mining; mining towns; coal; coal mining; incarcerating; labor; laborers; legal correspondence; West Virginia
This document pertains to the Mine Wars that occurred in West Virginia in the early 20th century. This petition, made by legal counsel Thomas West, on the behalf of imprisoned mine workers in Mingo County, was addressed to the Supreme Court of...
A section of the Hand-book of West Virginia describing the leading manufacturing industries of the state: lumber; iron & steel; leather; coke; clay products; flours; glass; automobiles; foundries; and wood products.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Miners for Democracy organizes. Disabled Miners and Widows of Southern West Virginia is led in strike by Robert Payne. He requested better pay and benefits. Arnold Miller supported militant action of these organizations.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Robert Payne, organizer of Disabled Miners and Widows of Southern West Virginia, talks about organizing pickets. Payne's wife, Della Mae, speaks of threats against her husband.
Song is Mannington Mine Disaster, by Hazel Dickens. Narration by Tim Meyers. Sarah Kosnowski talking about the explosion in 1968, and the Mine Safety Act.
Coal mining; Coal miners; Labor unions; Black lung
Narration by Tim Meyers. Levi Daniel talking about the fall of 1968 and fighting for compensation, West Virginia Black Lung Association forms. Arnold Miller and IE Buff speak about propaganda.
Narration by Tim Meyers. David & John Morris (brothers from Ivy Dale WV) - speak to a gathering and begin to play the Campaign Song, to the tune of Coal Tattoo.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Labor department begins hearings on the election. Mike Turbavich, leader of Miners for Democracy, claims investigation is corrupt. Wilma Billie Omashynski speaks of Yablonski as a great man.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Hazel Dickens sings Cold Blooded Murder. Yablonski's loss of election and then murder leaves the reform movement without leader. Wildcat strikes are organized.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Association of Disabled Miners and Widows files suits that miners had been defrauded. Judge decides to remove Boyle from the retirement fund board. This angers Boyle-supporting miners.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Debate over pensioners, turns into an argument. Lou Antall loses election in a suspicious manner. Wildcat strikes arise. Monsenior Rice speaks of the progress made through the years.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Boyle supporters attempt to blacken Yablonski's character at a Boyle campaign rally. They portray him as an enemy of the union, and a traitor. Boyle claims Yablonski is an outsider puppet.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Entering race, Yablonski announces his platform, trying to root out corruption and provide for disabled miners. Yablonski speaks of acquiring enough nominations to enter.
Narration by Tim Meyers. Levi Daniel speaking about a conversation with Jock Yablonski. Lou Antall speaks of Yablonski's character. Donald Rasmussen speaks of Yablonski's honesty. The Campaign Song is performed by David and John Morris.
Narration by Tim Meyers. MFD supporters picket the UMWA office, for pay during the strike. New election ordered to replace the 1969 election of Tony Boyle. Arnold Miller enters candidacy.
Narration by Tim Meyers. District union officials at the reform meeting recieve verbal abuse from speakers. Chip Yablonski says the union doesn't take the reform movement seriously.