xt7zcr5n9g1t_17 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7zcr5n9g1t/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7zcr5n9g1t/data/82m1.dao.xml Evans, Herndon J., 1895-1976 3.5 Cubic feet Herndon J. Evans, editor of the Pineville Sun in Bell County, Kentucky, closely followed labor unrest in the Kentucky coalfields, especially in Harlan and Bell Counties, during the early 1930s. The collection contains handbills, leaflets, pamphlets and newspaper clippings collected by Evans primarily from 1931-1933. Also included are handwritten notes, correspondence, and drafts of articles and editorials written by Evans as well as memorabilia such as Communist Party membership books and organizational charts. archival material English University of Kentucky This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed.  Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically.  Physical rights are retained by the owning repository.  Copyright is retained in accordance with U. S. copyright laws.  For information about permissions to reproduce or publish, contact the Special Collections Research Center. Herndon J. Evans Collection Coal miners--Kentucky Coal mines and mining--Economic conditions. Communism--Kentucky. Editors--Kentucky. Pamphlets. Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Kentucky. November, 1931-May 1932; undated text November, 1931-May 1932; undated 2012 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7zcr5n9g1t/data/82m1/82m1_2/82m1_2_5/122640/122640.pdf section false xt7zcr5n9g1t_17 xt7zcr5n9g1t `     .~,_».g_;·_· . ,, ,_ -. _. . · K, , ’ `  . ·*  - Mi r - ` ‘ V Q _ `· ' ~ · L=i 'y;_;_' *3;:1 g,‘/.5-Yi  3 _‘  
y Z_ _ From the National Qpmmittee_for_the Defense of Pplitical Prisoners l
; t` *`°-___—__.—°_°_°_°°__'_-
i V y~ cnan—man: Theodore Dreiser _
T , Treasurer: Lincoln Storfens . so root glen ggyoot, Rm_45o
i *f Secretary: Walter Wilson jew yoyy gg;y ‘
l M V
id _ For lmmediate Release
  '\ ·"
» _ mw _ ,_ , DRElSER T0 TE&@jjUMMAN*RULE»1N HAkLA§·»»·· { I • ·-rw h I
 _ New York, Nov. 2,- Theodore Dreiser announced today that the
_ committee of writers which he will head on a trip to Harlan, Ky.,
j to investigate charges of official terrorism and gunman rule, will
l· stage a free speech tes: for the miners' union in Harlan County,
T Nov. 8. Committee members will leave Tuesday for Pineville, Ky.
where they will meet Nov. 5 and proceed in a body to Harlan the
j following day. The investigation is being conducted by the National _
T Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners.
i The committee will consist of Nr. Qreiscr, author of "An American
;· Tragedy"; John Dos Passog, author of "Manhuttan Transfer" and "The
  42nd Parallel'éOBr;§p,Crawford; editor of Crawfordfs Weekly, Norton, “
T \ · P r't¢_1 .· I I
{ Va.; Char!es"Rumfd `Valker, author of "Steel" and "Bread and Fire";
1 Josephine Her s , aulnor o "Money for Love" and "Nothing is Sacrcd";
T Lester CohepJ author of "Sweepings"; damuel Ornitz, author of "Haunch,
é Paunch and Jowl , now connected with thE'Metro-Mayer-Goldwyn studios; . i
g and Anna Rochester, coal expert and author of "Labor and Coal." »
2   rz   »i
1 ;_ iv ‘" *' Avi l·‘ #‘*~uL
i In Pineville the committee will be greeted bv a mass meotingmof
Q the National Miners Union, and thc International Labor Defense: lhe
i. miners charge that armed deputies have broken up cvcry meeting they i y
§»_ ., ,.>_ have tried to hold, efen raking;them with machine gun fire. ·-·~
3 Mr. Dreiser, who is chairman of the National Committee for the T
[ Defense of Political Prisoners, states that the delegation will hold
Q an open inquiry into the following charges:
1; . T
l; l. The denial of all constitutional and civil rights, as well as
[ T ordinary human rights to l8,000 Harlan county miners and their fa¥g_
i 1 iiies. ‘_ . - · - is
l { includes the driving of miners out of postoffices and withholding of
E j their mail; compulsion to buy from company stores at high prices;
1 . ·invasion of homes without search warrants; arrests for possessing
iv newspapers and magazines attacking the mine owners.
