University of Virginia Library

'Climate Of Fear'

The challenger says that Mr.
Boyle's rule "has created a
climate of fear and
intimidation within the union
– physical violence,
blacklisting – revocation of
pensions abound."

The United Mine Workers
Union, founded in 1890,
presently consists of 200,000
members, of which 80,000 are
pensioners. The majority of the
members are concentrated in
the Appalachian region of
Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West
Virginia, Virginia and Ohio.
The others are scattered as far
west as Montana.

Recently the union has
experienced hard times because
of the decline of the coal
industry, environmental
controls, and new sources of
power. From within, the union
has been threatened by
corruption, decay, and
dissension.

The latest polls indicate that
the election will be close. Both
sides predict victory. As of last
week Mr. Miller was running
one to two percentage points
ahead. Mr. Miller's victory
would be significant since such
challengers to national union
leaders have been few and
rarely successful.