El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-16

The New Mexican has published at
considerable length ~statementsN by
General Manager j. M. Sully, OF the
Gallup.American company's side, Of
the strike trouble at Gallup. In mere
fairness it therefore publishes the
following statement received from an
attorney at Gallup in behalf Of the
miners, with a request for publica.
ton: af
Editor Of the Santa re New Mexican:
Santa Fe, N. M.
Dear Sir:
am presenting to the people of
the State of New Mexico, through you,
a statement Of the facts and condi-
lions surrounding the Gallup depor-
tation.
On March "a, 1917, a committee Of
the miners, employed by the Victor
American Fuel company, met in con-
ference with the officials OF that COM
pany and entered into an agreement
providing for a scale of wages and a
convenient method OF adjusting differ
ences between the employees and en-
ployers. This same agreement has
been made between the employees and
employers in every district In the
United States where coal is mined.
The men bound by this agreement
are members of the United Mine
Workers of America, a body affiliated
with the American Federation of La
Dor and entirely separate and distinct
from the Industrial Workers OF the
World. Its aims are the betterment
Of the conditions Of the miners and
not the fermentation Of disloyalty and
rebellion. 1t does not demand the
CLOSED shop" 1t does not presume
to dictate to the employer. One of the
provisions of the contract entered into
is as follows: ''The management of
the mine, the direction Of the working
force, and the right to hire and dis
charge are vested exclusively in the
operators, and the United Mine Work
ers of America shall not abridge these
rights"
The agreement as signed on March
"a was to continue until March 81,
1920.
On July &, 1917, the Gallup,American
Coal company took possession and as
sumed control of the Victor-American
Fuel company's property. On the
morning of that day when the men
appeared at the mine for work they
were informed that the agreement had
been ~abrogated and that they would ,
be denied the right to bargain with
the Gallup-American Coal company as
an organization. The men refused to
work under those conditions and
peaceably and quietly left the company
property. Legally they were acting
within their rights for it has been de-
cided "That workingmen have the
right to organize for the purpose of
securing higher wages, shorter hours
of labor, or improving their relations
with their employers. They have the
right to strike, provided the object is
not to crafty malice. but 70 secure
better terms Of employment for them
A peaceable and orderly strike,
not to harm others, but to improves
their own condition, is not a violation
of the law. Their reasons may seem
inadequate to others, but, IL 1t seems
to be in their interest as members Of
an organization to refuse longer to-
work, it is their legal right to stop.
IS L. r. A. 1873. That these men at
Gallup were conducting a ~peaceable
and orderly strike is evidenced by the
records of the police magistrate,
which show that there was less law
lessness during the month OF July
than for any month in the six months
preceding.
On judy 10, ex,Congressman Seldom
ridge Of Colorado was sent to Gallup
by the department Of labor. He met
he labor leaders and the operators IN
conference attempting to adjust their
differences. At that time the repre-
sentatives of the United Mine Work
srs offered to have the men return to
work under the same conditions as at
he time the Gallup-American Coal
company assumed control n then
production being assured, the ulffer-
snces could be adjusted without sac
the interests OF the country
1t large. This offer was refused.
On July 30, the Mckinley County
Council of Defense, a political NAL
chine under the control of the boss |
Mckinley county. himself a tool IN
ne hands Of the Gallup-American Coal
company, authorized Sheriff Roberts
to arrest and deport the strikers. The
Gallup.American Coal company as
sisted the sheriff to the extent OF loan
Ing to him two machine guns and
about forty of their hired gunner, a
crew OF e~x-convicts and toughs. I,
On the morning of July 81, the
sheriff and this gang of outlaws ar
rested strikers and citizens alike. Bylt
noon about fifty had been arrested and
detained at the county court house.
Among those arrested was the y. ST.
commissioner, az contractor, a farmer,
who had Just arrived in town; a rail-
road man and the engineer Of the
Santa Fe electric light plant. Still
not satisff ed, the gunner took one
man cut OF a mine, who, at the time
Of his arrest. was digging coal. TDn
Or. s. commissioner and the contractor
we're released. The others were taken
under armed guard and escorted by a
machine gun to the train and deported
from town.
In celebration of the event, the gun
men sproceeded ia. get'drunk.a Three OIL,
hem openly and publicly drank whis-
xey the main street fofs Gallup,l /,
NJ .~ 49, fba ractriotQ1 district