The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-18
Arbitration Is Simply
 Out Of The Question
Petition Only Tends Proong Unhappy Struggle Prop agate Ideness-Spirit of Compromise Gan Find no
 Lodgment in Minds and Hearts of the Offended
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute"
 This is the slogan of the mine oper- ators of the Birmingham district to- day, and this will be the slogan until the present disturbed conditions shall have passed into history.
 Not all the appeals for arbitration that may be stacked before them can now prove of any avail, and it is simply idling away precious time to present such appeals The publication of these 1des -sS'if they have been made, only adds to the misery of the situation, and prolongs the dangerous period of idleness which is in so large a measure responsible for the crimes that have been committed in this dis trict during the past few weeks.
 Motive Not Questioned.
 I am not going to question the mo- tive which prompted a number of our citizens to sign a petition asking for arbitration between mine operators and striking miners officials. I am not going to express a doubt as to the sin cerity of Messrs. Fealey and Miller, whoever they may be- in their effort to bring about arbitration; but I do in- sist that all such efforts will not reach the end they desire; but will tend to establish false hope in the minds of thousands of waiting mine workers, really a possibility of the mine op orators recognizing the union and acH ceding to it's demands.
 Once Tried.
 The reasons for the belief which entertain on this subject are based upon the reasonable assumption that human nature is somewhat alike in all walks of life, and that the mine opera tors are not soon to forget that this strike has laid upon them unnecessary and heavy financial burdens; that the smoke from the guns of midnight as- sassins directed toward their employees has not died away; that the echo from the explosion of deadly dynamite, haz- arding life and detroying their proper ty, still fingers near; that strong, wig orous and useful men in tn cir employ ment have been shot down while in the discharge of worthy duty; that while this very petition was being circulated the house of W. B. Walton, one of the companys guards, was burned under suspicious circumstances; that the op orators have been and are now forced to expend $50,000 per month to protect tn cir property from bitter animosity engendered by this strike; that the armed military force of the state, at enormous expense of the innocent and burdened tax payers of Alabama, is required to keep vigls for the protec- tion of life and property, to defend even women and innocent babes. I say it is too late, too late, to talk about arbitration.
 Arbitration was once or twice put in vogue in this district. and arbi.>a- tion was swallowed up too soon by the howl of hungry, waiting agitators who disrobed themselves of sh eep's cloth ing, sprang upon peaceful conditions when for them there was too much peace, and brought confusion and chaos out of peace and light and order.
 With these lights before me I do not see where the spirit of compromise or of arbitration can find enlodgment In the l1lltluS dIlQ HcdllS Ol the men most offended.
 What Need For It? -
 And then, too, the question arises: What need now for arbitration?
 Each day recruits of men, new and old, are re-entering the mines, and the wheels are in motion. Hundreds of smokestacks throughout tn e district are emitting smoke. and normal forces are rapidly recouping.
 At Dora yesterday the Sloss- Sh effield mines produced TOO tons of coal, which is within 300 of the normal production and 400 more than the output of 10 days ago. and like reports of increas se come from every point of the compass
 The soldiers are here to guard and protect person and property in the name of the state, pledged by the governor to do so at any and all hazards.
 The people In mass meeting assembled have pledged themselves to uphold law and preserve order and defend property. and sure it is that when the people of this commonwealth pledge themselves