Part 6/13:
Organized labor efforts in West Virginia date back to 1912 with the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike. This strike exposed the brutal reality of coalfield conflicts; enforcers from private security firms like Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency fired into homes, and martial law was declared to suppress union activity. Mother Jones, a prominent labor organizer, became a notable figure during this period.
Baldwin-Felts, founded by William Baldwin and Thomas Felts, became infamous for its brutal tactics. Their agents—many former police, soldiers, and even criminals—acted as enforcers against miners, intimidating and evicting union supporters. To miners and their allies, Baldwin-Felts became synonymous with oppression and violence.