The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-29

tors that the mine workers union Is lawless organization. During the past twenty weeks the whole power of the un- ion has been exerted to preserve the peace among voluntarily idle population of three-quarters of a million; and it Is tribute to the activity of our officers and the loyalty and self-restraint of our members that we have been more suc- cessful in allaying violence than the coal and iron police in melting it. Despite all our precautions, we regret that ocoasion- al violence has resulted. but It would be as logical to charge any one of the reli- gious, social or political organizations, or even the United States government, with being an unlawful organization when some of it's adherents transgress the law, as 1t Is to charge the United Mine Workers of America with being an unlawful organization because some of its members violate the law. The officers of the union are as severe as the operators in their earnest condemnation of any and every act of violence upon the part of striker; and no attempt has been made. or will be made, to condone any offense of this sort. The public shoulo be made aware, however, that the operators and a certain section of the press are by no means discriminating in the fixing of the responsibility and that crimes of violence are laid at the doors of strikers when the imported guardians of law and order, the armed coal and iron police. are clear ly at fault and I challenge the operators or their friends to point to one single ut terance on their part In disapproval of the lawless actions of their hired guards. Some time ago the Bellevue washery at Scranton was destroyed by lightning-a reward was offered by the coal compa- nies for the arrest and conviction of the person who set fire to the washery. This is an example of the manner in which the strikers are malgned.
 MT. Baer assumes that the pumpmen. engineers and firemen were called out so that the mines would be destroyed, and with their destruction 10000 men, with their wives and children dependent upon their labors would be deprived of work for long time The truth is that the strike of the pumpmen, engineers and firemen was called in their own interest absolutely and by their own request. It was for the purpose of removing griev- ances against which they alone complain ed and against which some of them had inaugurated an independent, although un- successful, strike more than one year ago. The fact that several weeks elasped between the strike of the miners and the independent strike of the pumpmen, engi- neers and firemen. and the further fact that the operators were given twelve days official notice that the pumpmen, engineers and firemen would strike unless granted an eight-hour work day, should convince Mir. Baer that the strike of these men did not originate in any desire on the part of the mine workers to de- prive themselves of the source of their own livellnood. the mine workers had sought the destruction of the mining properties they would have ordered the strike of the steam men without giving the companies any notice at all.
 Reveals His Real Feelings.
 Similar accusations against the mine workers are made in a public utterance by Mir Hewett, in which that gentleman reveals his real feeling toward organized labor do not refer to his expressed >~----------------- ~,>--------->-~ Y -
 (contInued on Second Pagel