Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1919-12-06
PROUD OF MINERS
AND OPERATORS IN
NORTHERN DISTRICT
Col. S. w. Walker Gets o.
posing Factions Together.

II any government official has a
good and sufficient reason for be.
ing justifably proud Of results aeh.
ieved in the present coal strike
muddle it is Col s. w. Walker of
Martinsburg, the able United
States District Attorney for the
Northern District Of West Virginia.
Conditions in this district, one OF
the greatest coal producing sections
of the country. are remarkably
harmonious under the existing cir.
cumstances. Not a little of this Is
due to the prompt and effective
measures taken by Colonel Walker
in at once getting in touch with
both the mine leader and the coal
operator, which he did some weeks
since when he spent considerable
time right in the heart of the coal
belt-Fairmont- and the fine com
nonsense and reasonableness dis
played by the mine leaders and the
operators The efficient officers at
tached to the District Attorneys
staff also carried out with com
mendable promptuess his orders to
round up all radicals aud bolshevik
and L w w. agitators, with the re
suit that about % of these malcon-
tents. whose sinister efforts are in
a great measure responsible for the
present unrest and they are held
FOR deportation by the government.
Last evening the following state
mont was issued by District Attor-
ney Walker from his headquarters
in this city:
II am very much gratifed by the
turn Of affairs in this District, es-
pecially in the Fairmont field, where
IS located the great majority OF the
mnes in this hituminous field. |
have learned through the secret
channels Of the Government that at
least rs per cent of the mines in
the Fairmont field are working at
Is per cent of their normal capac-
ity. Today l am reliably informed
that $4,000 tons or coal will be car.
ried out OF these mines for the con,
sumption of the public. This is IN
the Fairmont region alone.
The operators and the miners
advocates have gotten together az
reasonable men, and have agreed
to supply coal to the much-beleag-
ured public at the instance Of the
Government, and have generously
allowed all OF their considerations
to be subordinated. The operators
have posted notices at their mines
that they will Immediately pay the
fourteen per cent increase in wages
recommended by pr Garfield and
that they will abide by any agree
ment hereafter reached. | am sure
that this attitude, both on he part
of the operators and tho miners,
will meet with the instant approx
al OF all concerned.
q visited Fairmont several times
during the coal strike, and talked
with both the operators and the un-
ion leaders there, and commended
to them the plan they have adopt.
ed. | am sure that were all the
operators and miners as open-mind-
ed and free 10 reason as these gen.
tlemen have proven themselves to
be, as real Americans, all difficult
ties of whatever nature might be
quickly and satisfactorily settled.
II am frank TO admit that the
turn in the situation in my district
is very pleasing 70 me. and con
graduate both the miners and op-
orators alike for their consideration
for their Government and the pub
lie. and for the spirit OF open-mind
ness honesty that has characterized
their every move.