Jack Battuello Memoir #1 - University of Illinois Springfield

Jack Battuel.10
Q. Weren't you also President of one of the local . . . ?
A. Oh yes, I forgot that. I served two terms of Local No. One which
was the largcst local union of the Progressive Miners and, by the
way, the largest local" union membership for one local in the United
States. 11: had 2500 members. And it's rinteresting to note at this
point that the Pacesi.dent of thTs large local, comprising 2500 members
be included for two terms, was paid the magnificent sum of $7.50 a
month.
Q. Would you care to describe now as to why, in the final. outcome,
the Progressive Miners did not achieve their goals? Also, what would
you think had happened to the United Mine Workers had the Progressive
Mine Workers been able to carry through with their proposed reforms
and actions?
A. I regret to say this, but the failure of the Progressive Miners
primarily rested in the rcalm of lackluster leadership. When we formed
the Progressive Miners, we were filled with enthusiasm and faith, and
in that period placed men at the head of the Progressive Miners that
had no experience, had very little social vision, and much less militance.
As a result, they became enamoured with this office, and while
they did nos receive large wages as such, in their own small way they
became fat cats, and soon, they were not recognizable as coal miners
any longer. So, in the heat of the struggle, which was an intense
struggle and wrought with much violence, they lacked the leadership,
the knowledge, the militancy and the courage to carry through with
the stated objectives of the organization. There was, in my opinion,
several times when offers were made to mediate the struggle, but the
leadership was not brave enough to face these issues. They were not
courageous enough tn look at realities and as a consequence, they let
these opportunities slip by. I might mention in passing that, as they
became more imbued with the office they became commensrxsatelymore
conservative and so the big fight, instead of being lodged against
the coal corporation and the tyrannical United Mine Workcrs, was made
against the radicals within thc movement of the Progressive Miners.
It became a virtual witch hunt. All of the time was spent hunting
down Reds, they called them, and radicals. J became a victjm of it.
1 was tried by the trial vote of the Progressive Miners, which was
dominated pretty much by the machine, while 1 was a Board member, and
I was convicted and removed from office.
Q, For what charge?
A, For alleged violation of the constitution. It was alleged in the
trial that 1 had fraternized with the United Mine Workers, that by
this fraternization with the United Mine Workers;, I was seeking to
destroy the Progressive Mine Workers. That is, in subsranee, the
charge that I was tried on. I'd likc to point out, however, that
subsequently, or, subsequent to that trial, 1 wrote a pamphlet about
this matter and I distributed kt throughout the state. The President
Jack Battuello Memoir -- Archives, University of Illinois at Springfield