The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-07-26
GENERAL STRIKE OF.
MINERS IS EXPECTED
But WILL Be SHORT
THINK THE LEADERS
Kennamer Declares Maxine
Trouble is Purely Local and
Union Not Responsible
MCCORMACK SAYS NO
REAL GRIEVANCE CAN
BE CLAIMED BY MEN
President Morgan of Local Miners
Union at Maxine Says President
Mccormack Has Been Mis-
informed

There was a feeling in Birmingham
yesterday that a general strike of coal
miners in the Birmingham district was
inevitable, but it was also felt that 1t
probably would not be of long duration.
Some of the most prominent coal men
OF the district are in Washington. and
it Is understood that without exception
they entered denial to the statement OF
President Kennamer of the district mine
workers union that certain companies
had discharged men because they had
Joined the union.
The first indication of real trouble in
the district has been at the Maxine
mines of the Pratt CONSOLIDATED Coal
company. 1t is stated, however, that
the walkout of the union men there has
beer disapproved by the district union
officers, and that the leaders in the Max
inc movement have even been discharged
from the union for acting Illegally
HAVE NO REAL GRIEVANCE
President c. B. Mccormack of the
Pratt company and of the Operators
association last night expressed the be-
lief that strike would probably be
called in the district. but that it would
not be of long duration because the men
had no real grievance.
"At Maxine we have not discharged a
single man because he joined the union,
said Mr.. Mccormack. ION the other
hand we have gone out Of our way to
comply with every request that has been
made by the men. We have been SO
lenient toward them that l feel sure
that upon investigation the government
authorities could not uphold the men in
stopping the work Of the mines as they
have done.
81 wired Chairman Peabody a full
statement today in response to the mes
sage sent by Kennamer. OF course, 1
spoke only for the Pratt company in
this matter, but I understand that all
of the other companies named by Ken
manner responded in similar vein. Men
have not been discharged because they
Joined the union. We have in some
cases discharged both union and non
union men, but it was due to the fact
that they were helping to bring about
a condition of lawlessness around the
mines which was seriously interfering
not only with the living conditions, but
with the output"
MAXINE TROUBLE LOCAL
President Kennamer of the district
organization issued statement yes
terday in which he said the trouble
at Maxine was of purely local char
acter and that the United Mine Work
ers of America were not in any way
responsible. He said that they would
do all they could to adjust the mat
ter and would Immediately put the
men back to work. President Kenna-
mer and Secretary Clemo went to Max
Inc yesterday to see what could be
done.
President Kennamer stated the mine
workers officials were doing every
thing in their power to prevent strike s
and labor troubles in this district, and
that they do not approve of the ac-
ton of the miners at Maxine or con-
done it as an organiza ton. He stated
that neither the Pratt Consolidated
Coal company nor the men belonging
to the union consulted the mine work
ers' district organization in regard to
the matter and that they would use
every endeavor to prevent a recur-
renee of the similar MISUNDERSTANDING
MORGAN MAKES STATEMENT
H. NJ Morgan. who is the president
of the new local union formed at Max
Inc, yesterday issued a statement in
which he said that President McCor-
mack of the Pratt Consolidated had
been misinformed about conditions
there. His statement reads:
"A good deal has appeared in the
local papers touching the recent trou-
Bile between the miners of Maxine and
the Pratt Consolidated Coal company.
In Justice to myself and to the miners
involved in this matter I think it but
fair that the public should be made
acquainted with at least some Of The
facts from the miners standpoint !
am president of the local organization
of United Mine Workers of America at
Maxine and as such / believe In justice
and fair play between the men and tho
company.
1t Is not my desire to burden the pub
lie with long discussion of the situation
but l must say that the statement of
President Mccormack which appeared in
The Age-Herald of this date indicates
that he received much Of his information
from an unreliable source. Some of his
agents at Maxine have undoub tedly mis-
led him and no doubt they have a pur-
pose in doing so. If Mr.. Mccormack had
been on the ground in person and had
made a thorough Investigation himself