The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-20
POOR WILL Re THE
. CHIEF SUFFERERS
IN MINERS STRIKE
Senator Points Out Guilt of
Leaders Who Would Bring
Distress on Whole Nation

W dSi4iSioiL OCTOBER ~. - tSpeSlal'
In speech delivered a few days age
senator Joseph :. Freunghuysen O.
New Jersey. chairman of the Senate
interstate commerce committee, dis
cussing the coal situation and the pros
pective strike, said
Il have been a friend of labor. OF
organized labor, throughout any public
career, both in the senate of my
native state and in the Senate of the
United States but am not a friend
OF tyranny. whether it be the tyranny OF
the capitalist or the tyranny OF the
professional labor agitator.
I believe that the laborer is worthy
of his hire. but 1 do not believe that
any man or set of men is entitled to a
wage that will mean the placing of an
intolerable burden upon the great mass
Of our population, already weighed
down by the high taxes and the high
cost of living.
This action of the United Mine
Workers of America should evoke, as
1 feel sure it will evoke an outburst of
Indignation on the part of an outraged
public
Only man of impaired intellect
will fail 10 see that this it not a con-
troversy which alone affects the coal
operators and their employees. 1t is
one that affects and seriously affects
every house in the land. especially the
home of the humblest citizen who de-
Ponds upon coal for fuel purposes.
over a hundred millions of our citf-
zens who have never owned a doIla r
Of coal stock anywhere and have never
oeen near mining town are vitality
concerned in this controversy, for if
the United Mine Workers of America
should have their demands granted it
would add from 81 to $3.50 to the price
Of every ton of bituminous coal mar
keted. and billion dollars would be
iflched from the pockets OF those who
can m afford any such tax. in view OF
the lnnumerable other demands made
upon the family purse.
Acceptance of these demands. with
The indirect increases inherent to other
items of your demands, would more
IMAM double the already high cost of
producing coal. with consequent large
direct and indirect additions to the
cost of living of every citizen and a
generalization and prostration of the
industry. Such wage increases are i'm
possible, and their attempted enforce
rnent would react with great harm
equally on the nation and on the indiy-
-idual miners you represent.
What is the situation which we
lace? Here we are on the threshold of
winter. There is, comparatively speak
ing. but a scant supply of coal in the
nations bins. If these men have their
way. state of famine will be precip-
tied upon the land or those sections
denPndent it31,,
epidemic OF pneumonia or influenza is
hkely, owing to the scarcity of fuel
Distress and hunger will affect all
classes.
But who will suffer Inost7 The poor.
OF course; the widows and the orphans
who have been unable to lay in any
winter supply. These will be the chief
victims
The shame of this. the crime of this.
VIII rest upon the heads of these Off
Gals of the United Mine Workers of
america, who have refused TO abide bv
existing contracts and have demanded
greatly reduced working hours and a
greatly increased wage
How does this spirit OF seIfishness
compare with the noble sacrifices Of
our brave young men--4 900 900 of them
who entered the service of their
country at modest wage to help right
the wrongs of the world and put tyran-
ny under foot?
Not content with their unprecedeutlv
large weekly wartime incomes, they
now issue their defiant demands.
threatening to paralyze the industries
OF the nation and jeopardize the health
and lives of our people if such demands
iare not met within so days
This programme Of the United Mine
Workers of America is one Of the links
in the chain with which it is proposed
to strange the political and economic
fabric Of American civilization 1T is
altogether in sympathy and alliance
with the scheme of Mr., Fitzpatrick the
leader of the striking steel workers.
who announced on the first day of the
strike:
I'VE are going to socialize the basic
industries Of the United States This
is the beginning of the first fight
1T is also in the line with the de
clared policy and purpose of Mr.. Fitz-
pstricks chief of staff Mr.. Foster, an
apt disciple of Trotski and Lenin.
In one of the papers I am submit
ting herewith is a demand for the ma
tionalization of the mines of the coun-
try that the government shall raise
a few billions OF dollars to buy the
mines and turn them over to the miners
to be operated by the latter--a Plumb
plan for taking over the mining in
dustry.
" THE American people have never
vet been weighed in the balance and
been found wanting nor will they be
now in my human opinion.
"A nation which SO nobly rose to the
occasion in 1917 and 1918 and crushed
the tyranny which dominated Europe
and menaced the peace of the world
will not fail in this crisis
"a greater despousm menaces Am
erica than before or during the war
with the imperial government of Ger
many; chiefly greater because it is at
our very doors We are at the cross
roads of our national destiny. The
issue is, shall this continue to be a
democracy. governed by the people as
a whole or shall faction, a class an
organization OF any sort. defy public
opinion. ignore the needs, the neces-
stiles of the common people, and set
itself above the law and above the
public welfare? That is Bolshevism pure
and simple. for Bolshevism is the
antithesis of democracy.
II stand in this public place and is
sue this solemn warning TO the Ameri-
can people. If you would remain free
people. arise in your majesty and de-
feat this conspiracy against law. order,