J _?7' Out of the thirty-nine active mines in Harlan Uounty about fifteen f
y "were closed down during the labor disturbances. One did not re-open; another
' { which still is closed would resume operations if orders were available. Of I
" E the fifteen closed some were down just a fewQ2§;§;fothers did not get back
2 » · · lkdggggg · V t L V
g to work fo; a month or six weeks. Now, lack ofé is causing hardship
' { on operators and miners alike as two or three days a week are not enough to
" keep things going. _
When the trouble was at its height in Harlan Uounty representatives
of the National Miners Union from other coal fields made their appearance.
They promised improved conditions;·they attacked the "capitalistic system"
which was "crushing the life out of workers" and urged-the men to "fight
against the iron heel of oppression". They promised soup kitchens in every
camp for the men who would lay down their tooks.They condemned the United
Mine Workers in bitterest terms and charged this organization with "selling
out the miners". The National Miners Union, affiliated with the Trades Union
Unity League, headed by William Z.Foster, communist leader of America, im-
mediately brouhgt into the picture the cry of "communism". Newspapers pub-
lished by radical leaders were distributed in the coal fields; booklets and
leaflets sponsored by the communist leaders were found in miners' houses.
The United Mine Workers joined with other in raising the cry of "communism"
and Harlan officials took steps to"stamp it out."
*:3 Today mines_are operating with the threat of a walkout or strike
harrassing them the operators at every turn. Their properties are not paying
anything, they state, and the miners charge that "huge profits" are being
made. Some properties are being operated six days a week but in most cases
this is where the coal mine isua subsidiary of a untility copporation or
where its whole output is going to a by—product concern. The ether average
mine in Harlan Uounty today is operating on a three day a week schedule.
One coal company, a utilit sub-
_ _ % Waaes vary thr<>¤s1¤<>u’¤ the field- '£hsxHai»li22iasxéaalzkesmaratiamr
$;gb?£%’that on a four—day week the men are earning around $100 a month. An-
other reports that their men earn $3.47 a day. Another reported that the -