Without the generous and able cooperation given the author by all those asked and the many volunteers who assisted, this biography would have been an impossible task. Acknowledgement is gratefully made For the long hours given the author by John L. Lewis, in the midst of his vitiating activities as head of the C. I. O., which made possible the understanding of the man beneath the leader of labor. For the literary impetus supplied by Aaron de Haas, aid that only such fortunate recipients as I can appreciate, and for his help specifically on the index of this book, For the cooperatiori of Kathryn Lewis, A. D. Lewis and Ellis Searles in making available material otherwise inaccessible. For the unflagging research of Mary Lawrence, Pearl Boris, Oscar Anderson, Jr., and Edward Talbot, all of whom labored with an untiring devotion impossible of repayment. For the prophecy of Mr. Lewis future by Heywood Broun. To all those too numerous to enumerate herein, who by advice and information helped fill the gaps in the record. And last, but not least, the helpful suggestions of Betty and her calm re-arrangement of household schedules to meet the exigencies of the chaos created by this work in its progress. CECIL CARNES. C O N T E N T S CHAPTER CHA I P . T ER T WENTY-SIX YEARSB EGINNING . . . P AC I E I 875-1 906 11. A LEADER E MERGING . . . . . . . . 10 I 906-November, I g I 8 111. NOT TOO PROUD TO FIGHT . . . . . . I 9 November, I g I 8-October, r 91 g IV. THE W HOLE W ORL S D HI VERS . . . . . 28 October-November, I g I g V. FIRST N ATIONALV ICTORY . . . . . . . 38 November, I 9 I g-Januarv, I 920 VI. BARBER T O MEDUSA . . . . . . . . . 47 January-August, I 920 VIZ. No BACKWARDST EP . . . . . . . . 64 August-December, I 92 I VIII. CASKETS IN HERRIN . . . . . . . . . 80 December, 192 I-June, 1922 IX. FRESH P , R INTABLEH ISTORY . . . . . . 96 June, I 922-September, I g23 X. THE JA CKSONVILLE AGREEMENT . . . . I I 2 September, I 923-December, I 24 ix X CONTENTS CHAPTER PACE XI. COMPETING W ITH SERF COAL . . . . . 130 December, I 924-April, 1925 XII. CIVIL WAR IN WEST VIRGINIA . . . . . 141 April-July, I 925 -XIII. KEEPINGC OOL W ITH COOLIDG . E . . . . 1.59 July-October, I 925 XIV, PROLONGENDE GOTIATIONS . . . . . . 17 7 October-November, I 92 5 XV. MINERS F IGHT FO R AMERICANST ANDARDS . 192 November, 1925-February, I 926 XVI. DISASTE A R N D DESERTION . . . . . . 208 February, I 926-February, I 927 XVII. RESILIENC I Y N THE MAN . . . . . . . 224 February, I 927-January, I 932 XVIII. REGAININPGO WER W ITH N. I. R. A. . . . . 238 September, I 932-Octobei, I 935 XIX. CUFFING THE OLD GUARD . . . . . . 254 October, I 935-May, I 936 XX. A NEW RADIOP ERSONALIT . Y . . . . . 266 July, 1936 XXI. E L D N G A NEW POWER . . . . . . . 280 August-November, I 936 XXIT. AN IMPARTI A A P L PR AISAL . . . . . . 296 Time the Present J O H N L. L E W I S LEADER OF LABOR Chapter One TWENTY-SIX YEARS BEGINNING MINING HAS RARELY been carried on except by-pioneers or slaves. It is an occupation that almost literally rests upon geologic strata which was in formation when physical force and the survival of the fittest were the prime laws , of nature. Consequently its workers are known to possess more primitive force than any other group of toilers in the world...