The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-01

1 to mislead the miners Of Alabama in the early days of July. He lead them to the mouth of the yawning gulf, he caused them suffering and dangep, but. on reaching the brink did not allow them to be finally swallowed up in the dark abyss which their eyes were made to be- hold. l say his better judgment prevail ed at last. He needed the advice and the warning of those who sought to save the people whom he called his own.
 No Harsh Criticism. Of President Lewis last act there can be no harsh criticism. The explanation the review which he pictures it, how ever mared by some inaccuracies which now can be counted of little conse- quence. When he tells the miners who joined the strike that their Ire fusal to work resulted in general suspension of mining" and that mo strike was ever more effective in sus- pending the operations of the mines" he miswrites history and again mis- leads his people. He forgets that the T. c. l. & R. R. Co. was mining more than 5000 tons of coal per day and that the products of its furnaces and steel mills in July were greater than any month of the year. that the output of the Woodward company's mines dur
 
 place In commission a third furnace and to suppl ythe T. c. l. & R. R. Co. with thousands of tons of coke and coal: that the Sloss- Sheffield company kept it's furnace fires kindled without a days cessation and without purchasing a ton of coke from distant producers, and that the smoke stacks of every large mine in the district were at all times in commission.
 Charitable View.
 Charitably viewed or considered 1t appears that President Lewis reference to the observation of law and order by the striking union miners does not mean the many leaders among them who armed themselves and their min ions for lawlessness wh O shot and mur- dered from ambush and who fired dead ly dynamite Into the houses of the in nocent and defenseless. He must mean the better class, whom he happens to know. However, 1t is all over now The surrender seems complete, but not fgnominious. I insist upon it that the public shall look upon the bright side of the picture. There is to be a rapid resumption of business and every miner in tn district whether he was a striking miner, or one who intelli- gently and Loyalty stood at his post against the vie ana 1alSe promises of bad leaders, will again reap reward for industry. I do not mean the dare devils the cut-throats. the midnight marauders or the false teachers and in stigators of strife; for they must be driven away.
 AS have written in nearly every one or my letters I insist upon 1t that there were many worthy men among the strikers. They were simply mised by the cunning voice of the agitators by promises made which these evil leaders knew could not be fulfilled. am sure that thousands of these men will met with encouragement when they knock at the doors of the mines for readmission.
 Reward for Labor.
 l am sure that in the absence of vicious leadership the men returning to work will feel that the shaclxles are loosened and that their energies will revive, strengthen and execute as never before. That they will labor diligently With the comfort and assurance that peace hovers over them and that their services are appreciated. and l believe, too, that in the absence of attempted dictation by the makers of discord the operators of this district will cheer fully divide with the faithful and earn est ones the profits that must acrue from general brightening of financial skies