L 2. The kidnapping of union organizers and local miners active in A
l the union; the shooting of newspaper reporters; the arrest of theolog-
  ical students and defense representatives, bringing aid to imprisoned
T miners' children, the dynamiting of relief cars and soup kitchens. l
g v
Q;_ 5. The eviction of miners from their homes and the death of
\;‘ miners' families from a hunger disease known locally as flux.
ld 4. The indictment of 34 miners for murder on "flimsy evidence". ,_ g
E Q Trials have been set in counties 200 miles away so that the miners,
 Q who are penniless, cannot afford to transport witnesses.
TQ 4. The murder of two miners operating a relief soup kitchen, i
l; both shot in the back by imported thugs. One such thug is said to
lj have been brought from Chicago to teach the newly sworn—in deputies
yi the use of tear gas bombs and machine guns.
lj "Sheriff Blair has announced since the formation of this commit- _
l tee that there is no terror in Harlan and he will welcome an investi-
i· gation," declares Mr. Dreiser's statement. "We hear from authentic
g . sources in Harlan, however, that the county is still as much an *armed
ll‘ camp' as it was a month ago when Mr. Louis Stark of the New York Times
li fled to Chicago before feeling safe enough to release his news.
1
l , _ _ _ .
g "We arc informed that the miners, despite Sheriff bkair*s denial
Q are still not allowed to hold union meetings; that as the strike
it spreads in Straight Creek there are more arrests for *criminal syn-
lol dicalism’ almost daily; and that even relief kitchens cannot function
l 2 °'
  Illia   ··   -· ·—- — ·r»—$..· , _ _ , A ri I A.) J it l   A `> A w` if A V My

 rs 7 -».___[} Fc R l}—N_‘_(. V ,\A/Qi
  { M   R“H-~*¤ EFS   ;·Q£`TlY',`?L TF Q QQ
  GMM   gmk GJ BT"     __ _ qdkt  
  U I
F · T DPINEVILLE. KY., NOV 6 (AP)-THE "SIDEDALKS OF NED YORK" T
§ ARE THREATEHED DITH INVESTIGATION BY A GROUP OF CITIZENS OF THIS
g LITTLE MOUNTAIN TUMN A5 A RESULT OF A COMMITTEE OF NED YORK
% ERITERS COMING TO THE KENTUCKY COAL FIELDS TO INQUIRE INTO REPORTS OF
T A "REIGN OF TERROR."
g THEODORE DREISER AND HIS GROUP ARRIVED HERE YESTERDAY TO
g INVESTIGATE THE NOVELIST'S CHARGES OF "BLACKJACK RULE" OVER —
‘ g STRIKING MINERS BY HARLAN COUNTY OFFICIALS. THEY REPRESENT
§ 'THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENSE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS'. ‘
SEVERAL PINEVILLE CITIZENS. CALLING THEMSELVES "THE SOCIETY
\\ FOR THE PROTECTION OF DEFENSELESS CHILDREN," RETORTED LAST NIGHT
\mBY PROPOSING AN INQUIRY INTO THE SLAYING OF CHILDREN BY GANGSTERS ’
{ENTER YORK STREETS.THERNDON J. EVANS.)EDITOR OF THE CEEKLY
PAPER HERE. IS CHAIRMANTR I
. THE DREISER COMMITTEE HAS PRECEDED ITS KENTUCKY VISIT BY I
TELEGRAPHING GOV. FLEM D. SAMPSOH DEMANDING PROTECTION CHILE IN
I THE COAL FIELDS. EVANS' SOCIETY MIRED GOV. FRANKLIN D. ROOSE- __
TTT VELT OF NED YORK DEMANDING "FULL PROTECTION OF THE LAM" CHILE ITS
INQUIRY EAS IN PROGRESS IN NEC YORK. GOV. N. H. "ALFALFA
BILL" MURRAY OF OKLAHOMA AND MILL ROGERS. HUMORIST, CERE INV- .`
ITED TO JOIN IN THE INVESTIGATION. I
OUTMARDLY. AT LEAST. THE PINEVILLE SOCIETY OAS AS SERIOUS IN ”
ITS PURPOSE AS MAS DREISER'S COMMITTEE CHEN IT TELEGRAPHED GOV. ‘
  SAMPSON AND HARLAN COUNTY OFFICIALS LAST NIGHT THAT DITNESSES I
A APPEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE "HESITATE TO TESTIFY BECAUSE THEY
FEAR SERIOUS INJURY" AND ASKING THAT OFFICERS "ACCORD THEM EVERY
PROTECTION."
