They found ready clients among the many new coal companies.
Red Owl started as a coal company in the 1920's.
He was also associated with other coke and coal companies.
The coal companies can be fined up to $500,000 each.
By mid-1911, the strike had taken its toll on the coal companies.
But now, the coal companies seem to be able to do it, too.
Patterson was also involved in the coal company, serving as its secretary.
"Twenty years ago, I might have been competing for workers with other coal companies," he said.
There is a long history here of struggle against exploitation by coal companies.
The coal companies moved aggressively to exploit the law in other ways as well.