xt7zcr5n9g1t_3 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. December 1931 text December 1931 2012 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7zcr5n9g1t/data/82m1/82m1_1/82m1_1_3/120030/120030.pdf section false xt7zcr5n9g1t_3 xt7zcr5n9g1t Vx?. ST
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STATE OF c>Kn.AHOMA
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
0Kn.A•—e0MA CITY ‘
WM.H.MURRAY
GOVERNOR
December 1, 1951
Committee for the Protection of Defenseless Children,
Pineville, liy.
Gentlemen:
It would be wholly out of place and i eproper for me ,as
Governor of the state of Oklahoma on the solicitation of people in
¤I10U1€I‘ Sl?f1l$6, tv go intermeddlimgjg with the affairs of still another
state, for the same does not corcorn me, hut must needs concern the
people of the state of New York.
UHd€l‘ ei juST» SGHSG of p§!.'opri‘etj,*, it is not a matter lll which
I should become concerned. Lloreover, if the people of New York are
not strong; enough to uphold wholesome ggoverwment, outsiders cannot aid
them, because their efforts would prove futile in the end.
For these reasons, 1 shall have to say "No" to your ro quest.
With salutations and best reqards,
Yours sinceicly, ,
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W., ·{· .- · `r—, >
lim!   I\Am·T3:']r’ xr rr ,7» 5 — __\
Governor. /”
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T!lEB.Z-AEK

 Harlan, Ky
Dec 7th l9?l
Dear Mr. Evans:
I am very sorry that I happened to be out when you called at the office
last Saturday as I should have liked to hare talked to you about
a mass meeting the National Miners Union propose to hold at the K P
hall in Pineville on next Sunday. I understand that a gentleman by .
the nmne of D. Lewis controls this hall and if he knew the character of
meeting to be held by these Ccmmunists he would decline to let them use
it. I think he has been assured that the Organization that is to use it
is a °lawful organization" and an American Institution but we all know
that the National Miners Union is Communist thru and thru and is simply
using the nano of the National Miners Union as a guise to fool the people,
and especially thc laboring men. I am enclosing you herewith a circular
calling the meeting, and these infernal thizgs have been scattered all over
Harlan County, and I imagine Bell County als•. Had it not been for the
Dreiser gang, followed by the commission sent in hy Gov Sampson, we feel
sure thnt all this agitation would have been about over but it now looks
as if it may break out afresh and maybe cause further trouble.
There is a women in Pineville by the name of Dora Green, sometimes uses
the name of "Julia" who is a representative of the International Labor
l Defense and who I understand stays much of the time at the C0mmercial
Hotel there. Also, within the last ten days, a new Organizer h·s been
sent into the field, by the name of "Comrade Boris" from Pittsburgh.
He undertood to hold a meeting at Wallins last Wednesday but withmxt
success. .
It would be a fine thing, in my opinion, for all concerned, if Lr Lewis
could be persuaded to refuse them the K ? hall for the meeting Sunday.
I an advised that die owner of the Theatre there did refuse them and
if they could not secure the K P hall, probably they could not find
another suitable place which would confuse then.
I an working on the proposition of getting the photographs for you
and I have the assurance of getting them from three or four different
places. However, itwill be three or four days yet as some of then
will have to come from Pittsburgh.
Anydiing that you and the rest of our Pineville fndends can do to help
defeant this Pittsburgh and New York gang will certainly be appreciated.
’ééé;;;Q #<7&7’z;2;/;g?7?;?/y

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1 g , Dec 10 1931
R H J E it
1. ` For your infomation, learned to day that Frank Borich and Mike Kemenovich,
1 Communist Leaders of Pittspurgh, left there this morning to attend the
  meeting in Pineville Surday. I suppose they will be the "stars"
 ZIV They will probably come thru Corbin as I also understand they are to `
1 1 pick up another leader by the name of Sieberts as they come thru Ohio.
  With much of a show of Officers there these birds will be scared out of
  · their wits for they won't know whether they are Harlan or Bell Officers
  1 and I think you know how they dread ours. Wish we could sit in
1   on the party. We are greatly elated over the result of the trial at 1 1
  1 Mt Sterling and feel that this verdict is going to help materially in 2 E
1 calming some of ihe rest of them. 1 I
\ G S W M L  
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 Dec 18 1951
H J E
There does not seem to be any doubt new but what the REDS intend to establish
I headquarters in Pineville to conduct their strike operations. I want to
y give you some very confidential information which I have received and will have
to be handled very carefully so that it will not be used in a way to
. create suspicion on their part, thereby causing them to dbubt those who are
attending their secret meetings. Twenty two men xtzknndingattended a meeting -
at the Pineville Hotel, room 210, either Wednesday or Thursday night, and met I
with a Communist who simply introduced himself as "J0e" and he in turn introduced I
a woman there as "Ann" both of whom it seems will be stationed in Pineville ;
to conduct the operations. The men were instructed how to organize the  
various mines and to get women and children lined up to take their places on  
the picket lines, etc. etc.  
