The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-17
RESPONSIBILITY FUR
 CRIMES IS PLACED N. F. Thompson Suggests Remedy for Present Evils SAYS CONSPIRACY EXISTS Claims Leaders Are Guilty of conspir- acy, as Is Shown by State
 ment Issued Over Their
 Own Signatures.
SAYS CONSPIRACY EXISTS

mingham, is vitally interested in having law and order speedily restored to this district.
 These disturbances and anarchistic con- ditions are costing the state of Alabama many thousands of dollars which the peop1e-at-large will be called on to pay, while all classes in Birmingham are feel ing the losses that are occurring from paralysis of business in all lines, due directly to the 1aw1essness prevailing in the Birmingham district.
 No enemy of Birmingham could have drawn a more damaging indictment against this city and section than what was contained in the resolutions passed at the mass meeting of citizens held at the Bijou theatre on Wednesday of last week, but those resolutions were pre- sented in order that the people of Bir- mingham might know and understand the menace and damage that was con- fronting them and at once provide rem edy therefor. That meeting with won derful unanlmity pledged itself. in the adoption of those resolutions, to aid in fixing the responsibility for that lawless- ness and to adequate punishment for the guilty.
 Ii Is my purpose to endeavor to show Just where lies the responsibility Tor those crimes and disorders that nave stained the fair name of this city ana state and when that is done l believe the public-spirited citizens who have made Birmingham what 1t is will remedy t1xyr Inc without fear or favor.
 For every effect there is a cause and we must. always deal with the cause or any given disorder or evil if we would remedy the effect which that cause pro- duces Any other policy would be as foolish as trying to dry up stream at it's mouth instead of working at it's source.
 Everybody knows that the cause of these disorders and this lawlessness is the miners strike in this district. Don't let that primary thought be clouded or obscured by any sophistfy or side-issues from any source whatever. Now, who are the responsible leaders In this strike! Who is furnishing the strikers with food and encouragement to continue their un- lawful acts, and to which all the crimes that have blackened this district are di- rectlv traceable Here are their names, as given to the public by the parties themselves in a signed statement to which I will refer a little later: John r. White, vice president United Mine Workers or America w. R. Fairley national execu- tive board member; J. R. Kennamer, president of District No. 20. and J. L. Clemo. secretary of District No. 2O
 If seems that the job, for some reason or other. was too large to be entrusted to W. R. Fairley alone, who was the first leader in this strike from his own declarations, but it is to him and some of his published statements that l wish to direct public attention.
 In a card that criticised the governor of the state who was only doing his sworn duty in calling out the military to aid in restoring order, Fairley declared that union members were not guilty or the lawlessness charged against them, and suhseauently published a statement in which he said that out of 63 arrests of union men in connection with these crimes 62 had been acquitted at pre- liminary trials. If that statement proves anything it proves too much for MT Fair lev and his followers, for it proves that the ordinary machinery of justice IS ln- adeouate to handle the situation, con viction of which in the public mind al- ways brings an uprising of the people m the principle of self-preservation and such an uprising must be prevented in Birmingham.
 It was just such conditions that pre- vailed in Colorado prior to the advent of mnitary rule there Arrests were made without number yet the Western Federation of Miners was always ready with evidence to acqult, although the public knew to a moral certainty that the parties accused in most cases were guilty. fudge from MT. Fairley's own state- ments that he is master of a similar sit nation here, as also from the statement of Sheriff Higdon, who practically de- clares that guilty men have been turned loose as he believes, because the miners were organized to clear them and no one represented the state to prosecute them
 This is a matter for the state authorities to at once take hold of. In no case should tbe corporations of this district be forced to yindicate the majesty of the law in cases of crime and violence by appearing in the role of public prosecutors. Such action would inevitably tend of itself to impair the impartial operation of justice as must be apparent to any thoughtful | citizen. The state should be represented | in every case that appears and by the | ablest attorneys obtainable, since it is | against the peace and dignity of the state that these crimes are being committed | nd to the state belonds the duty of its own vindication.
 But this strike in its very essence is u,,a wful and hence is outside the pale of nublic or private sympathy in any | ouorter 1t Is to force union contract | unon unwilling employers and to accom- rIisb this envelops itself in all the ele ,,ants of a criminal conspiracy. It is making men cease employment and break contracts through intimidation and vio- ,o,oe and this is unlawful by specific statutes and is conspiracy against inde- nardant workmen and free citizens. It seelss to so disturb and destroy business os will compel business men to intervene and have these strikers put to work and this is conspiracy against the public.
 Tn nroof of this the signed card of the ohove-named officials, addressed to their so,,overs and published on Saturday last,