Those perceived as leaders were to be held accountable for the actions of all the held accountable for the actions of all the miners. Special grand juries handed down miners. Special grand juries handed down 1,217 indictments, including 325 for 1,217 indictments, including 325 for murder and 24 for treason against the murder and 24 for treason against the state. state.

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Blair Mountain stands as a powerful symbol for Blair Mountain stands as a powerful symbol for workers to this day. The miners who participated workers to this day. The miners who participated vowed never to discuss the details of the march vowed never to discuss the details of the march to protect themselves from the authorities. For to protect themselves from the authorities. For many years, the story of the march was many years, the story of the march was communicated by word of mouth as an communicated by word of mouth as an inspiration to union activists. It serves as a vivid inspiration to union activists. It serves as a vivid reminder of the deadly violence so often reminder of the deadly violence so often associated with labor-management disputes. associated with labor-management disputes. The mine wars also demonstrate the inability of The mine wars also demonstrate the inability of the state and federal governments to defuse the the state and federal governments to defuse the situations short of armed intervention.situations short of armed intervention.

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Safety ImprovementsSafety Improvements Mine safety hatsMine safety hats Advanced technologyAdvanced technology Reflective WearReflective Wear Better communicationBetter communication Respirators Respirators Mine curtainsMine curtains Mine Safety and EMT classesMine Safety and EMT classes Mine RescueMine Rescue

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Though there have been many Though there have been many improvements……improvements……

Coal mining is still a very dangerous jobCoal mining is still a very dangerous job

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http://www.wvminesafety.org/STATS.HTMhttp://www.wvminesafety.org/STATS.HTMhttp://www.wvculture.org/hiStory/minewarshttp://www.wvculture.org/hiStory/minewars.html.html All information about mine Wars came All information about mine Wars came from this site.from this site.http://greatwomen.org/women.php?action=http://greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=89viewone&id=89 Mother Jones Mother Jones