The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-01
HUDDLESTON SPEAKS ID LARGE CROWD ON LABOR SITUATION IN UNITED STATES.
Declares Fight Is Being Made Against Organized Labor, and Gives Views on Some-Is Opposed
 to Deportation

Der of the railroad brother hoods, and also before several hundred men representing practically all the other labor organizations in Jefferson county, Representative George Huddleston gave his views and sentiments regarding the fight, which, he said, was being made against organized labor in the United States.
 The hall was crowded, and many were forced to stand. MT. Huddleston stood on the platform near the side of the hall. and, taking off his coat. delivered his speech in his shirt sleeves
 "Americanism, he said at the be- ginning of his speech, "as defined by some who think they have a mession from on high to deliver, is the wrong conception of what the true word means. Those who wrapped themselves in the flag and cheered so loudly dur ing the war are the very ones now who are striking at organized labor am strong advocate of the right kind of Americanism, but not that kind which is being preached by several of those people who think they are ex- pressing the sentiments of the people of the United States,
 POLITICAL RIGHTS
 The fundamental principle of Amer icanism is for every man to have the same political right as the other man, and the right of the whole people to have voice in the government.
 'J am not in sympathy with the campaign that is being waged against the so-cailed aliens," Mir. Huddlesfon continued. These
 aliens are good enough to be
 brought over to this country, and they arc good enough to remain here.
 The fight against them is just a blow at the working man. for the alien. like the rest of us, is asking for the same rights, and the added increase in wages. and is just as much one of us as the man who was born in this coun- try Then why deport him? He came here to escape the tyranny that was put on him in his own coun- try and seeking to enjoy the same free liberty that is the right of all the rest of us, he is condemned. O, what a | cowardly way to fight man." he de- clared.
 In speaking of the rights of the American citizen MT. Huddleston stated l that the American government was | only controlled by hired workers, who
 were just as much the servants of the
 working men as of the capitalists. | q ann he said, just as much a servant to any of you here in the hall
 as I am to George Gordon Crawford
 and to J. W. Mcqueen, and if the two
 this let them send somebody else in
 my place if they can"
 FREQUENTLY CHEERED 1 MT Huddleston was frequently cheered during his address and was in- | terrupted to answer some question l asked by one of the audience. When Congress was referred to. 1 he made the following remarks. AT l regard the present Congress the | least brainy organization I have ever been associated with. They | remind me of the famous picture of l the dog arzing into the mouth of n phonoGrnph. waiting for his mas | ter's voice to he heard | You have seen. no doubt, the mon- 1 grel cur after he has been kicked lick l ing at the feet of his master. When I | look at a number of the congressman
 and senators, I expect to see from be- | hind a small tail wagging. | Our Congress" he stated, "has done
 more in the last session to undermine | the faith of the people than all the
 bolsheviks and I. W. W's In the world.
 q am heartily in favor of some of
 the remarks made by MT. Altman, who i addressed you" he stated. | John w. Altman, to whom he had referred. had just, expressed his atti- strikes. and urged the men. if neces-
 sary. to all quit work, and carry their ] tools with them. letting the mass of ! the people not directly concerned suf- l fer along with the strikers, whom he said would certainly have to suffer. He said. Tf we want to strike, let
 us strike and if necessary let us all strike together"
 | MT. Huddleston brought In to coal strike situation during his address and 1 vehenentiy attacked Fuel Administra- l tor Garfield for his action in the mat | ter.
 MINERS STRIKE | "Mr. Garfield" he stated, put down | his school books and his rod during the war and came to the front as fuel administrator, regulating. as he called 1 it. the fuel supply of the country. When l a certain time came he stepped from his position. stating that the conflict | was over and that his services were l ended
 "During the present coal strike he has again laid aside his rod and books. I and in loud voice has proclaimed the | war is not over and is now dictating l to the miners. and telling them what ! increase they can have, and what they must do."
 At the conclusion of his speech be- | fore the railroad brotherhoods Repre- | sentative Huddleston declared that he exnected he would go to jail the next | time he tried to speak. but he would be satisfied 10 go there. knowing that he had made fight in the interest | of the laboring people.
 1 He was loudly cheered as he put on