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Archiver > KYHARLAN > 1999-09 > 0937364668


From: Samantha Haas< >
Subject: [KYHARLAN-L] BLOODY- HARLAN
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 22:04:28 -0500 (CDT)


Hi Friends of Harlan Co. Ky. I just read where some think that Harlan
Co. Ky. was called "Bloody Harlan, because of the Moon-Shine Stills! No
doubt there was trouble over Whiskey being made and sold illegally, as I
recall as a child living there until I was about 13, years of age, a lot
of that "Special Recipe", was also sampled by most... I found this
article at the Public Library about 2, years ago and this was how I
remembered Bloody-Harlan, as my Parents would tell the story as well.
The Book, written by John W. Hevener, 1931-1939, "UNION OF THE DAMNED'.
Harlan County's Coal Depression 1929-1939. President Hoover, 'THE GREAT
DEPRESSION!!! 1929, COAL MINERS worked only 156 days out to the year
for $ 2.00, A Day. OWNERS of the Coal Mines, would try to work the Men
like Dogs and if you didn't like it or the Wage they wanted to Pay You,
then you were Fired. "THUGS, as men were known to take your place. What
they needed was a UNION! Coal-Mines were closing, men fleeing to other
places to get work. PICKET-LINES were formed and men refused to let
"Thugs", take their Jobs. In 1930, THE WAR BEGINS, the men will stand
up for them-selves and what they believe in. The Hills of Kentucky was
full of Coal and Coal was in great demand. In Harlan County, Ky. Coal
was the Main source of Life. There was no other Jobs... 1931-1932,
Harlan Co. Coal Depression, President, Hoover, The Great Depression!!!
The Story Goes! WM. B. Jones, 48, year old Secretary of the Local
Union, was the real Leader at Black Mountain, March 8, 1931 he belonged
to the Secret Union, known as U.M.W. Member for 29, years before he came
to Harlan County. He moved to Evarts, Ky. in Harlan, County. There he
established Local Union Head-Quarters at his home. With the Union
forming, Coal Miners Protested, NO WORK and " HUNGER' The STRIKES Begin!
The Coal-Miners will be treated fairly or No-One wouldn't work, NO THUGS
are going to take our Jobs, while we go Hungry. 1931, National Guards
were sent into Harlan, Co. to keep Peace. It was said!! The Guards being
sent into Harlan, County Ky. and the Coal-Miners refusal to let THUGS,
work their Jobs and refuse to Join the Union, where all Men could be
treated Equal. The Name (BLOODY-HARLAN), WOULD ALWAYS BE KNOWN. The
Children They'D have Little Legs and a Big Stomach, some Men would
Staggered when they Walked, it was said of the National Guard, by the
Coal-Miners, They put Guards over us and we don't wear Stripes. "Poem"
1931, Evarts, Harlan Co. Ky. this rarely Militant Folk-Song, carried
east by the visiting organizers, was to become ONE of American's most
Popular and Enduring Labor Songs. " WITH PISTOLS AND WITH RIFLES THEY
TAKE AWAY OUR BREAD AND IF YOU MINERS HINTED IT THEY''LL SOCK YOU ON THE
HEAD, WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON ? WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? GENTLEMEN, CAN
YOU STAND IT? OH! TELL ME HOW YOU CAN? WILL YOU BE A GUN THUG? OR
WILL YOU BE A MAN? WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
April 2, 1937 the Union, concluded A 2, year National Agreement that
provided for A $5.60 daily wage and 7, hour day by the end of 1937,
Approximately 6000 County Miners were covered by some type of U.M.W.
Agreement,; but still the Miners had to work very hard to keep their
CONTRACTS. The Knoxville News_Sentinel...a picture was shown, the
National Guard Troops marching Miners to Jail after the Battle of
Stanfill, July 12, 1939. A total of 227 Union Members were arrested,
Bond for the Prisoners was set at over a Quarter of a Million dollars.
My Father was a Union Man and he was buried in 1989 with some of his
Union Pens on. He still would send money to the Union when they needed
it , He was a coal-Miner and ended up losing his life to the disease
that coal-dust causes(Lung Disease).Silicosis of the Lungs! His name
was Bert Jones and I was so proud of him. Hope I have helped someone
understand that Bloody-Harlan had no other way; but to fight for their
RIGHTS..... With Warm Regards, Samantha Haas, Fort Campbell, Ky.

FAITH is the Reality of things hoped for and the Certainty of things
Unseen. Hebrews11:1

FAITH is the Reality of things hoped for and the Certainty of things
Unseen. Hebrews11:1

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