JEFF DALDUIN. A MINER MHC NAS COUNDED CHEM HIS BROTHER AND
ANOTHER HAH WERE SLAIN BY A HARLAN COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF AUGUST _ i
30. APPEARED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT. DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ,
FOR SCORES OF MINERS CHARGED NITH MURDER AS A RESULT OF COAL
A FIELD KILLINGS ALSO DERE CUESTIONED. THE PROCEEDINGS NERE NOT OPEN A
T TO NENSPAPERMEN. I
DREISER'S COMMITTEE PLHNNED TO LEAVE TODAY FOR HARLAN COUNTY A
A T0 INVESTIGATE CONDITIONS THERE. nmwmwwm xa —
H845A   ``T`’ U ``S` I JS`A U I "K
  QL.? fM° E Ab I .
  ,.L.. V __.,   >=` I

 APPEAL TO ALL WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
TO HELP THE EVICTED MINERS AND THOSE SUEEERING FROM THE FLOOD.
JAN. 50,1952. A
Due to the flood the tag: day arranged by the Kentucky—Tenn. I A
§ Striking Miners Relief Campaign to take place on Saturday for the i
i benefit of the strikers, had to be postponed until next Saturday. `
g The roads were impassible and the two trucks loaded with miners, _
E their wives_and children who were to come to Knoxville for the Q
E tag day could not come through. it
g Already on Thursday two days before the flood, almost two hundred
Q men, women and children were left homeless following an order s l`
%  issued by Judge Cochran giving the mine operators, who own the l
i shacks, the right to throw the penniless miners and their families A
l out for non—payment rent. O h
li The flood added some SOOO miners, women and children A
{L to the list of the suffering. The Kenticky-Tennessee Striking
lg Miners Relief Campaign id soing everything in ins power to raise
Q? §ufficient funds to build barracks immediately, to house thnose
it made destitute by the brutal eviction order and the flood. _‘
lg _ Every friend of labor, every man and woman  o has a ·
Y? blanket to spare, some clothes and money to help buy lumber with is ,‘
I kli urged to send it to the Kentucky—Tenmessee striking Miners Relief j
QE; Campaign to Room 506 -Corner Market & Union Streets,Knoxvilie,Tenn. M
Q; Every one of us stands ready to do something to stop the flood t
@;% from doingm more damage than it has already done. Why can't we all ii
li; get together to stop the issuing of orders giving mine operators E,
Pg xzixxxnixxnzipx the right to throw blacklisted, unemployed and E
Q striking miners and their helpless families out into the bare hills g
3 to perish, while the shacks remain empty?  
$4 We appeal to all workers and friends to help stop ,y
  these xi evictions immediately by telegraphing their protest to
`?_ awww A · T

 { ` .
E Page 2.
E Judge Cochran, and Governor Laffoon and the Helth Department I
§ at Frankfort. The Kentuoky—Tennessee Striximg Minersielief
g Campaign demands that the Health Bureau of the State of Kentucky
§ step immediately to stop evictions or be held respoxnsible for Q
Eg disease and loss of iiuf life that is bound to follow. E
E! E
E _ L*mrtc11*11Clm‘; .T , `vuxasi , 1
_inevi11e,Iy.
  V
A
  -

 O §‘ CALL ISSUED BY STRIKE RELIEF CONFERENCE held In PIN VILLE on
if JAN. 25rd under the AUSPICES of theSIRIKE RELIEF COMMITTEE and the
Q KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE STRIKING HINERS RELIEF CALEAIGN of the
l' WORKERS INTEIIMTIONAL RELIEF. '
I WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY:
IN SPITE OF ALL THE EFFORTS OF THE COAL
E OPERATORS AND THEIR GOVTTRNIIT3I\TT AGENTS, THUGS AND GUNMENWE HAVE
REACHED THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE STRIKE, DETERMINED TO WIN OUR ` X
STRUGGLE AGAINST STARVATICH, NOW THEY HAVE STARTED TO THROW US
I. OUT OF OUR MISERAIIE CCLfA“f OWNED SHACHS. OVER ONE HUNDRED HAVE
.‘ RECEIVED EVICTION NOTICES WHICH TAFE EFFECT THIS WEEK. CHARLES
. PETERS, THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR STRIKE RELIEF COINHTTEE HAS BEEN
R_ ARRESTED AND PLACED UNDER $2,500.00 BOND CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL
ty SYNDICALISM WHILE HE WAS DISTRIBUTING RELIEF.
