The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-09-08
DEP0RTATl0NS
CAuSEUNREST
IN THE. WEST
(By WILLIAM p. HARVEY

1A1aA\o<Ao ~ L OCpl. VA uldCk6u
increase in social and industrial un-
rest among workers over the West is
pointed out as an aftermath of the
inaction by Arizona and the federal
government in the six weeks which
have ensued since the deportation of
1900 men from Bisbee, Ariz, July IL
in a statement issued from the head
quarters of The National Labor De.
Tense Council.
1.-The feeling that justice for the
workers in war time and, particularly
in those occupations concerned with
furnishing war materials, cannot be
obtained is deep and widely-spread
It has an alarming phase, in that the
fine spirit of patriotism which must
animate all classes of American soci-
ETY., if the war is to be carried on Wig
orously to an immediate and successful
conclusion. is blunted through a sense
of class injustice.
1.-The country cannot afford to allow
this condition to continue. Aside from
the common justice due more than
thousand men removed by force from
their homes and families in the night
time. with many of them and members
of their families victims of brutal and
unprovoked assaults, the nation owes
it to itself to clean it's own house and
that at once.
Want Guilty Punished.
"It is not to be expected that the
government should house and feed in
definitely the victims Of Industrial
feuds. There must come time when
some disposition shall be made of the
thnnSan Of in ia fnroiop To
their homes and separated by many
miles from their homes. Their fam
lilies cannot indefinitely remain the re-
cipients of charity. At some time or
another, justice must be meted out to
those guilty of the deportations. The
question goes further than it's mere
social phases. 1t is a problem, insid-
iously subtle, through which a class,
making up majority of the people,
may be turned away from that spirit
of helpful patriotism by which all the
people are willing to sacrifice what
may be necessary for the welfare of
the country. In letters to this coun-
Gil, workers have pointed out that the
main contributing cause of the United
States taking up arms against Ger
many was the deportation of Belgians
Deportations of Americans by Ameri-
| cans are cited as an alarming con-
trast and particularly the fact that in
the American deportations the victims
were unloaded without food or shelter
under the glare of a merciless sun.
Duty Is Definite.
"The duty Of the state and nation to
restore law and order in Bisbee is def
mate and unacceptable. There remains
no doubt of the gross injustice Of the
deportations. An investigation con-
tinuing 10 days was made by this
council into Bisbee conditions at the
| request of American Federation Of
Labor officials. It was learned that
only a small number Of those deport-
ed were members of the I. w. w. and
that the vast majority were morgan
! lied and union workers. Hundreds
! had contributed to the Red Cross and
We're owners of Liberty bonds
| "There has been and is no question
| that the instruments of justice were
| and are in the hands of the very per-
sons responsible for the deportations.
Any charge made against any of the
men deported, either for act or threat
| could have been tried in the courts of
| Bisbee. That only six deadly weapons
were found in the homes Of the 1900
men deported is a record Of their
peacefulness. Snatched from their
sleep at an early hour in the morning,
there could have been no premeditated
| hiding of arms. Nor is there made any
charge that the strikers or their SYM
pathizers were armed.
"Bisbee is now patrolled by armed
men in the pay of the copper COM
panies. American citizens are denied
access to the city except after rig
orous and unlawful investigation by
officers in the employ of these COM
panies. These private officers are
clothed in khaki Stimulating army uni
forms, to give color to the investiga-
tons they make"