Illinois House of Representatives Committee on Investigation of the Herrin Massacre
transcript of hearings, April 11-May 17, 1923 on Microfilm, 1923
Collection Number: 5180 mf
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Illinois House of Representatives Committee on Investigation of the Herrin Massacre
transcript of hearings, April 11-May 17, 1923 on Microfilm, 1923
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5180 mf
Abstract:
Transcript of testimony heard in April and May of 1923 before an Illinois House of
Representatives Committee consisting of the following members: Frank A. McCarthy (chairman),
Thomas Curran, Norman G. Flagg, M.L. Igoe, W.B. Phillips, William L. Pierce, and M.P.
Rice; also abstract of testimony and exhibits.
Creator:
Illinois House of Representatives
Quanitities:
0.22 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
A violent incident, known as the Herrin Massacre, resulted from an attempt to run
a strip mine in Williamson County, Illinois during the coal strike of 1922.
Involved was a conflict between members of the Steam Shovel Men's Union (SSMU), an
independent union, and members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW). The SSMU
men were employed by William J. Lester to break the UMW strike at the strip mines
in Herrin and Marion, Ill., owned by the Southern Illinois Coal Company, of which
he was the president.
On June 22nd, 1922, forty-seven men working at the strip mine surrendered, under
a promise of safe conduct, to an armed force of several hundred striking miners. Twenty-one
SSMU men were subsequently killed. In the ensuing trial, public opinion made it impossible
to convict any of those individuals indicted for murder or related crimes.
Transcript of testimony heard in April and May of 1923 before an Illinois House of
Representatives Committee consisting of the following members: Frank A. McCarthy (chairman),
Thomas Curran, Norman G. Flagg, M.L. Igoe, W.B. Phillips, William L. Pierce, and M.P.
Rice; also abstract of testimony and exhibits.
Includes the testimony of key individuals involved in the incident along with that
of the following major local and poitical figures: Carlo Black (adjutant general of
the State of Illinois), Charles R. Edrington (commercial secretary for the Marion
Association), Charles F. Hamilton (operator of the Enterprise Mine near Moke Station,
and business partner of Lester), DeWitt T. Hartwell (county judge), Robert Herrin
(chief of police in Herrin), Fox Hughes (sub-district vice-president and United Mine
Workers of America official), A.B. McLaren (coal operator), Ralph B. Mitchell (general
manager of Cosgrove Interests), Len Small (governor), William J. Sneed (state senator
and president of sub-district, Illinois Miners Organization), S.D. Storme (county
clerk and deputy under Thaxton), and Robert Tracy (locomotive engineer). The transcript
also contains testimony of other figures involved in the incident, such as miners,
hardware store clerks and newspaper reporters.
A violent incident, known as the Herrin Massacre, resulted from an attempt to run
a strip mine in Williamson County, Illinois during the coal strike of 1922.
Involved was a conflict between members of the Steam Shovel Men's Union (SSMU), an
independent union, and members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW). The SSMU
men were employed by William J. Lester to break the UMW strike at the strip mines
in Herrin and Marion, Ill., owned by the Southern Illinois Coal Company, of which
he was the president.
On June 22nd, 1922, forty-seven men working at the strip mine surrendered, under
a promise of safe conduct, to an armed force of several hundred striking miners. Twenty-one
SSMU men were subsequently killed. In the ensuing trial, public opinion made it impossible
to convict any of those individuals indicted for murder or related crimes.
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archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Illinois House of Representatives Committee on Investigation of the Herrin Massacre
transcript of hearings, April 11-May 17, 1923 on Microfilm #5180 mf. Kheel Center
for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Names:
Illinois. General Assembly. House of Representatives. Committee on Investigation of
the Herrin Massacre.
Illinois. General Assembly. House of Representatives.
Illinois Miner's Organization
Southern Illinois Coal Company
Steam Shovel Men's Union
United Mine Workers of America.
Black, Carlo
Edrington, Charles R.
Hamilton, Charles F.
Hartwell, DeWitt T.
Herrin, Robert
Hughes, Fox
Lester, William J.
McLaren, A. B.
Sneed, William J.
Storme, S. D.
Tracy, Robert
Subjects:
Herrin Massacre, 1922.
Southern Illinois Coal Company Strike, 1922.
Strikebreakers--Illinois.
Coal miners.
Labor violence. United States.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
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Description
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Date
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Reel 1 |
Illinois Legislature House Committee on the Investigation of the Herrin Massacre Transcripts
of Testimony (1923)
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1923 | |
Scope and Contents
Positive
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Reel 2 |
Illinois Legislature House Committee on the Investigation of the Herrin Massacre Transcripts
of Testimony (1923)
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1923 | |
Scope and Contents
Service copy
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