. ` From the very first day when the coal operator;
§ had nine of our strike and relief workers arrested until today they
I have done everything in their power to stop relief from coming in A
4 because the operators realize that FOOD IS OUR ANUIHTIONI ‘
' Arrests, kidnapping and brutal torture of our ·
leaders cannot stop our fight for the right to live-to earn a living I
I wage-we develop new leaders from among our ranks. Sheriff Blair's ;
I threat to shoot our wives and children should we attend meetings
called by the National Miners Union which is leading us in our =
uncompromising fight;has only increased our determination to spread
. the strike and build apowerful National Miners Union throughout the y
A south. ‘ I
Your help through th efforts of the Kentucky-
Tennessee Striking Miners Relief Campaign of the Workers Internation-
al Relief, has made it possible for us to keep up our strike in
spite of all the attacks of the coal operators.
BUT FELLOW WORKERS WE HAVE REACHED A STAGE AFTER
THREE WEEKS OF STRIKING AND SACRIFICE WHERE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE
. JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET. WE HAVE AT LEAST BOOO MINERS AND THEIR ;
FAMILIES-52000 M NgWOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO MEANS
. OF KEEPING ALIVE EXCEPT THROUGH YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS OF HTLIDARITY. ‘
I THE REIIEF THAT IS COMING HARDLY FEEDS ONE FIFTH OF THEM AND THAT
I NOT EVERY DAY. _ — E _ 1 · §
I WE ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE EVICTIOHS JUST AS YOU ARE
DOING THROUGH MASS DEMONSTRATIONS-WE REPLACE THE FURNITURE INTO THE E
MHSERABLE SHAOKS •BUT THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS THIS WEEK THAT WILL EE
‘ FORCED ON TO LIVE IN THE BARE HILLS IH SPITE CF OUR FIGHT;UNLESS YOU {
PROVIDE ENTS OR FUNDS TO BUILD BARRACKS WITH. I
V , ,THE MISERY IS SO GREAT THAN DOZENS OF NEW BORN`INF;NTS Q
I have begun to starve to death before they have learned to cry. Their
I starved mothers can't feed them and there isn’t even enough condensed
i` milk to go around, Women and children who could go on the picket
lines are kept at home because they have no clothes or sheesh Rank
,t and file organizers that arc developing with a marvelous speed; trod ‘
I as many as 50 miles a day from CAMP TO CANT IN "PIECES" SHOES. INST — I
OF US PRESENT AT THIS CONFERENCE PLODDED THROUGH RAIN AND MUD FOR . I
- HOURS IN ORDER TO GET HERE. _ (Next page-over) l
if E- 5}./ {il ·

 I . I
I    
‘ -`IHESOLUTION PASSED AT MASS MEETING OF '
` 700 HELD FRIDAY,JAN. 22nd AT MARKET HALL, KNOXVILLE? TENN.
I AUSPICES:-KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE STRIKING MENERS CAMPAIGN OF
WORKERS INTERNATIONAL RELIEF.
I
I This meeting called by the Knntucky—Tennessee striking
‘miners relief committee decides to send the warmest greetings to the
nine strike and relief workers who were arrested on January 4th in
§ineville and to G.G. Greene and Wm. Hightower and all others.
_ We protest against the attempt of the coal operators and.
their flunkies to force labor upon the miners when they are striking;
against starvation by arresting arresting 9 strike and relief workers
on the very first day of the strike.
· n We demand the immediate and unconditional release of these
I nine. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of William
I Hightower, Charles Peters and all other` workers imprisoned for
I fighting against starvation.
l We especially demand the release of Dorothy Weber who has
I _ fainted six times this week on account of the miserible conditions ‘
` in jail. Unless she is released immediately, we shall hold the
I authorities responsible for her health.
This resolution to be sent to Governor Lafoon, Sheriff
Broughton ofnBELL COUNTY and County Judge, George Van Beber.
Doris Parks It
—. Chairman of Mass meeting It
’ I
I
I . `
I
I  
I
I · E
I I
I .
I   I
It   wi'!  I C

 - ~— ` -4 ` I Page 2.
C ` " WE ARE FIGHTING NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR ALL WORKERS.
