The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-07-20
WHAT CONGRESSMAN AUS
TIN HAS DONE IN THE IN
TEREsT OF THE MINERS
Of THE SECOND DISTRICT


-
Below we give in full copy of a
letter just sent by Congressman Aus
tin to Mr.. Van Bittner, one of the
union officials in this district. Mr..
Austin calls attention to few of the
things he has done in the district in
| the interest of the miners and it is
most interesting and should be very
closely read.
Mr.. Austin, we all know, is friend
of the miners and there is no doubt
but that a majority of them in this
district are going to support him for
denomination. Mr.. Austin has sup
ported the miners and their interests
in every way and they are not the kind
to forget friend.
Mr.. Austin's letter in full is as fol-
lows:
Mr. Van Bittner, Jellico, Tenn.
July /, 1918. i.
My dear Mr.. Bittner:
| have read your letter of June IS,
addressed to Mr.. N. E. Ellis, Check
Weighman at Woodbridge, and pub
lished in the plain Dealer"
In view of my unfailing friendship
and interest in the miners of the Sec
ond District of Tennessee, Of which
evidently you are not thoroughly post
ed, | will state that am hurt and sur
prised that you should take sides in
the contest between Mr. Taylor and
myself to the extent of stating that
the miners would SHOW the worst
kind of ingratitude if they did not sup
port Mr.. Taylor" There would be rea-
son for this position if had ever been
unfriendly to their causes or failed to-
take deep interest in them. l am
perfectly willing to appear before the
miners in joint discussion with Mr..
Taylor and submit our claims for their
support. If he has rendered more val
liable service to them than l have, l
will unhesitatingly say they ought to
support him. On the other hand, if
the records show to the contrary,
think at least you should be neutral
and that the miners should give me
their support. They should hear all
the facts from both sides and then
render their decision like an impair
| tial jury. Let me recount some of my
work in the interest of the miners.
First: | began the fight in their in
terest twenty years before l entered
Congress, with no thought of being 9
candidate for office, against the work
ing of convicts at Coal Creek in com
petition with free, honest labor. | die
this through the columns of the daily
newspaper | was managing at Knox
Vile. | have never ceased, in public
and in private life, to oppose this vi
cious system.
Second: When l came to Congress.
there was no Bureau of Mines ant
Mining. | introduced bill on the sub
ject and was the only member of Con
gress to appear before the proper com
mittee to urge legislation to create
this important Government Bureau
The records of Congress will show m,
activity in assisting to pass this meas
ure.
Third: At the time of the great
mine disaster at Fraterville | was one
of the active men in Knoxville in rails
| inO q rolinf FIND IF con 000 IT,, r.
disaster at Briceville | think the rec
ords will show how much relief Mr.
Taylor and myself contributed to the
sufferers.
Fourth; After the establishment oil
the Bureau of Mines and Mining was
the first Congressman in the United
States to suggest that mining experts
from that Bureau 60 to mining camps
and villages for the purpose of giving
public demonstrations and furnish in
formation, with stereopticon lectures
on first aid and mine rescue work
accompanied the first experts who
visited the mining camps and towns in
the Second District.
Fifth: l secured the first Mine Res
cue Station south of the Ohio river
now located at Jellico, your own home
town, and l obtained an appropriation
from Congress providing for a perma
nent home for this station, as is evi
denced by the handsome stone build
| ing in Jellico, the first of the kind con
structed in the United States.
Sixth: The first appointment giver
me by the officers of the House o.
Representatives after being sworn il
the first time was conferred upor
John Ford, son of George W. Ford
who for years has conducted week.,
newspaper in Knoxville in the interes
OF the coal diggers.
Seventh: | offered an amendment
to the Military Bill and advocated It'll
tpassage to exempt miners from mill
tary service in order that they nigh
be able to fully supply the government
during war times with a sufficien
amount of coal Dr. Garfield, head 0
the Fuel Administration. is now in
sisting that miners should be exempt
ed.
| Eighth: Annually present to thu
miners on their Field Day" prize
to the competing team on first aid ant