New-York tribune., 1920-12-06
Unions Declare
FIGHT to Finish
In Coal Fields
Mine Workers Pledge Sup
port to Alabama and West
Virginia Strikers; Charge
Oppression as in Armenia
Use of Troops Denounced
Murders by Hired Cunmen.
False Arrests. Foreclos-
urcs and Evictions Alleged

INDIANAPOLlS. Dec. 5--Thc United
Min. Workers of America plan to carry
on q struggle with the coal operators
Of Alabama and Mngo County, West
Virginia, to q finish, said statement
issued here tonight by the union Off
cials. According to the statement, the
unions international board has unani-
nous Y adopted a declaration promis-
ing the Alabama and West Virginia
miners "the full moral and financial
assistance of the international union"
The declaration. as made public,
criticized the West Virginia Governor
for calling out Federal troops and as
sc rted that ii he were true to his oath
of Office he would disarm private de-
tectives who, it was said. are emplayed
by the operators. Regarding the Ala
bama situation. the declaration said:
1T is questionable whether the people
Of Armenia. whose sufferings have
shocked the world, are in any worse
circumstances than the oppressed mine
workers of Alabama"
Text of Declaration
The text Of the declaration follows:
THE international executive board
is Impressed with the spirit of self
sacrifice displayed by the mine work
ers OF Alabama in their wonderful fight
jor the right to establish the principle
Of collective bargaining and compel
the award of the United States Btu
1nlnous Coal Commission. The $4,000
men, women and children who are en-
gagged in this struggle are suffering
from the most intense persecution
heaped upon them by the arrogant coal
operators Of that state.
Every conceivable method has been
used against them-evjction from their
homes, foreclosure upon their house
hold and personal effects. false arrests
and Imprisonment, prohibition OF the
light Of aseemblagc. denial Of their
statutory and constitutional rights. un-
warranted use OF state troops in the
coal fields, denunciation by an unfa-
vorablc press and a most malicious
public campaign OF misrepres
have all failed to break their dauntless
spirit Il is indeed questionable
whether the people Of Armenia, whose
sunevinGs have shocked the world, are
in any worse circumstance than the
oppressed mine workers OF Alabana.
IN Mingo County, ". Va, struggl
OF equal Importance S.. is being waged
The miners Of that territory were
'ocked out b. their employers because
Of their desire to organize and thel1
ciple Of collective bargaining.
Army Of Gunmen Alleged
"They have waged remarkable
struggle against overwhelming odds
despite the innumerab,e outrages in
9;cted bv the private arm Of hirec
gunmen employed by the coal operators
Of that region. Many men have beer
shot in cold blood by these modern
Uessians, while in a multiplicity of in
stances others have suffered from
brutal assaults upon their persons
without having redress in the Law.
The Governor of that commonwealth
has utterly failed to give protection to
.hese citizens and has displayed his
shameful weakness by recently callng
for the use CT Federal troops in the
Nlneo Cunt strike field. We're he
true 10 his oath of Office nc would at
orce exercise the power vested in him
IS Governor OF me State of West Viz
ainia and compel the coal companies
10 aisarrn the hundreds Of Baldwl Il
9elt. sunmen employed by them, who
have usurped the police powers Of the
commonwealth and exercise these pow
ers in the interest of the coal operators
and contrary to the welfare OF the citl
Zens OF West Virginia.
The International Executive Boart
declares that these industrial strug
gles IN Alabama and West Virginii
nus. he continued until the coal opera
tors recognize the rights OF their EN-
pioyees. The principle OF human rlght
recc~nized by the enlightened publ
opinion Of our country is at stake
There can be no compromige Of this prin
eine. The full moral and financial as
sistance cf the international union
representing is membership of one
ha1t million mine workers, will b
placed behind the mine workers o
Alabaraa and West Virginia IN thi
PIT