The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-16
MINE STRIKE NOW SERIOUS
 - Violence B ,ins in Jef- ferss.l | County. THIRTEEN MEN ARE ARRESTED Workrs i Charge Trouble to Deputy
 Sheriffs. Coal Operators stand Firm and Declare They wnI Not Rec ogaize Demands of the
 Trouble Makers.
THIRTEEN MEN ARE ARRESTED

Birmingham. July 15.-(Special)-- The strike of the union coal miners in the mining section of the State is be- coming serious and violence is report ed from severaI. sections of the dis trict
 A statement made by W. R. Fairley. Alabama member of the national ex- ecutive board of the United Mine Workers, accuses the deputies of the the union men are being interfered with in their efforts to hold meetings and are being. inhumanly treated.
 Jerry Merriweather. a union leader, was shot and seriously injured at Say reton, several miles from Birmingham to-day by deputy A negro nom union man named Westmoreland was shot and painfully hurt The union men charge the deputies with the shooting, saying that a meeting being held by the union on the road leading to the mines was approached by the officers.
 At the offices of the operators the statement is made that considerable terror prevails throughout the county and the need of deputies Is absolutely necessary. Sheriff Higdon has not ceased to name deputies as quickly as the request is made for them. E QMx0W MA1M GAVAGNhs
 A delegation of the union miners, headed by ". R. Farley and State President J. R. Kennemer. called on Sheriff Higdon this morning and re- uuesfed that the deputies be repri- manded for their actions in several parts of the district A warrant has been sworn out by one of the union leaders for the deputy, Huggins. at Sagrston. who Is charged with re- faaA.a R.. .1.r mk N . place by the union men.
 Not less than three hundred deputy sheriffg are now in the field and there has been a large distribution of RmuhitIon in all directions.
 Thirteen men were arrested and brought to tile. county jail in Bir- mingham to-day on charges os tFes- pass after warning, assault and one for carrying weapon under the law fdl size. With one exception the men placed under arrest are negroes. Provisions7 were sent out to the striking miners this week by the union leaders in Birmingham.
 The claim is still made that the coal production is being cut off, while the operators state that there Is operation of the various. mines and that as much coal as is needed is being brought to the top If necessary, the operators Wdu purchase COai anu COKE rom WSbJ Virginia. the operators say rather than give in to the union. Every pre- caution is being taken to guard the property.
 Announcement was made today that Adam Pow, the former union leader. who in this strike had decided to re- main at work at Wylam and had taken d contract. has gone to Henrietta, fn- dian Territory. where he will accept a position in the mines
 Trouble at sayFet0n.
 The trouble at Sayreton is said to have caused much excitement. Reports have been scattered all through the district and 1t is believed that the start of a troublesome period ia about at hand. Sheriff Higdon states that he Is able to handle the situation.
 At a meeting of the furnace and commercial operators today. reports were received of the troubles through. out the district It was announced that labor is being imported from other States at a lively rate and the places of strikers are being filled quickly It was also reported that the normal output of coal at several places was being secured right along and before the expiration of another week there would be nothing known of the strike.
 It was positively asserted that there would be no shut down of the furnaces because of the strike.