Conclusion

At the time of its release, and probably because of its critical conclusions and progressive recommendations as well as Berwind-White's larger political influence, the New York City report did not gain prominent widespread coverage in the nation's media. It did get some lesser coverage, though. While it did not end the strike or produce reforms, it remains invaluable today as a document that accurately presents the miners' case for the strike and the conditions that existed in the town and in Berwind-White mines there.

Despite great obstacles, Windber and Somerset County miners and their families continued their strike for union into a second year. Finally, in August 1923, nearly 17 months after they had gone out on strike, they were forced to concede defeat. To any and all but the most biased company people and open shop advocates, their actions alone had proved their uncompromising desire for, and commitment to, unionization--and all that represented to them. As the final document indicates, when they had to end this particular effort, they did so with the same courage and pride with which they had conducted the lengthy strike. In 1933, they eagerly seized upon a new opportunity, built upon such earlier struggles, and successfully unionized to continue their longterm efforts for democratic freedoms and social justice into a new era.

DELEGATES OF SOMERSET COUNTY LOCAL UNIONS

August 14, 1923

WHEREAS The long strike of almost seventeen months in the coal fields of Somerset County has been terminated, and

WHEREAS, we recognize the circumstances making necessary the temporary abandonment of our fight against the coal operators for union recognition, and realize that the failure of the strike to secure our full demands was not due to any defects in the principles of unionism, but rather to the brutal tactics and tremendous financial strength of the coal companies, as well as to the weakmindedness, selfishness and un-Americanism of strike breakers who took our jobs, and reaped the benefit of the wage increases which not they but we and the union were the means of securing from the coal operators of Somerset County, and

WHEREAS, We appreciate the help that all the members of District No. 2, United Mine Workers of America, have given us, the miners who in spite of slack work paid the assessment to support us and thus sacrificed along with us, and the Officers of District No. 2 who left nothing undone that was in their power to do for our benefit,

THEREFORE, be it resolved, that we, the delegates from the Somerset County Local Unions, in convention assembled in the City of Johnstown, Pa., this fourteenth day of August, 1923, reaffirm our belief in the principles of unionism and declare our intention of keeping alive our union, even though we are working on an open shop basis, and await the first opportunity of winning a contract and union recognition.

United Mine Workers, District 2 Papers, Collection 52, Box 54, Folder 9, Archives, Library, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pa.

Conclusion

RESOLUTION

ADOPTED BY

DELEGATES OF SOMERSET COUNTY LOCAL UNIONS

	Conclusion At the time of its release, and probably because of its critical conclusions and progressive recommendations as well as Berwind-White's larger political influence, the New York City report did not gain prominent widespread coverage in the nation's media. It did get some lesser coverage, though. While it did not end the strike or produce reforms, it remains invaluable today as a document that accurately presents the miners' case for the strike and the conditions that existed in the town and in Berwind-White mines there. Despite great obstacles, Windber and Somerset County miners and their families continued their strike for union into a second year. Finally, in August 1923, nearly 17 months after they had gone out on strike, they were forced to concede defeat. To any and all but the most biased company people and open shop advocates, their actions alone had proved their uncompromising desire for, and commitment to, unionization--and all that represented to them. As the final document indicates, when they had to end this particular effort, they did so with the same courage and pride with which they had conducted the lengthy strike. In 1933, they eagerly seized upon a new opportunity, built upon such earlier struggles, and successfully unionized to continue their longterm efforts for democratic freedoms and social justice into a new era.

	RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY DELEGATES OF SOMERSET COUNTY LOCAL UNIONS August 14, 1923 WHEREAS The long strike of almost seventeen months in the coal fields of Somerset County has been terminated, and WHEREAS, we recognize the circumstances making necessary the temporary abandonment of our fight against the coal operators for union recognition, and realize that the failure of the strike to secure our full demands was not due to any defects in the principles of unionism, but rather to the brutal tactics and tremendous financial strength of the coal companies, as well as to the weakmindedness, selfishness and un-Americanism of strike breakers who took our jobs, and reaped the benefit of the wage increases which not they but we and the union were the means of securing from the coal operators of Somerset County, and WHEREAS, We appreciate the help that all the members of District No. 2, United Mine Workers of America, have given us, the miners who in spite of slack work paid the assessment to support us and thus sacrificed along with us, and the Officers of District No. 2 who left nothing undone that was in their power to do for our benefit, THEREFORE, be it resolved, that we, the delegates from the Somerset County Local Unions, in convention assembled in the City of Johnstown, Pa., this fourteenth day of August, 1923, reaffirm our belief in the principles of unionism and declare our intention of keeping alive our union, even though we are working on an open shop basis, and await the first opportunity of winning a contract and union recognition. United Mine Workers, District 2 Papers, Collection 52, Box 54, Folder 9, Archives, Library, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pa. A Centennial Note