OUR VICTORY AGAINST STARVATION WILL HELP TO SMASH THE WAGE
CUTTING ATTACKS AND UNENELOYMENT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.  
FELLOW WORKERS: ‘
WE ARE NOT ASKING ENOUGH TO LIVE - GIVE US
ENOUGH TO KEEP BREATH IN OUR BODIES AND WE‘WILL FIGHT ON TO
VICTORY FOR ALL OF US.
Send Tents, food and clothing to 145 Pine Street,"
. Pineville, Kentucky. Funds to Room 506 Nacional Building,‘
” Market & Union Streets, Knoxville, Tenn. ( Southern District
Headquarters)
Signed: Q ! I
LL)$QfgZL»L»vvn/ ;;§c2A/Czc~»4[z
L CHAIRMAN STRIKE RELIEF CONFERENCE
L   Q    {tv   ,
SE . KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE STTEKING
HINERS RELIEF C;NFlIGN>oi the
“ WORKERS INTERNATIONAL RELIEF.
KNOXVILLE,TENN.
l , .  L
li
 
    ,,,u   b
n`   ` ` \

 Ax STATEMENT OP THE KENTUCKY TENNESSEE .STRIKING UINERS RELIEF
y *` THREAT OP EVICTICN AIT INTEREEHENCE WITH ITS T£E·DAY.
S
~ Q `IE. KENTUCKY TENNESSEE MINERS RELIEF CAMPAIGN EEADQUARTEHS Amr
" Y THBEATENED WITH EVICTION BY ORDER OP SQUIRE JOEL L. MYNnii
° K SINCE WORKERS CE XNCXVILLE HAVE RALLIED TO ITS SUPPORT.
Cn Saturday, Feb. oth Deputy R.T. Mynatt appeared atlthg
""m“&”““S "f TG “‘éti“§rkyiTi“€€S“i S%°f§t‘§l?gSHti;i§; titties-
. ·°r -- o·m 5O - »arce S ree , » a n i ·;
ghgpgtggniiation to appear before Squire John L. Nynatt on
. Feb. léth on the charge of n illegally occupying the above- G.
mentioned premises. The Deputy refused ¤g>leave a copy of this
summons and also refused to explain what wgg_¤eant by Ama"
"illegally occupying"the above-mentioned premises. The ufiy-;11A
explanation received thus far is that appearing in the xnrkJii.e
News Sentinel which quotes an interview with Hr. T. nl no each;
manager of the Bellas Hess, tho is also in charge of one build-
1¤€4
" The rooms were rented under the impressi;n it was a relief
`orsanization. It vas not until later that I l€&T¥€GFoH&t Lied
were Communists whose object was to stir up troubie.·
The Kentucky Tennessee Sgriking Miners Relief CampaignL_A
declares; .r‘imhty attempt to ‘top our relief activities QESJCG
» ·¤ r, ·-w. -¤— ' gg (—.· -- ° ` ° rj ENQTC
ground that we sie a Communist ~Ti?%iZfEl~§2 i? ,;Q:R§h©d — _.
very same attack which Sheiiif Blair oi harlan Chun] -aon now _ A
asainst the miners of Harlan and Bell Counties because they vent on
strike aeainst starvation wapes.This threat to close down our office _
comes simultaneously with the efforts of the Knoxvillenpolice1to`stop
our tag day on Saturday by molestin; everyone of the no strike1s_Tq¤
that came into Knoxville fron Harlan and {ell Counties to raise r§no—
to help build barracks for the hundreds oi strikers ana their famil-
ies that have been thrown out of their shocks into the bare hills
as a result of an eviction order hranted by Judge Cochrane.
We are holding the police and the Safety Department Eirector
  I‘€2SpOnSible for spoiling the iitag 41;;; whigh the Strikgrg ggngqtad upggg
1: so much,by forcibly detainins many of the strikers in Police Head-
quarters and cross-examining them.
Mr. Scandlyn‘s cooperation ·..· ‘ith the police and his particip-
ation in the cross-examination · and veiled threats issued to the
stgikers while they were detained in the City Hall, further proves the
United Front of the employers, police and Anerican Federation of ,
Labor against the strikers. ·
We consider the eviction notice part of the campaign of
Knoxville employers, the police and the American Federation of Labor
to drive us out of town because the workers of Knoxville have best; to
rally to the support of the Kentucky miners and to orzanime thensolves
right in Knoxville for a fieht against wage cuts and for UNEIILCTIEIT
INSURANCE. We shall put up a most vigorous stnnagle against bein?
evicted or run out of Knoxville, not only in . court but by organize
ing a mass protest movement on the part of the workers of Knoxville
to stop the eviction. ,“_‘ p Q; ;
Q   V; ·‘`' Nr? ( zivgi 13 __
‘ Sec. Ky. Tenn. Strikinh Niners Rel?
