by Melvin Triola
Published in 1952
The United Mine Workers of America attempted to organize the Logan field in 1921. Their organizing campaign was halted on Blair Mountain at that time by the organized effort of the coal operators in Logan County, with which everyone is familiar. After being 
unsuccessful in this campaign, they did not attempt to organize the Logan field again until 1933. In June, 1933, the campaign was enunciated by President John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers of America and was under the direction of the District president at that time Mr. Van A. Bittner, and William Bizzard, now President of District 17.
Mr. Lee hall was placed in charge of the organization campaign, who was former President of District 6 with the Ohio miners. He had with him Mr. Martin Justice and Mr. Stone, first name unknown. The completed the organizing of the UMWA sometime in the latter part of July, 1933.
The First offices of the UMWA were located in the Arizona Hotel, which is now the Mercy Hospital. The first contact was signed September 21, 1934, between the Logan Coal Operators’ Association and the UMWA and provided for a basic wage of 52.2¢ per hour or $4.20 fir ab 8-hour day and 33.2¢ per ton on the coal mined by the miners. At that time Logan County was completely had loading operating.
From time to time since, the UMWA’s basic wage has risen to the present level of $2.43.7 per hour or $16.35 for an 8-hour day. Benefits such as vacation pay, portal to portal pay, union shop, welfare and retirement fund, and many other benefits have been obtained for the mine workers by the UMWA.
Mr. Lee Hall was the representative in charge of the Logan field and negotiated the rental of the present location of the UMWA offices in the White and Browning building into which the offices moved in the early part of 1934. During Mr. Hall’s year of office his colleagues were as follows: George Pennington, Charles Kiser, now representative in charge of the Williamson field; Nelson Beatty, still located in the Logan field, Harry Magovac and Millard Cassidy. In the fall of 1934, Mr. Hall was dispatched for other services in Central Pennsylvania for District No. 2 and Representative Harry Magovac was placed in charge.
After Mr. Magovac was placed in charge, Mr. Robert Light, financial secretary of Logan Union 5853, Holden, West Virginia, was appointed district representative to till the vacancy created by the transfer of Mr. Hall. In Mar, 1937, Mr. Magovac died in the Stevens Clinic from an extended illness and Mr. Millard Cassidy was placed in charge of the Logan office.
During 1936 when the Congress of Industrial Organizations was founded by President John L. Lewis, Mr. Kiser was transferred to help organize the steel workers of this nation. In 1938 Melvin Triola, secretary of Logan Union 5812, Rossmore, W. Va., was appointed district representative in the Logan field.
Mr. Cassidy was in charge from June, 1937, up until July 13, 1950, when he died in a local hospital of an extended illness and Melvin Triolo was placed in charge of the Logan office.
The present offices are still located in the White and Browning building and the present staff assigned to handle the affairs of the UWMA in the Logan field since 1934; Representative Jerry Stidham, who was appointed district representative on the first day of May, 1951, to fill the vacancy created by the death by the death of Millard Cassidy; and Louise Barker, secretary of the Logan offices.
*Source: 1952 Centennial Program Booklet published by the City of Logan.
**The content on this page is for educational purposes and is used in accordance with the Fair Use Law (Per Title 17—United States Code—Section 107).
My grandfather supported the union in 1921. Their home was broken into and all their new oak furniture had been chopped apart with an ax. He was also at Blair Mt.. I don’t know how soon they left Logan, but they relocated to Springfield, Ohio. There’s more to the story but just giving a few highlights.