The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-11
FARLEY INTERVIEW
DECLARES THE INNOCENCE OF HIS
 MEN.
Thinks Public Should Know Both Sides of Strike situation, Declar- Ing Union Frowns Upon Acts
 of Violence.


 Birmingham, Aug. 10.-(Special.)- l ". R. FAirley, Alabama member of the United Mine Workers of America. Mon
 day afternoon gave out the following
 statement:
 "one peculiar fact in this strike is
 the innocence of our men. Tn the Jef-
 ferson shooting affair not a single ] victed and from information. the sher- | fir does not consider it of such impor- l tance to prosecute those cases. 1 e.'That The Age-Heraid comes out 1 with black type editorial in refer ence to the Blocton tragedy and I be" lieve 1t did the same about the dyna- miting at Acton, yet 1t doesn't publish e word about the shooting the night before by the deputies and guards. neither does 1t utter single word in condemnation of the lynehing of the negro at Brighton last week.
 "In all the cases that have been tried either in justice or the inferior criminal courts, not a single conviction has been had against our men except ing one case where a striker was charged with trespass after warning and who was arrested for trespass on a public road that has been in use for the past twenty-five years. This case is appealed to the Supreme Court and I understand the trial judge admits that the Supreme Court will reverse his decision. There has not been single striking miner convicted for fel- ony but there has been numerous con yictions had for felonies on deputies and guards and who are under bond under that indictment.
 "I think that he public should know both sides of this controversy and who is responsible for the acts of violence. NrT NfaEx1x a nd condemn in unmeasured terms dyna- hitting or shooting any party whether miners operators or sympathtzers that may resort to those methods. No one deplores loss of life or destruction of property more than I. The United Mine Workers of America not only believe but practice reason, not violence in settling wages disputes, and are willing at all times to accept reduc- tlons of wages or refusal to grant ad- vances when unable to defend their position with facts or reason of the jus tice of their contentious"
 T deeply deplore both the Bloeton tragedy and the dynamiting at Acton" said MT. Farley. :'rhe policy of the United Mine Workers Is utterly op- posed to violence and therefore Is not in sympathy with acts of this kind perpetrated by whom they may be.
 The merchants of Birmingham seem to be very much alarmed and from their expressions in the press seem to have arrived at conclusions and placed the blame on parties before in- vestigations are made. being strange. but true, that when our men are shot down fin cold blood not one of those men who are talking so loudly uttered a word of condemnation. As far as the leaders they refer to are concerned in this strike, they are American citizens and are entitled Go all rights and privi- leges guaranteed by the constitution of the United States. and which rights they propose to exercise regardless of what may be said from any source whatever.
 NO strike has ever taken place in Alabama except one that met with the approval or had the sympathy of the mercantile classes of this district so that this strike is no exception to the rule on that score"
 After stating that he referred to the