Cehpaign of the W.I.R» Z

 [  ‘ at   l  —
rg f v
{   f STATEMENT TO THE PRESS V
g ;' } BY FOU  STRIKINO MINERS FROM KENTUCKY.
55, Q L. gf On treatment accorded them by the Central .
,g bra_ ` ‘ A Labor Body of the American Federation of
;g To Labor when we went there to take t e floor
tg and appeal for aid and support on the basis
pg . of SOLIDABITY.
ig ` Jan. 26th. 193 .
A
g For the past fee weeks the United Mine Workers of America have
lg; been collecting aid ln the name of the Harlan and Bell Go. miners
gg an: their starving fqmlllee. We therefore went to their Central
I; Labor Council meeting of the Am rlcan Federation of Labor to which
_ the UMWA are affiliated, on Monday Jan. 25th ln order to ask the
_ same add of them that many workers of Knoxville have already given f
to our strikers on the basis of Solidarity and with the intention i
— of helping ue win our strlke_for a living wage. j
’ Instead of being granted th  floor, the Secretary of organlz- ’
ation was cross examined and we were not even given a ohan e to say a Q
word, mx we cannot feed our families or win our strike on Cross ;
examination. Three men who seemed to be ruling the meeting gave us ,g
pretty speeches about always bei g ready to help starving women: and 5;
children BUT ENDED UP WITH THE STATEMENT THAT THEY WOULD NOT GIVE A ff
I CEN  TO ANYONE NOT A MEMBER OF THE UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA. gt
5 We are members from Bell County and have been members of the E;
 ` United Mine workers Of America for pears. But we were sold out so many jg
Y tlmoe by this organization that we have decided to join the National jg
~ miners Unlon because it refuses to compromise with the mine esners and jg
L` is helping us to wln a living wage so we son't starve even while se work. X JE
g The Labour Temple cédlms to have shipped a truckload of food and Qt
L ‘, clothes to Bell and Harlan Counties but we haven't received a thing Aj
· I £rom.the U.M.W.A. and nobody knows where their distributing stations are. 4
lo· p.Ne ask all workers and their friends not to glve anything to these g »j
f U VW g     ;i" · U " “ 5
!   ,y4_i   I _ ·   A
I ’ . . V A

 in I
I 3 -,2-·
1 ‘so1icit1ng for the U.M.w.A. xnixfor it does'nt go to the striking miners
I all of whom are following the Net1¤¤a‘M1ners Union which is leading the I
I strike, but goes to the officials of the U.M.W.A. and a few favorites I?
¥ of this organization, that II are used as a machine in support of the gg
i L administration. t gg
Hg we join with Doris Parks Sec‘y of the KY—Tenn Striking Miners LW
ENE relief Campaign who went with us to the Central Labour Body meeting
`_§ when she called upon all workers of Knoxville to follow our example and
gg strike against wage cuts and fight for unemployment Insurance at the g
@ expense of the employers and the government. This relief organisation é
E will aid all workers regardless of their union affiliation and have 3
E proven it. - A
gf A group of us are going around raising relief for the strikers and
é their families. we NEED M LK FOR OUR BABIES WHO ARE DYING OFF LIKE FLIES A
Eg WE NEED CORNBREAD AND BEANS And A FEW CLOTHES f THIS ALL THET WE ASK l 
’g FROM OUR BROTHER WORKERS AND FRIENDS WE WILL KEEP UP OUR FIGHT UNTIL
@§   WE WIN A LIVING WAGE SEND ALL CONTRIBTUION TO THE ONLY ORGANIZATION it
®§ THAT HAS FED THOUSANDS OF US AND CLOTHED US TOO? WEEKS BEFORE THE. gg
A§· STRIKE iinfiifxiiii STARTED. THIS IS THE KENTUCKY TENNESSEE STRP%G HINERS li
3 A RELIEF CAMTAIGN AT ROOM 506 National Building Cor. Union and Market EQ
y· streets. THIS IS TH  ONLY ORGANISATION AUTHORISED BY THE STRIKERS. i 
gf Our Pineville Warehouse is at gi
QA' 145 Pine Street. Signed; Floyd Hooker g
E J.M. Andrews i
§V Bill Sutherland E
§_ J.R. Price. in
1 ?
