Special Collections and University Archives Manuscript Group 52 United Mine Workers of America District 2 For Scholarly Use Only Last Modified June 28, 2021 Indiana University of Pennsylvania 302 Stapleton Library Indiana, PA 15705-1096 Voice: (724) 357-3039 Fax: (724) 357-4891 Website: www.iup.edu/archives Manuscript Group 52: UMWA District 2 2 United Mine Workers of America District 2, Manuscript Group 52 Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Special Collections and University Archives 489 boxes; 489 linear feet Historical Background In the history of American labor, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) has led the struggle to establish collecting bargaining in American industrial life. The UMWA was an early pioneer for worker health, safety, and retirement benefits. When representatives from the Knights of Labor and the National Progressive Union of Miners and Mine Laborers decided to meet in joint session on January 23, 1890, a new union, the United Mine Workers of America, was formed. Within this initial formation, a framework of districts was established under which actual organization efforts would be carried out. The area receiving the designation of District 2 comprised most of what was considered to be Central Pennsylvania which included the following counties: Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Fulton, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Somerset, Tioga, part of Bedford, and most of Armstrong and Indiana. During the history of District 2 portions of these counties, e.g. Potter County in 1960, did not always fall under District 2 control. Various reasons for this discrepancy were non-production, successful attempts by coal operators to drive the union out, and/or because the areas were handled by other districts. From time to time certain individual mining operations within the participating counties have fallen under the jurisdiction of other UMWA districts, however, the above list of counties forms a general representation of the territory covered by District 2. During the first decade of the union's existence, District 2 organizers encountered severe competition from surviving Knights of Labor locals, especially in Somerset and Cambria Counties. By 1900, however, the District could boast a membership of 4,999 members, up from 635 the year before. In 1904, President Patrick Gilday reported that District 2 had become the second strongest district in the national union, carrying 34,550 members. Organization of the miners in Central Pennsylvania was not without its problems. District 2 encountered many obstacles along the way. Economic conditions of the nation had adverse effects on the success of continuing organization drives and on the maintenance of established locals. Although heralded as one of the best wage scale agreements ever to be signed, the 1903 Wage Scale, adopted by the national union, created serious problems Manuscript Group 52: UMWA District 2 3 in certain areas of District 2. Operators from the Morris Run Coal Company, in Tioga County, Pennsylvania refused this scale, calling instead for a 14% wage reduction. Threatening to evict all of the miners who resided in company-owned housing, the Morris Run Coal Company set the stage for a very serious confrontation. District 2 was faced with a potentially explosive situation realizing the implications to the union as a whole if they authorized the miners to back down. In December of 1904, the coal company carried out their eviction threat, but were unable to break the union. In June of 1905 they admitted defeat and restored company housing and jobs, recognizing the local union (LU) as a valid bargaining agent. Although confined to Tioga County, this struggle was crucial to the continued existence and of District 2, which would be challenged by the operators throughout its history. By 1906, increased competition from non-union fields led coal operators in Pennsylvania, and throughout the nation, to insist upon a series of wage reductions. Faced with this possibility and with cost of living increases, the UMWA demanded that a return to the 1903 wage scale be implemented, raising wages and creating an increased differential between machine and pick- Glenwood Coal Company, Rickertsdale Tipple in Glen Campbell, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, circa 1900 mined coal. As a result of the inability to come to some form of compromise, the UMWA International adopted a resolution, proposed by delegate W. D. Ryan, calling for a nation-wide strike. The officers from each District, including District 2, were directed to strike until the individual operators in their districts agreed to accept two year settlements which would re- establish the 1903 Scale. Such agreements could be entered into on a piecemeal basis. The district did not have to hold out until all operators were willing to sign the new agreement. In the Manuscript Group 52: UMWA District 2 4 wake of unsuccessful attempts to reach some form of compromise, District 2 went on strike along with the rest of the nation. This strike lasted into late June, with a compromise finally being reached in July, signed by the majority of coal operators in District 2. A return to the 1903 wage scale was accepted with only minor adjustments to other demands. John Brophy (1883-1963) estimated that a total of $340,000.00 was spent in relief monies by District 2 alone, with the National Union sending over $100,000.00 additional funds to the district to aid the striking miners. The struggle had not been an easy one, nor would it be the last. Struggles to unionize the miners of UMWA District 2 continued as the new decade progressed. District 2 organizers and officers continued their efforts and were rewarded with success in enlarging their membership. In 1913, former District 2 President William B. Wilson was selected by President Woodrow Wilson to be the first Secretary of Labor of the United States. At the 1916 Convention of the UMWA International, a man who would be instrumental in the UMWA and in the labor field moved onto center stage. That leader was John Llewellyn Lewis (February 12, 1880-June 11, 1969), former aide to Samuel Gompers and an UMWA International organizer for the American Federation of Labor (AFL). Three President John L. Lewis years later, Lewis was acting president of the International emerging from Orient No. 2 UMWA. John L. Lewis served as president of UMWA mine in West Frankfort, International from 1920 to 1960. He was the driving force behind Illinois, after viewing the the founding of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) devastation of a mine which created the United Steel Workers of America. The UMWA explosion that killed 119 miners in December 1951. joined the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1941. Because of the efforts of the District 2 UMWA, a Miners' Hospital was erected in Spangler, Pennsylvania in 1919. The hospital was funded by state appropriations and through assessments from the miners of the District. Unfortunately other events in 1919 were not so beneficial. In October 1917, District 2 had signed the Washington Wage Agreement which froze wage levels during World War I. This wage freeze remained in effect until 1919. Faced with post-war production and returning veterans the miners' union requested a wage increase. This request was denied sparking a strike. Interestingly, International President Lewis was against calling a strike and refused to provide financial support. President Woodrow Wilson offered the miners a 14% increase in December of 1919 and a series of federal injunctions were issued against the miners. In September of 1919 the largest steel strike in the history of the United States created an opportunity for District 2 to increase their influence in non-union areas of Johnstown, Cambria County and nearby Somerset County. Steel workers striking against the Cambria Steel Company were joined by 2,000 plus coal miners engaged in a sympathetic strike. Domenick Gellotte, an active District 2 organizer had begun to hold mass rallies in January and February of that year in an attempt to organize the non-union field. In the months prior to the beginning of the strike in Manuscript Group 52: UMWA District 2 5 September, Gellotte and other organizers actively cultivated the miners' interests, keeping a tight rein on their desire to strike for higher wages. President John L. Lewis was apprised of the situation by District 2 President John Brophy (November 6, 1883-February 19, 1963) who kept in close contact with Gellotte as the summer unfolded. Emotions were running high as Gellotte reported to Brophy in June that a strike was imminent with or without the approval of Lewis and the International Board. Newly formed Local 2986 of Johnstown appealed directly to Lewis for a sanction by the International. Lewis's diplomatic reply indicated that he would grant no such sanction without the approval of the Board. In August, John Brophy (see Manuscript Group 40) sent a telegram to President Wilson informing him of interference with organizing attempts in the area. The reply was not encouraging or overly supportive. UMWA President Lewis continued to believe a strike was impossible in the region and continued to offer little support to Brophy and his organizers. With the advent of the steel strike on 22 September, the impossible came true. The sympathetic strike lasted until the 29th when many of the miners returned to work following promises of recognition on the part of the operators. Failing to sign new scale agreements, however, the operators were threatened by a renewed strike in October. Adding force to these threats, John L. Lewis announced that a general strike would go into effect on November 1, 1919 if an John Brophy (1883- agreement could not be reached between operators and miners. 1963) was president Without an agreement, the strike commenced as planned.