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Item # 722332
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, May 16, 1921
* West Virginia coal mines war truce ?
* Coal miners vs. operators labor conflict
* Poor working conditions - (UMWA)
* Merrimac, Mingo County
The front page has a one column heading: "COAL FIELDS' TRUCE ENDS IN RAIN OF LEAD" with subhead. (see images)
Complete with 28 pages, light toning and a little wear at the margins, generally good. Should be handled with care.
background: On May 15, 1921, a truce was declared in the Coal Mines War, also known as the West Virginia Mine Wars, which had been a violent labor conflict primarily between coal miners and coal operators in the Appalachian region. The conflict arose from miners’ efforts to unionize under the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), demanding better wages, safer working conditions, and recognition of their union. Tensions had escalated throughout 1920 and early 1921, including armed skirmishes, strikes, and the infamous Battle of Blair Mountain in late August 1921 (a few months later, showing the unrest was far from fully resolved).
The truce on May 15, 1921, temporarily halted hostilities and allowed for negotiations between miners and coal operators, though it was fragile. It represented one of several attempts to de-escalate violence in the region, as both sides sought to avoid further bloodshed while addressing labor disputes. Despite this truce, the underlying issues—poor working conditions, exploitative labor practices, and company control over mining towns—remained unresolved, setting the stage for continued clashes later in the year.
May 16, 1921
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, May 16, 1921
* West Virginia coal mines war truce ?
* Coal miners vs. operators labor conflict
* Poor working conditions - (UMWA)
* Merrimac, Mingo County
The front page has a one column heading: "COAL FIELDS' TRUCE ENDS IN RAIN OF LEAD" with subhead. (see images)
Complete with 28 pages, light toning and a little wear at the margins, generally good. Should be handled with care.
background: On May 15, 1921, a truce was declared in the Coal Mines War, also known as the West Virginia Mine Wars, which had been a violent labor conflict primarily between coal miners and coal operators in the Appalachian region. The conflict arose from miners’ efforts to unionize under the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), demanding better wages, safer working conditions, and recognition of their union. Tensions had escalated throughout 1920 and early 1921, including armed skirmishes, strikes, and the infamous Battle of Blair Mountain in late August 1921 (a few months later, showing the unrest was far from fully resolved).
The truce on May 15, 1921, temporarily halted hostilities and allowed for negotiations between miners and coal operators, though it was fragile. It represented one of several attempts to de-escalate violence in the region, as both sides sought to avoid further bloodshed while addressing labor disputes. Despite this truce, the underlying issues—poor working conditions, exploitative labor practices, and company control over mining towns—remained unresolved, setting the stage for continued clashes later in the year.
Category: The 20th Century
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