* They are to have another meeting on next Tuesday in Pineville at 5 P M  
I I just want to give you the benefit of our costly experience, and say that I
the best way to prevent a very unpleasant situation down there, for you all, I
is in the very beginning to run these Reds out ard make it so uncomfortable  
I for them that they will be afraid to stay. We have no fear of their coming 2
into Harlan County nor do we believe they will undertake to operate out of  
Middlesbcro ani if the Bell County Officials will only take the bit in their I
teeth at the very beginning it will probably save mary a heart break.  
I You can't "pussy foot" with this bunch, H J, and nothing but drastic measures   I
  will convince them that you mean business. You know your situation there j 1
  better than I do, whether the officils have got the guts to tell them to get and  
‘ get quick and stay "get", or not. You are the only one that I can think of I
I at the present time that I feel like taking into confidence but ycu know whom ,
V ‘ you can trust to handle this matter and the quicker it is handled, and in a `
hard boiled way, the better it will be for you all. I
I
p We do not fear the result of their strike call but as long as they are allowed  
I ; to remain in the immediate territory of Bell and Harlan just so long will kn I
  we be confronted with this oommunistice menace. I
I   Hope you can have them "out of the trenches before Xmas°°  
    Yours  
I   srv   V I
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` Dec 29 1951
» H J E
_ U Am just advised that Kemenovich, Frank Borich, Harry Harvey and a man by the
” name of Dorsey are all probably in Bell County by this time, they having
left Pittsburgh two days ago. A meeting was held in Pineville Monday
· I night of this week and I am pretty positive that two of the above named were
present, tho their names were not announced and they had nothing +o say. _
However, this there is an organizer in Pineville by the name of Joe Weber
Q and he had a small woman with him (probably Russian) who was introduced as
E "Anna" and he has been doing most of the directing for the last two weeks.
i At the meeting Monday night it was decided to establish relief headquarters in
_ Fineville and they expect all the Harlan men to come there for aid.
E Kemenovich is coming with the expectation of spending some time and will `
§ probably have much to do with directing the strike, as this was the part he
. played in the Pittsburgh district last spring. E
A Do you think it would be possible for the Harlan and Bell Officials to wmrk l
I out some plan of action to rid ourselves of these Communists - If they are -
’ not molested more and greater trouble is ahead. My informant tells me _
also that they have received very encouraging reports at Pittsburgh and l
are collectirg considerable money and other relief in the East, especially y
New York where the Communists are pretty strong. And if they can make h
a good showing around the First with plenty of food and money it is going to l
; hurt. I feel sure that we can get plenty of co-operation at this end .'
l but if·they are allowed to settle down in Pineville then it will be another
‘ story for us — they will be out of our reach ard will keep the men coming to l
j them.
ll' We feel that the men who are now working will not fool with this strike call, it
T tho many of them would enjoy a strike if they can be shown that they will be it
l taken care of. I ( '
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 December 21,1931.
The Saturday Evening Post,
Philadelphia, Pa.,
s Gentlemen:
I am sending you herewith an article on the coal troubles in
Harlan County, Kentucky.
I have been a resident of this section for eight years or more
and am familiar with the underlying causes of the present trouble. There
has been so much that is utterly false sent out on this matter that I do
hope that you will find the enclosed article acceptable. we who are resi-
dents of this section feel that we have not been given a "fair deal" in the
· matter of publicity and that only one side- the worst- has been told.
In the accompanying article I have endeavored to steer a middle
course and the facts are true. I also have given the two extremes. I am
enclosing photographs of some of the mine properties. I could obtain others
if they are desired. Practically every photograph seen in thg daily press
following the Dreiser visit was of abandoned mining camps. We feel that
in fairness to the good people of the mountains of eoutheastern Kentucky
that both sides should be told. _
I am submitting the enclosed at your usual rates, if it is
acceptable. In the event you do take it you are at liberty to change any
part, re-write or delete. If not acceptable will you please be good enough
to return same promptly? `
Yours truly,
' Herndon J. Evans
l Editor, The Pineville Sun.