The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-16
NOT TO RECOGNIZE NOR CONFER WITH
 UNION OFFICIALS
tccntinued from Page Onel

(ContiMued from Page Onc) Mir Van A Bittner international repre- sentative. aad other officials of the United Mine Workers of America, who are the promoters and managers of the strike among small portion of the coal miners of Alabama.
 This committee represents 9 large pro portion of the commercial operators We do not represent and have no authority 10 speak for those who do not deal commercially with their ouput
 "Over 75 per cent of our employees and larger per cent of the employees of all the operators do not belong to the United Mine Workers of America, and Mir. Van Bittner and his aides have no authority to represent them; as to more than 15 per cent of the coal miners of Alabama these men are nterlopers and outsiders, and have no right to choose for them an arbitrator represent them at any hearing, or in any way to appear in their behalf. These facts alone are 9 sufficient reply to the communica- tion.
 Representing a small per cent of the miners of Alabama, at this late day when ccal production is rapidly approaching normal, what IS It they propose 10 ar bitrate?
 "I'hey say 1t is the failure of the Aia. hama operators to comply with the rec ommendatons made by the bituminous coal commission Is it any recommen- dation made by the Bituminous Coal Commission as to wages, hours or labor or worki1 conditions?
 "If it is, in our answer of September 6 1920 to yourl appointment of com mission we stated Eve agree in advance to abide by any award or recommenda- ton that this commission may make as to wages working conditions, hours of scrVice faithful and strict compliance with the recommendations of the Btu ninous Coal Commission appointed by the President, and all other matters af- fecting the relations between employers and employees" excepting only the recog- nition, directly or indirectly, of the United Mine Workers of America,
 "The signers of the communication sent US and the union which they represent refused to submit these matters to the Jurisdiction of the commission named by you. although they voluntarily ap- peared before the commission.
 STATEMENT OF ISSUE
 -On September IS, 1920 your commis- sion reported. 'The issue (between the union and operators). reduced to it's ul- tion of the United Mine Workers of America No complaint has been sub- nnitted to us regarding working hours, living conditions or wages
 Notwithstanding. MT. Van Bittner and his aides have attacked the environment and personnel of this commission. they have not and cannot take issue as tc it's findings with the governor, who ap- pointed the commission and who ap- proved it's findings.
 '~rhe only dispute as to the monetary Recommendations of the bituminous coal commission relates to the constrIc- ton of that part which provides for the payment of day laborers, Is to which your commission said: the difference of construction when reduced to fig ures is so inconsiderable that it cannot possibly be regarded as an important factor in the serious controversy TOW under considerations"
 '',rhis matter. therefore. needs no sr- bitration: it is mere matter of con- struction of written language.
 CLOSED VS. OPEN SHOP
 Stripped off camouflage, the ITO posal is that we submit to arbitration the question which has been and now is the only issue between MT, Van Iiltr- ner. the United Mine Workers of America and the operators of Ala bama, and that question is-recosni- AOn Ol tuc uiiCii, OlIcl WASt Sldtcut Nhe closed union shop against the orer shop, industrial slavery against indus trial liberty; enforcement of memper- ship in their union against freedom O, contract; the control and operation oi our business by MT. Van Bittner and other outsiders against its operation and control by it's officers and stock holders.
 "In our letter to you of Septcm-
 bcr 6, 1920. we stated we would
 not directly or indirectly recognize
 Or deal with the United Mine
 Workers of America now or here
 after.'
 ''Subseduent events have but showr the wisdom of our decision ant strengthened our determination. Wt stated then that these outsiders repre- scented but a small proportion of oul employees or of the Alabama miners Notwithstanding MT. Van Bittner hai each week announced that the nex week would see a complete shut. down which is the goal of these union eff cials. who in their letter profess anxi ety for the welfare of the state and it