The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-28
VICTORY FOR THE
KNIGHTS OF LABOR
Secure Recognition from Gallo
way Coal Company.
CONTROL WALKER COUNTY
United Mine Workers. Given Slap in
the Face But Will Codtinue Fight
District Master Workman
O'Keefe Jubilant

The knights OF Labor have scored a sig
nal Victory over the United Mine Workers,
and have practically obtained control of the
Walker county coal mines, among the most
important in this district.
The fight was in reality contest for
recognition at the hands of the big opera
tors, and proved a battle royal in that its
loss to the United Mine Workers mean
slap in the face for that organization. which
heretofore practically controlled all the coal
mines in the state.
The test made with the Galloway
Coal company, which, by reason of its ca
pacity practically fixes the scale for the
entire county, including all of the smaller
operators.
The fight has been waged fast and furious
and trouble has only been averted by the
presence of officers of the law, who were
called upon to protect property and to pre-
vent conflict.
| The question of wages was amicably set
| tied, but a demand for recognition was
made on the company by Ile officers OF
| both orders. In the meantime the Knights
of Labor continued at work, pending a
settlement, but the United Mine Workers
| quit work and are still out.
Held a Conference
| District Master Workman A. ]. O'Keefe
of the Knigtots of Labor was on the scene,
| and yesterday held a conference with Pres
Ident r.. Galloway of tie Galloway COM
pany and other operators who are gov
erped by the action of The Galloway COM
Pany, and the situation was thoroughly dis
cussed. After the conference Mr., O'Keefe
was handed the following letter, which Is
self-expianatory:
Carbon HILL Ala, Oct. 81.
Mr. A. j. O. Keefe, District Master Work
man No. 6, Alabama Knights of Labor:
Dear Sir:-Replying to our conversation
of yesterday will say that this company
proposes to stand by the Knights of Labor
so long as they stand by us, and recognize
no other order The demands of the United
Mine Workers are beyond all reason and
are unjust in every respect.
We met all their financial demands until
they followed with demands that no self
respecting man could accept. Your order
accepted the increased pay, continued at
| work and made further demands and
We shall contiue with you. Yours truly,
GALLOWAY COAL CO.,
| BY r. Galloway President.
Mr. OKeefe returned to Birmingham yes
terday afternoon and is jubilant over the
victory. He was seen by an Age-Herald re-
porter and said:
| THE Knights of Labor are now in abso-
lutte control of Walker county, and has
| thereby become great factor in the LABOR
| situation of the district.
! 1--WE have routed the United Mine Wcck-
ers completely and propose to fight them to
| finish in other localities, because they
| have entered our territory and tried 10
supplant our organization.
1--WE will not object to their men working
| in Walker county If we cannot fill the de-
mand, but will insist on the recognition
which has been given u.s..
President Young Talks
President Young of the United Mine
| Workers. who with w. r. Farley, the
national committeeman, leave this morning
for Carbon Hill to continue the fight, was
seen last night, and in speaking of the
| matter. said:
ut is a fact that the Galloway people
| have refused to recognize the United Mine
| Workers and have recognized the knights
of Labor and that's exactly what l am
| going there fer tomorrow. When there was
| a kick made for an increase in wages the
| Galloway people paid no attention to the
United Mine Workers committee, but When
| tie Kmisrlts OF Labor committee went to
| them the next morning an advance in
wages was announced Eighty percent of
| the laborers at Galloway are members of
| cur union, and we propose to be recognized
by the Galloway people.
| 1--WE are going to keep the United Mine
| Workers out until There is some recogni-
ton of our organization. That is the reason
| am going to Carbon HILL"