The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-20

train on which I came to Bloeton this morning had as passengers 14 black peo-4 pie seeking employment at these mines, and, in order to safely land them here 1t was deemed necessary to have them ac- by 20 soldiers and six deputy sheriffs. Just before reaching this point several detachments of soldiers from Ma jor Vaiden's command were met, having been sent out by that officer to make sure way clear of bushwackers from the camps of enemies to law.
 Now, look at the picture: About 40 strong, vigorous, intelligent white men employed for day to protect IA black people in their effort to enter upon hon. orable and useful work. What heavy expense to the mine operator and to the taxpayers of Alabama. But, the con of this state guarantees protec- ton to the lives and property of all the pursuit of happiness, employment and comfort; and, If it required the entire armed military force of the state to safe ly conduct these few black people to the Blocton mines it was nothing more than the duty of the state to do so at any and all cost.
 Do You Ask Why?
 Does the reader ask why the necessity for all this? Where Is there danger? And the answer comes, remember the bloody deeds committed by the ambushed vil- lains on this spot just few days before. The sovereign state simply declares such deeds shall not again be committed.
 And yet 1t is hard, very hard that the act of ordering, fostering and encourage ing a coal miners strike should cause such conditions to arise as to make nec- essary this burden upon the whole peo- pie. Somebody is to blame for 1t all.
 Mines at Work.
 The mines here are putting out in creased tonnage of coal each week. and it seems now that normal production will soon be reached, but think of the cost of it all. Think of the unrest, the hazards. the timidity, the fears-all produced by this miners strike; and the end not as- suredly near. Here at Blocton, besides about 30 deputy sheriffs, there are sta- toned 100 soldiers the very flower of the young manhood of the state, in com mand of that veteran volunteer National Guardsmen, Major w. J. Walden; the lives of these soldiers exposed by day and by night to the deadly weapons of would be assassins. The picture is a dark one.
 Major Thurston Inspects.
 Today Major Thurston, United States army in general charge of the 800 militia men on duty in this district. and Major Oates, regimental surgeon, are here mak- ing an inspection of the two camps; and they Inform me that the health of the soldiers is excellent, the location of the camps good, and that with some improve ment in sanitary arrangements, condi- tions for a long stay of the boys will be well nigh perfect. Major Thurston is well-trained West Pointer, a soldier to the manner born, and he has an eye frs. to the comfort and health of the boys who are really bearing the brunt of this fight in defense of law and order and for the establishment of peace. Major Oates with his professional skill, and Major Walden, with his long experience in the field and In camp, agree fully with Major Thurston that perfect health is the first essential to efficient soldiership and the three officers are laboring jointly to establish and maintain perfect sanitary camp conditions.
 Will Not Arbitrate.
 
 of a prophetic pen to write that the mine operators would not agree to arbitrate with the union of miners. The truth was patent to every observant eye. The point of difference was a great big visible ob- ject. and both sides understood it. Sim ply this: You must recognize the union," and this, We will not recognize the miners union." That's all there was to it. The negative answer of the mine op- orators to the alleged petition published in The Age-Herald this morning ought not surprise any reasonable man.
 Crime Continues.
 Pending even an answer to that petition an object lesson was presented which ought to impress every reasonable mind with doubt as to whether or not even ar bitration would stop the criminal ten- dency and dynamite fury of those who are the guilty ones in these offenses against law and order and peace. I refer to the firing into an inoffensive shovel crew at Coalburg and the dynamiting and attempt to murder innocent men and women and destroy property at Pratt City last night These workmen at Coal burg were not union miners. Those i'm nocent young women at Pratt City were not the daughters of a union miner. The question is. who did that shooting and who fired the deadly dynamite?
 Held Without Ball.
 It has been the boast of the leaders of this strike that of the numerous men who have been arrested, charged with these dark and damnable crimes nearly all have been released on preliminary ex- animation; but now we have it that at the preliminary trial of the IT striking miners charged with dynamiting four houses at Acton mines and killing one of the inmates, all but two were held with out bail in jail the presiding magistrate deciding that the evidence of guilt was strong. This 15 of alleged murderers are now safely ensconsed in the county jail at Columbiana Thirteen of them are negroes and two are whites-all loyal members of the miners union, so 1 am in- formed The two white men are Ed harrington and R. D. Stacener, the secre- torv and treasurer of the local at Acton mines. I venture the opinion that in all future trials of like cases the much of tended state of Alabama will make most diligent inquiry before turning suspects lose to prey upon the fair soil of this district in it's present perturbed condi- ton.
 Another Quotation.
 In my letter yesterday I quoted briefly from the findings of the commission ap-
 in 1Q0o hy President ROOseyplt to