Born in Locust Gap, Pennsylvania in 1866, Lewis worked in the mines as a boy. He later helped found the United Mine Workers in 1890.
He first ran for the presidency of UMWA in 1898 against John Mitchell, but withdrew before a vote could be taken. He became vice president of District 6 under William Green. When Mitchell fell ill in 1907 and was unable to control the UMWA convention, Lewis led an attack on him and won the presidency. He fought off challengers in 1908, 1909 and even Green himself in 1910, although he was forced to rig elections in the latter two campaigns.
Although Lewis stacked the organizing staff of the Mine Workers with his political supporters and turned the union's journal into a propaganda organ supporting his presidency, he did not retain leadership of the union after he signed regional wage agreements in 1909 and 1910 without the consent of the affected district presidents. He was defeated in 1910 by John P. White. He ran again for the presidency of the union in 1912, but lost.
After leaving the union, he became an anti-labor consultant for coal operators in West Virginia, published a coal operators' trade journal (the Coal Mining Review), and helped found the National Coal Association. According to Winthrop Lane, Lewis also served as Secretary of the New River Coal Operator's Association.[1]
thomas, lewis, unionist, thomas, lewis, 1866, 1939, miner, president, united, mine, workers, america, umwa, from, 1907, 1911, thomas, lewis6th, president, united, mine, workersin, office, 1908, 1910preceded, byjohn, mitchellsucceeded, byjohn, whitepersonal, de. Thomas L Lewis 1866 May 1 1939 was a miner and president of the United Mine Workers of America UMWA from 1907 to 1911 Thomas Lewis6th President of the United Mine WorkersIn office 1908 1910Preceded byJohn MitchellSucceeded byJohn P WhitePersonal detailsBorn1866Locust Gap Pennsylvania U S Died 1939 05 31 May 31 1939 age 73 Charleston West Virginia U S OccupationMiner Labor leader Business executiveKnown forPresident United Mine Workers of America Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography editBorn in Locust Gap Pennsylvania in 1866 Lewis worked in the mines as a boy He later helped found the United Mine Workers in 1890 He first ran for the presidency of UMWA in 1898 against John Mitchell but withdrew before a vote could be taken He became vice president of District 6 under William Green When Mitchell fell ill in 1907 and was unable to control the UMWA convention Lewis led an attack on him and won the presidency He fought off challengers in 1908 1909 and even Green himself in 1910 although he was forced to rig elections in the latter two campaigns Although Lewis stacked the organizing staff of the Mine Workers with his political supporters and turned the union s journal into a propaganda organ supporting his presidency he did not retain leadership of the union after he signed regional wage agreements in 1909 and 1910 without the consent of the affected district presidents He was defeated in 1910 by John P White He ran again for the presidency of the union in 1912 but lost After leaving the union he became an anti labor consultant for coal operators in West Virginia published a coal operators trade journal the Coal Mining Review and helped found the National Coal Association According to Winthrop Lane Lewis also served as Secretary of the New River Coal Operator s Association 1 Death editLewis died in Charleston West Virginia on May 1 1939 See also editMichael Ratchford John Mitchell United Mine Workers John Phillip White John L LewisReferences edit Lane Winthrop D Winthrop David 1921 Civil war in West Virginia The Library of Congress New York B W Huebsch inc pp 97 Fink Gary M ed Biographical Dictionary of American Labor Westport Ct Greenwood Press 1984 ISBN 0 313 22865 5 Lane Winthrop Civil War in West Virginia A Story of the Industrial Conflict in the Coal Mines NY B W Huebsch Inc 1921 Phelan Craig William Green Biography of a Labor Leader Albany N Y State University of New York Press 1989 ISBN 0 88706 871 5External links editUnited Mine Workers of AmericaTrade union officesPreceded byThomas W Davis Vice President of the United Mine Workers of America1900 1908 Succeeded byJohn P WhitePreceded byJohn Mitchell President of the United Mine Workers of America1908 1910 Succeeded byJohn P White Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Lewis unionist amp oldid 1161830140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
