HEARTS OF GOLD

APPENDIX C

288 APPENDIX C This advertisement appeared in the Charleston Advocate on April 18, 1907 and May 2, 1907. Given that Jones addresses the abuses central to the coal industry in Hearts of Gold, his endorsement of this call for black laborers is interesting. According to historian Ronald L. Lewis, “although leasing convicts to private contractors was common in the South, it became prevalent in the coalfields of Georgia , Tennessee, and Alabama. Other southern states with significant coal reserves did not use prison labor in mining.”1 This advertisement suggests that Jones was ready to believe that conditions were significantly different in West Virginia. OPPORTUNITY Opportunity=========================Opportunity Two thousand colored men with or without families wanted for permanent employment and residence in West Virginia The mine owners in the rich and rapidly developing coal fields of West Virginia are anxious to secure two thousand colored men to work in the coal mines of the state. Menarenotwantedforafewmonthsworknortotaketheplaceofstrikers, but they are wanted for permanent work and permanent residence. This is not a new field but one that has been in operation for twenty years. There are thousands of colored men in these fields who came here years ago with their families and they have educated their children, saved their money, bought property and are now among the state’s most respected citizens. 289 appendices The state of West Virginia welcomes respected colored people within her borders and gives them opportunities and advantages which can be obtained in no other Southern State. In West Virginia there is no discrimination in the public school laws. The colored schools have the same length of term that the white schools have and the colored teachers are paid the same salaries that white teachers are paid. At present there are only 50,000 colored people in the state, for those the state maintains three state schools. One in the center, one in the southern and one in the northern part of the state. At these schools, collegiate, academic, military and industrial education can be had. In addition to this, the state supports a colored orphans’ home, reform school for girls and colored people are admitted to all the Humane Institutions. In West Virginia, there are no Jim Crow cars, disfranchisement laws and other discriminations so common in southern states. Every man can vote his sentiments and is guaranteed every right and protection given by the Constitution of the United States. At each works, good houses at reasonable rent, school houses and chuches are provided by the Companies in nearly every locality, Pythian, Masonic, Odd Fellows and other lodges will be found and the Companies furnish Halls for same. Men are wanted as miners, drivers, engineers, carpenters, skilled and common laborers. From $2.00 to $5.00 per day can be earned. It takes only a few weeks for a man to learn the trade of mining. All wages are paid in cash every two weeks. No one is compelled to deal at Company stores, as is usually the case on public works. This is an opportunity of a life time for colored men who want to better their condition, earn good wages, educate their children and enjoy the same privileges that others enjoy. We want two thousand men. We will pay transportation from any place in the United States. Good men are wanted and we are willing to give these inducements. If you are interested, let me hear from you at once. J. M. HAZELWOOD, Agent, 22 Capitol Street, Charleston, W.Va. 290 appendices REFERENCES Hon. W. M. O. Dawson, Governor of West Virginia, Charleston, W.Va. S. W. Starks, Supreme Chancellor, Knights of Pythias, Charleston, W.Va. J. McHenry Jones, Ex. Grand Master, Grand United Order Odd Fellows, Institute, W.Va. Kanawha Banking & Trust Company, Charleston, W.Va. Notes 1 Ronald L. Lewis,“African American Convicts in the Coal Mines of Southern Appalachia,” in John C. Inscoe, ed., Appalachians and Race: The Mountain South from Slavery to Segregation (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 2001), 259. ...