Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-12-06


Declaration Made Public.
The text of the declaration as adopted
by the board also was made public 1t
criticised the West Virginia governor
for calling out federal troops and assert
ed that if he were truthful to his oath
Of office he would disarm private de-
tectives, who, it was said, are employed
by the companies. Regarding the Ala
hama situation, the declaration said ''it
IS questionable whether the people Of
Armenia, whose sufferings have shocked
the world, are in any worse circum-
stances than the oppressed mine workers
Of Alabama"
Numerous business matters have been
before the board during its session Of the
last several days, but it was said by the
union officials that consideration of
Alabama and West Virginia conditions
was first given at meeting later Satur-
day. Announcement of the action was
made Sunday night in the statement
which follows:
international Statement
THE international executive board Is
impressed with the spirit Of sef-sacrifice
displayed. by the mine workers of Ala
bama in their wonderful fight for the
right to establish the principle of col
ton BY the coal operators of the award
of the United States bituminous mine
commission. The $4,000 men, women
and children who are engaged 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-eviction from
their homes. foreclosure upon their
hpI, cnhnfd and rorgDnnt offnntc falca
arrests. and Imprisonment, prohibition
II the right Of assemblage, denial Of their
statutory and constitutional rights, IN
warranted use of state troops in the
coal fields, denunciation by an unfavor-
able press and a most malicious public
campaign Of misrepresentation have all
failed to break their dauntless spirit.
1t is indeed questionable whether the
people of Armenia whose sufferings have
schocked the world, are in any worse
circumstances than the oppressed mine
workers of Alabama.
West Virginia Struggle.
I'm Mingo county. West Virginia |
struggle of equal importance is being
wagcd. The miners of that territory |
were locked out by their employers be- |
cause Of their desire 70 organize and
their request for the recognition of the !
principle Of collective bargaining. They /
hare Waged remarkable struggle /
against overwhelming odds despite the /
nnumerabe outrages inflicted by the !
private army of hired gunmen employed /
by the coal operators. Many men have
been shot in cold blood by these modern .
Hessians while in q multiplicity Of in
stances others have suffered from brutal
assaults upon their persons without hav
ing redress in the law.
Governor Flayed.
''rhe governor of that commonwealth
has utterly failed To give protection to
these citizens and has displayed his
shameful weakness by recently calling
for the use Of federal troops In the
AIingo county strike field. Were he
true to his oath Of office he would at
once exercise the power vested in him as
governor Of the state Of West Virginia
and compel the coal companies to dis
arm the hundreds of Baldwin Telts gun
men employed by them, who have usurp-
ed the police powers of the common
wealth and exercise these powers in the
interest Of the coal operators and con
trary to the welfare Of the citizens OF
West Virginia.
Fight to Continue.
THE international executive board
declares these industrial struggles in
Alabama and West Virginia must be con
tinued until the coal operators recognize
the rights Of their employees. The prin I
ciple of human rights recognized by the
public opinion of our country !
Is at stake. There can be no compromise I
of this principle. The full moral and
financial assistance Of the international /
union, representing its membership Of I
one-half million mine workers, will be
placed behind the mine workers of Ala
bama and West Virginia in this fight"