The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-03
Must Disperse Assemblies.

ness of night, that. too. would be al excellent move
 Must Disperse Assemblies.
 One of the large operators agrees witt me in the statement that not all tht soldiers in Alabama. not every man II the state available for military duty ol qualified for the work of deputy sheriff' can stop this disturbance and this devil ment unless authority be given them t disperse assemblies of madmen and fore them to retirement to their homes or t' parts far away from these mines.
 A well known citizen of this, Wake county, and man who is a practica mine engineer, throws some valuable light on the subject of this strike, il talking with me today. His remarks ar, of historical as well as philosophica caste. He calls attention to the fact tha following the panic of 1893 the operators in 1894 attempted to reduce the price O mining coal in the Pratt seam to 35 centl per ton. This caused a real, sure enougf miners strike. which was bitterly fought This strike was finally settled in com promise at 3755 cents per ton with { recognition of the miners union. Follow ing that, for ten years, there were con tinual raises in prices and other thing,
 
 until in 1904. MT Farley told the opera. tors that they must dig coal on his terms or he would keep them shut down unti they did. Then the operators struck and after an expensive strike established their mines on the open shop basis.
 The United Mine Workers of America had settlements and contracts to make in the northern states, so they waited but the loss of control of the state of Alabama was serious blow to them and unless repaired was liable to result Tn their ultimate disintegration
 Secret of the Trouble.
 So with all contracts and settlements made In the north and full treasury. the United Mine Workers of America came to Alabama on a strike. The wages here now are fair. The only trouble in the state this year has been the ability of the operators to give the men more on account of dull trade.
 1T the operators would recognize the union they could settle this strike to- morrow on their own terms. As far as the strike is concerned there is none. except as paid for by the United Mine Workers. When they cease to send funds to Alabama then ends the strike There is no difference, properly speak ing, between the men and the opera tors.
 This is the whole story.
 Today was another big meeting da, or the strikers here at Dora. .whicf fact does not point to an immet1iat, cessation of hostilities at Dora nor a resumption of peaceful conditions.
 AS I have written before an early adjustment of this disturbed condition Of social and business matters Is now entirely in the hands of the governor of this state. By the signing of his official signature he can establish mar tial law, and that's the remedy
 Spirit of Unrest.
 There Is a spirit of unrest here man ifested. It Is procured by the assem- ply of striking miners, who are listen ing to addresses by leaders imported from other points, and these gatherings and harsh utterances of the speakers caused anxiety and fear on part of idle men, who really desired to be at work In the mines, but who were threatened with violence in case they did re-enter employment.
 A Conservative View.
 Yet. with all this many miners are at work. MT. w. H. Soper, president of the West Pratt company, stated to your correspondent that in a general way are satisfactory to his com pany; as his mines are producing all the coal they have market for. ... he: Some of our men have Joined the union but we have no strike at our plants. Prior to this call of the union our men were perfectly satisfied, an if we would give them union admins tration l do not believe there is any thing else they would demand. Most of them understand the difficulty we have in marketing our output, and are conservative in their action and de- mands. Some of the became excited and advocated principles and measures that would, If carried out, ultimatel; ruin the coal mining industry here. but in the main we feel that our employees at Dora will go slow and not dar. take steps that will tend to prevent the mines filling contracts and thus securing steady employment. These mines made absolute sacrifies during the panic to give these men work to hold them here and to support theis wives and children. Even now the market does not warrant forced pro- duction, and 1t was not an opportune time for a strike, so far as the miner Is concerned. They should not hay been misguided or misled. It Is really cruel.'
 Walter Moore on the Ground.
 MT. Walter Moore, president of the Red Star company, stands steadfastly on the grounds and tells me that his company Is moving along as rapidly and smooth- ly as could be hoped for under the cir He realizes. however. that 1t requires heavy expense and vigilence to hold his place and fulfill his con- tracts.
 Mir Moore believes that only two agen- ties can check this difficulty and these disturbances. One Is time. with the ter 'ible burden of expense to the state and 70 the operators, and the other Is the es- ablishment of martial law. which would, le believes, put quick stop to all dis urbances and permit the men to resume work under full guarantee of absolute 
 MT. Moore believes that there are paid igtators among the men. imported here rom foreign parts. who are thus dis urbing conditions. and that they should ,e driven away as dangerous intermed- CTS and incendiares of the worst kind, vho by their utterances are infiaming ig- lorant men and making vicious many vho have been useful to themselves and O the community. So long as these are flowed to remain among the miners this rouble will continue. he thinks.
 Rally at Jasper.
 There was a mass meeting held at Jas Ter yesterday at the same time the one vas in blast at Dora. In fact. Walker ounty seems to have been the point of ttack Saturday by the emissaries of dis rder. At Jasper a brass band led pa- ade through the streets-the farmers were invited. negroes as well as whites Aos n.,d n.lr