\  
{     —w ·. _   A y  
l s A »   ,s... I  ._ A A

 I s  
I
  STATEMNT BY TE 1CENTUGKY·TENliESSEE STRIKING MINEHS
  RELIEF COBAMITTEE OF THE woaicms ‘[NTERH:l€I.‘I~*NAL RELIEF
  ON EvICTIONs CF THE MINERS FRGM TI-NIR Hotms.
.   Jan. 29,1952. .
? FOR IIMEDIATE RELEASE;
ONE of the most vicious injunctlons ever handed down
by Federal Courts in the history of American hbor struggles was
issued Tue day by Federal Judge A M J Cochran. The order not only
enjoins 102 striking miners and the National Miners Union from all
strike activity at the mines of the Straight Creek Coal Company but g
. also orders the eylction of scme 90 odd families of strikers frm
y their homes. ` . L
I The action of a Judge was justified on the cynical gn g
[   grounds that "the conditions of the operators is worse than that of
Q VA the miners slncerthe operators have both their own capital, lhveli- V
E   hood, and the welfare of the miners to care for." The interests of b
the operators In the "¤elfare" of the miners is indicated by the faqji
that before the strike, moners of the Straight Creek Goal Co. aver»· '
T _ aged frm six to ten dollars a jay.  
  _ The Kentuc¤·-Tennessee Striking Hiuers Relief Committee ' E
· calls on the workers of the South and of the whole country to answer I
this latest blow against the strlklng miners by intensifying colleen t
r It tions of relief funds and food. The forcible ejection of over 90  
‘ families from their homes In the dead of winter means untold sufferr I
ing, particularly for the women and children unless means are  
provided for inmediately sheltering these victims of the Straight
Creek Coal Gompany's greed for profit. The Kentucky-Tennessee Str1k· I
ing Miners Relief Committee of the Workers International Relief appeals
to all workers and to all who are interested In the prevention of T
I    f ?oj??a*& ’$?.?$e.  3??‘?~?5€“~    $?§§;"2o   n*te     

 ! Pineville»KY•,Jan.l5-Charges that Harlan County coal operators
named most of tue deputy sneriffs of that county and a drematic challenge
on the part of Chairman Charles B.Barnes to disarm any nan found in the room
session cx
with a pistol were highlights of the second dey*s zxsxzngxbxfuzs the Bitn-
minous Coal Labor Ecard here today.
d Apologizing for the necessity of holding a session on Sunday ”
s Chairman Farnes asked all those present to stand for a minute in silent ‘
i prayer for the opening of the meeting. He also advised all witnesses pres-
»; ent to adyise aim if they were discharged or held accountable in any way
E for saying testified at the nearing. No said that fine and imprisonment
i were penalties for retaliation on the part of employers but seid that men
;· could be discharged for cause without claiming protection of the board,
I
; Jillian Glontz, united Line gorker of gnerica regresentntive
with headquarters at Iallins, testified in connection with charges a;einst
{ the Kentucky Ying Coal Go.Twelve Iarlan coal companies were cited for alleg-`
  ed violations of the coal code. Clontz testiiied that to his the best of 5
l knowledge that a majority of the Marlon deyuty sncriffs were employed by _
, coal companieS.Van &.Rittnor, labor reoresentstive on the board, ininired 1
unctber it souldle possible for a sheriff to receive "say Q10 c day" from _
tue coal operator for employment of a deputy and then “yay the deputy, say E
1 five or six dollars“, and the witness agreed. tg
{ Clontz testified that while ne·eas in Knorville attending a
meeting of the arbitration board that many shots were fired through his g
· · 4 house, one barely missing his son. Three sticks of dynamite, with the fuse iyl
` `
i i Jburned up to witning ten feet of the cap, also were found under his hcustz,    
N L he said. "I called Sheriff Theodore ;iddletown," the witness said, and.ask¤s_ i·
E ed him to come down to Uallins and investigate as soon as T got home. The i
IE high sheriff told me that he could not come and could not send a deputy es A
| his·deputies were busy taking prisoners to Frankfort. me told me it eould5l ¥
L t‘é n · l;]Q,nt,

 {pm G3) V ,
I be better if T left Harlan County but T told him that T was a ,roperty own- V '
E er and a law-abiding citizen and that T would not leave." The high ecaerier
