Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-10
ORGANIZED LABOR
PLEDGES SUPPORT
To D|GGERS WHO
QUIT THEIR JOBS
Support of Organization Is
Pledged to the Striking
Miners and General Public
Asked to Take Same Stand.
DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF
THE INJUNCTION ISSUED
WaIkout Justified and "We
Endorse IT." Statement
Says; Union Chiefs Worked
to Avert Catastrophe, Claim

my NoeNEe ,uR GPEs Al LE.sEc wiREl
Washington, Nov. 9.--Holding that
the action of the government N the
injunction proceedings restricting BIZ
luminous coal miners 20 be 80 auto
cratic as to stagger the human mind"
the executive council of the American
Federation of labor declared tonight
in a statement issued after a four hour
meeting that the miners walkout was
justified, promised for the strike the
entire support of organized labor and
asked aid and endorsement for it
from the general public.
The Lever act. under which the
government acted in the court pro-
ceedings never was enacted to apply
to workers the council asserted, and
its use against the miners was classed
as IAN injustice not only to workers,
but to all liberty-lovinE Americans"
The action was taken without the
participation of William Green. gem
eral secretary of the mine workers,
who Is a member. but all the remain
ing principal officers of the American
Federation of Labor were present.
The council began its sessions at
3 o'clock after its members had been
hastily summoned together. and the
statement which formulated its action
was carefully revised and rewritten
by Samuel Gompers and Frank Nor
rison, president and secretary. re-
speotively, of the federation.
History of Negotiations.
The council In It's statement pre-
sented at length the history of the
negotiations which led up to and pre-
cipitated the coal strike. declaring al
most in the first sentence that the
Officers of the United Mine Workers
did everything in their power to avert
this great Industrial struggle" 1t
reserved, its bitterest words relate,
comment of government action.
There We're 2.200 delegates, repre-
senting 100000 miners, seated in tho
convention which called the strike,
the statement said. after briefly
sketching In complaints of working
conditions in the industry which it is
asserted the miners seek to remedy
by striking. The Instructions Of the
We're taken through the
usual committees into conference with
the operators. and then, the state
ment puts it, "our government inter-
jected itself and applied for an in
Junction"
action as invasion of the rights of
into submission by cutting off their
strike benefits. and demanded tho
of the injunction secured
Saturday at indianapolis ito restore
in the institutions of our
and respect to courts
Strike Is Justified.
"By all the facts in the case tho
miners strike is justified" 1t con-
cluded. We indorse 1t. We are con-
vinced of the justice of the miners
cause. We pledge to the miners the
full support of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and appeal to the work.
ers and citizenship of our country to
give Ike Endorsement and aid to the
men engaged in this momentous
struggle"
The statement of the executive
which members refused to
interpret or discuss in any manner.
and which is addressed to "our fellow
citizens and to our fellow workers.,
follows:
The executive council is of tho
pinion that the officers of The United
Wine Workers of America did every
hing in their power to avert this
great industrial controversy. OF all
he great industries in our country.
here is none so dangerous to human
tfe as the coal il dustry The mon
who go down under the ground to die
coal, so that the domestic and indus
rial needs of the nation may be sup
piled, are engaged in work more haz
lrdous than any other employment.
Due consideration has never been
given to the danger surrounding the
'oal miners. There is no other class
If employment where each individual
t.,
districts there is such lack of oppor-
unity for social intercourse and en-
oyment.
Miners Living Conditions
The condition OF the miner and
his family is such that he is practi-
,ally deprived nor only OF sunshine
nd fresh air, but to a certain extent
ne is deprived of the association and
of all other human
beings outside of his own particular
lass who are themselves engaged in
he dangerous an unhealthy occupa-
!on of coal mining The miners suf
er more than any other workers
rom periods of compulsory uner-
l,oyment. Authentic statistics show
hat the miners have less than 200
lays of employment during each year.
The wages of the miners consequently.
having to be spread over the entire
ear, are greatly reduced as a result
VI the non-employment existing n
hat industry.
The high cost of living has pre-
ented itself in perhaps more seri-
us form in isolated mining camps
han in large industrial centers.
There is usually rot the same oppor-
unity for the miners in the mining
a m m n
uch advantages as is presented in