Hell in Harlan - front page

failure of the United States Senate to ratify the Versailles treaty. The operatorsargued that in the absence of a formal declaration by the government that the warhad ended, the existing contract held until March 31, 1920. Despite injunctionproceedings initiated by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, the miners refused toreturn to work until President Woodrow Wilson agreed to appoint an arbitrationcommission.The United States Bituminous Coal Commission, which was appointed by thePresident to settle the question of wages and hours, handed down its decision inMarch 1920. The Commission's award provided for an increase of 24 cents a ton intonnage rates; an advance of $1 a day for day and monthly workers (except trapperboys and others receiving less than a man's pay, whose pay was raised 53 cents); anincrease of 20 percent in pay for yardage, dead work, room turning, and similaroperations; a 48-hour week; and a contract which was to remain in effect until April1, 1922. Compared with the rates in effect on October 31, 1919, the new scalerepresented an increase of approximately 27 percent.Percentage wise this is the largest pay boost ever won by an American laborunion and was the first big victory won for the nation's miners by John L. Lewis. Thenew contract was signed by virtually all coal operators in the United States, but antiunionismpersisted in Harlan County. The operators refused to accept the award of theBituminous Coal Commission. When the national strike was called off, Harlan Countyoperators began another concerted effort to destroy the UMWA. District 19 SecretaryE. L. Reed reported that the anti-union campaign began in the traditional manner.Several hundred miners known to be active and loyal union members were refusedwork. They and their families were served with eviction notices and were forced tomove out of company-owned houses. The UMW Journal reported that gunmen andthugs employed by the coal companies were running wild in the Harlan coalfield. TheJournal said:"Three members of the United Mine Workers were shot down in coldblood by these ruffians and murderers on March 20 at the Banner Fork CoalCorporation Mine No. 2. The following are the names of the victims:"K. S. Taylor, instantly killed. Leaves a widow and seven children withoutany means of support."James Burk, deputy sheriff, fatally wounded. Died the next day in a hospitalat Harlan, leaving a widow and family without support."General Gibson, fatally wounded. Died on an operating table in a hospital12