é then told Clontz, the witness testified, that it would be”better to leave
g than be killed". The next day Sheriff xiddleton sent two men to investigate
E the affair, Clontz said. __ i
i Clontz said that on the day mine union representatives were al- A I
E legedly "hemmed in" at the Lewallen Hotel in Harlan that "thirty or forty i
i deputy sheriffs” were in the lobby. He admitted,however, that he passed in .j
• and out of the lobby several times without interference. Q
A.T.Pace, international representative of the mine union, told V it
of being "hemmed in" in the New Varian Hotel and of slipping out after he . E2
decided he "hadn•t lost anything" there. He declared that he was refused in
rooms after telling of his union connection because the management feared it
Q somethin; might happen to the building. He told of the alleged attack of yd
George Lee, a deputy, on Carl Iilliams and said that thereafter he depart- g
ed hurriedly for Virginia. E i·
‘ _ After various witnesses had testified regarding the carrying il
of arms, chairman Barnes arose and dramatically asked if anyone in the crowd- i
' ed courtroom was armed. "Ii there•s any man in this house with a gun on him ip
Y T•m going to take it off of him", the aged chairman said. "E•m old and not il
E strong, but T repeat T•m going to take it off him". There was silence for a {
i moment and then the crowd cheered.
? Clayburn Bowling and William Shackleford, employes of the Ken-
i tucky King Coal Co., both testified that they had not been discriminated ,
§ against or harrassed because of union connections.They testified that the
union meetings formerly drew dukhzx together thirty or forty members but at ,
recent sessions only these or four men came, Bowling said that he had been
employed for more than seven hours a day, the unxsx code hours, and had not
been paid for the overtime. Neither witness knew of "gunmen" employed at ,_.·i·
the mines, they said in response to questions by William Turnblazer, union _;
president. T ~i[! y

 x » L}
—EIlZABETH BALDWIN, WIFE OE JULIUS BKLDWIN WHO WAS SHOT DOWN
*' KN A RELIEF KITCHEN ET THE SWIMMING POOL, JUST OUTSIDE OE HARLAN
IS NOW IN NEW YORK`JTTH HER YOUNGEST B.BY, ONE YEAR OLD,HEIPING 4
RAISE RELIEF ECR THE STRIKING MINERS.
She writes in a letter received, addressed to our office:
" I will tell in my speeches about needing tents and supplies
and see what we can raise to help our Kentucky comrades.
Sorry to hear hbout Bil? Meeks‘ baby Ebpe it is better.
( Bill Meeks, one of whe renk and file, local organizers, almost
lost his baby e few dhys nge due to fever from undernourishment.)
Everybody is nice to me everywhere I go here and in Newark.
I stayed in Newark 4 days and spoke at many meetings."
KNOXVILLE
UNEMPLOYED EORKERS PLEDGE ASSISTANCE TO KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE STRIK~
ING MINERS. "{OMEN’S AUXILIJRY OE KNOX. COUNTY UEDICLL SOCIETY
REEUSES FLOOR TO STRIKERS.
While unemployed workers of Knoxville,Tennessee gathered at an
Unemployed meeting yesterday for the purpose of ergangzing an
Uneuployed Committee to fight for immediate relief and Unemploy-
ment Insuranee_ ` pledged to help raise food and clothes in the
city of Knoxville for the striking miners of Kentucky and Tennessee
the Women's luxiliery of the Knoxville County Lbdicil Society
- nesting this rcgnlngrefused to even grant the floor to the
Secretary of the Kentucky Tennessee Striking Iiners Relief Campaign
and 2 strikers, coming straight from the mine camps.
Mrs. W.A. Shelton,President of the organization, presiding at th;
meeting, did not nant to take the credential up at all. Only after
an insistent appeal from the strikers, th matter w;s put before
· the body. The organnaationpretendrnggfjgltgzpoor,sickchildren
who must go to the hospital, refused to listen to an appeal, let
alone do anything to help raise a few cases of canned milk for
the flux-stricken children of the striking miners or to raise
a finger in helping to provide funds with which to be ,ble to buii
barracks for the hundreds of strikers and their families that are
being thrown out of tinir homes, because they csn‘t pay rent.
Instead of considering the needs of the strikers who are
doing the only thing they cxn to win