The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-15
DEBARDEL. MARGARET TROUBLE. Reports of Italians Were Greatly Exaggerated EXPLAINS SITUATION After Refusing to Work Themselves, the Italians Were Trying to
 Stir Up Trouble Among
 the Negro Miners

Charles F. DeBardeleben, vice president
 and general manager of the Alabama Fuel
 and Iron company, gave out a statement yesterday in reference to reported labor 1 troubles at Margaret mines, which, he de- i clares, were exaggerated. Mir DeBarde'e- 1 ben says that his mines are at all cimes
 open to the fullest investigation of the l federal authorities and thereupon refers
 rather caustically to Dr. Charles Gnassi, l who is said to have intimated that re would invite the attention of the federal | authorities to the conditions.
 The statement of MT. DeBardeleben fol- l lows:
 "The published statements in reference
 to the trouble with the Italian miners are very much exaggerated, and the facts as stated in Saturdays Age-Herald, and which I understand, were given to The Age-Herald by pr. Charles Gnassi, are untrue. The company has mining rules approved by the state mine inspector, in reference to docketing coal for slate when placed in 1t in noticeable quantities. This rule has been in force on all miners, American and Italian alike. every miner when entering the employment of the company being given a copy of this rule, and full instructions in reference to it; this being strictly in accordance with the state mining law.
 This rule has worked very satisfac-' torily with everyone except these Italians. i Several days ago they protested against it and served notice on the bank boss that if an effort was made to enforce 1t they swould unitedly load more slate than had been loaded. The bank boss told them that the rules required the enforce ment and that he would have to enforce it. The Italians then quit work. The company finding that they were attempt ing to arouse dissatisfaction among the other miners, were attempting to intmi- date some of the coored laborers, among other things parading through the quar- ters and putting up Black Hand notices, gave notice, under It's leases, that they would be required to Vacate the com pany's premises and agreeing to furnish them with wagons to move. In addition to this they were given more time to move than was required under their leases. The Italians agreed to leave, and on this agreement the company issued a statement to be presented to the com pany's offices, for the money which was due them. although under the contract of employment the regular payday of the company is some weeks off, and the company was under no legal obligation to pay them anything until the pay day was reached.
 After these statements had been re- ceived by some of the Italians and re- ceived on the agreement that they would leave the company's premises, they re- fused to leave and again started their disorderly proceedings. The sheriff of St. Clair county was present in person and he and his deputies were forced to eject some of them from off the prem ises. This was done with as little force and disorder as possible. The statement that several were seriously injured is absolutely untrue. There was very lit tie disorder, and everything at Margaret is quiet and peacable. The miners are working contentedly and ably, there hay ing been produced on yesterday 1150 tons of coal.
 q suggest that Dr. Gnass who gave the information upon which the sensa- tiona reports were based, and who states that he expects to lay the matter before the United States court, has. if the court records Of the county have been reported correctly in the newspapers, sufficient matters against him personally to en- gage his attention. However, the ques- ton is open to investigation of the United States authorities or any other court of ficials.'