About The Logan democrat. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1906-1939
Logan, W. Va. (1906-1939)

The Logan Democrat

Charles O. Brazie knew what to expect as the editor and publisher of the Logan Democrat in 1911. "The newspaper that undertakes to please everybody will please nobody," he wrote on August 17, 1911; "If it is honest and sincere and thoughtful, the public will respect it." The Logan Democrat enjoyed the esteem of the public under Brazie and subsequent editors until its dissolution in 1939. As a political organ, the Logan Democrat emphasized local politics as well as state and national politics. It also contained short stories, advertisements, religious content, and space for local politicians to present their candidacy. Brazie announced on September 21, 1911, that there would be a temporary suspension because he could not "give the paper the proper attention," but the suspension never took place. George L. Aldredge—a cousin of Brazie's wife—arrived the following week to assume control as the new editor. He maintained the Democratic character of paper with his business manager, Ella C. Harper, whom he married in 1921. The Logan Printing Company replaced Aldredge and Harper after their departure in 1917.

Logan County was enmeshed in a world of coal and labor disputes, as were the editors of the Logan Democrat. Aldredge identified himself with the interests of coal, publishing on September 28, 1911 "that the great progress West Virginia has shown… is principally due to the extensive development in coal mining." Both Aldredge and Brazie lent their support to West Virginia's coal operators and chastised the miners and unionists who undermined their productivity. On October 30, 1913, Aldredge gave a platform to Charles Frederick Carter, who blamed unions for reducing coal production in neighboring states. "It is well known that the policy of labor unions is to restrict production," Carter stated. West Virginia's "non-union coal mines… increased from 674.4 tons in 1900 to 855.9 tons in 1912," while "the average annual output per employee in the unionized mines of Illinois is 724.2 tons, and in Ohio 705 tons." Carter accused jealous coal operators in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and western Pennsylvania of sending "union agitators" into Cabin Creek and Paint Creek to inflame the recent strike. Aldredge seemed to agree that the unionists and striking workers were a source of trouble. Siding with the coal operators, on January 15, 1914 he shared an article from the United States Geological Survey that criticized the government for supposedly acting "as a reinforcing influence for the labor union" and bringing about "a renewal of lawlessness and the loss of additional lives that the operators could ill afford."

The Logan Democrat's preoccupation with coal and labor never wavered, although it mingled with new concerns in 1917. After the United States entered World War I, the Logan Democrat pondered the fate of the coal business, expressing some hope "that the government will not fix any unreasonable price on the product of their state" in the August 9, 1917 issue. The editors similarly hoped that Americans would devote themselves to winning the war. The April 12, 1917 issue stated "Now all Americans have but one right and one duty left; to accept, not grudgingly, but with their whole heart the decision rendered by Congress to go to war." The citizens of Logan County expressed their patriotism by donating to the Red Cross and participating in the liberty bond campaign. The editors admired their hard work and celebrated it with the expectation that all citizens, including miners, would remain industrious. They were of the opinion "that no one who considers himself a man should complain if he must bear his share of the burden that must rest heavily upon all" while the United States was at war. That meant supporting the soldiers with their money, their "faithful work," and their influence instead of striking (October 20, 1917).

Provided by: West Virginia University