MOTHER JONES AND THE BATTLE OF BLAIR MOUNTAIN W. VA (PT 1)

1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

Jon Hagadorn

Society & Culture, History

4.4 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 6 July 2023

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In MOTHER JONES AND THE BATTLE OF BLAIR MOUNTAIN PT 1 we take an in-depth look at the horrific conditions that existed in the local mining communities in southwestern West Virginia at the turn of the 20th century, where men were literally worked to death, armed guards on the company payroll enforced their own brand of law, and families owned their soul to the company store. The coal companies controlled every aspect of the miner's lives, almost always had local law, state law, and politicians in their pocket, and could literally murder men, women, and children at will without being arrested. The coal miner's union, the UAMW (United Association of Mine Workers) was making inroads at that time in many states, and their leading representative was a fiery old spinster named Mother Jones, who went into the trouble areas and gave support to the families and advice to the miners. Her autobiography in parts is included here, and gives us a first hand account of the struggles that were taking place. We are very grateful to Louise Mosrie for giving us the ok to use her song "The Battle of Blair Mountain", which she co-wrote with Mike Richardson. Anna Uptain does a great job with banjo and backup vocals. SUPPORT OUR SHOW MONTHLY! Become an Assistant Producer at 1001 Stories Network ( a great resume enhancement) and support us at Patreon today! Here;s the link: https://www.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The 14-hour ships, such a meager wage, and mother Jones, can't help us in an hour anyway, anyway.
0:45.0	The lay down your bibles and pick up your guns. These words, from a courting artist Louise
0:56.4	Mosary's song, The Battle of Blair Mountain, co-written with Mike Richardson, with vocal
1:01.8	and banjo backup from Anna Uptane, echo the painful cry of thousands of West Virginia
1:07.0	men and women who rose up against the coal companies that had them living in tents, starving,
1:12.3	and working like slaves for the bi-tuminous black gold that was filling the coffers of ruthless
1:17.4	investors and politicians in the mining camps of Appalachia in 1912. When the coal companies
1:24.6	turned to eviction, threats, and finally murder to keep the miners down, the miners and
1:30.5	their families beaten and starving had no choice but to lay down their bibles and pick
1:36.1	up their guns. The fight that ensued was and still remains the bloodiest labor conflict
1:42.0	in American history, leaving hundreds dead, families broken, and all faith in government
1:47.6	shattered. It is to those mine workers and their families and their descendants that
1:53.1	this episode regarding this long forgotten story is dedicated.
2:12.0	Welcome to another episode from one thousand one heroes, legends, histories, and mysteries.
2:29.8	This one, the true story of the largest and deadliest labor uprising in American history,
2:34.9	a story with as many twists and turns as West Virginia has country roads, hills, and
2:39.6	hollows. Years ago a singer and teller of tales named Tennessee Ernie Ford had a record
2:45.3	called sixteen tongues, a story about a coal miners predicament that stated no matter
2:50.5	how hard he worked or how much coal he shoveled, the odds were stacked against him and his
2:54.9	family. His meager wages all went back to the company store for food and clothing and
3:00.0	rent, leaving he and his wife and kids owing money he hadn't even made yet to the coal
3:05.4	company. I owe my soul to the company store was the catchphrase to that song and how
	...

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