The Washington times., 1920-12-06
MINE STRIKERS.
IN FINISH WAR
International Board Pledges Its
Full Support to Men in West
Virginia Fields.

pan w SaiN vi q Ssie ehh'N
coal operators Of Alabama and
Mingo county, West Virginia "to a
finish," said statement issued here
by the union officials.
PLEDGE FUIL sUrpORT.
/ According 10 m" statement. the
unions mtcrnationa! board mas
adopted unanimously declaration
promising the Alabama and West Viz
ginia miners "the full moral and fl
nancial assistance of the information
al union"
The text of the declaration adopted
by the board 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 for the right 10 establish the
principle OF collective bargaining
and compel recognition by the coal
operators Of the award Of the United
States BituminouS Coal Commission
The 1000 men. women and children
who are engaged in this struggle arc
suffering from the most intense per
secution heaped upon them by the AZ
rogant coal operators OF that state,
EVICTED FROM HOMES.
every conceivable. method has
been used against them-eviction
from their homes. foreclosure upon
their household anu personal effects,
false arrest and Imprisonment. pro.
hibition Of the right of assemblagG'
ienial Of their statutory and consti-
tutional rights, unwarrauteh use OF
State troops in the coal tields. denun-
citation by all unfaVorablc prcsS anu
4 most malicious public campaign Of
msrep all have FAILED
to break their dauntless spirit. II /" .
indeed questionable wnether the
people o" Armenia, whose Suff"rings
have shocked the world, are in any
worse circumstances than the op- .
pressed mine workers OF Alabama.
"In Mingo county, West Virginia, a ,
struggle of equal importance is be- ,
ing waged. The miners OF That ter
ritory were locked out by their "m-
Dloycrs because Of their desire 70 .
organize and their reqpest for the I
'ecognitioE Of the principle Of collec- |
tive bargaining. They have wag"d a /
-emarkablc struggle against over
whelming odds. despite the innurner. T,
able outragcs inflicted by the private
lrmy OF hired gunmcn employed by |
;hc coal operators Of that region. !
MANY men have been shot in cold blood |
Nv these modern Hessians, while IN a |,
multiplicity of instances others nave ,
suffered from brutal assaults upon |
heir persons without having r"dresS !
N the law.
CORNNELL Is SCORED.
Til" governor "f that Common ,
wealth has utterly Jailed |" ElN" pr"
lection to these citizens ana mas as .
playeG his shameful weakness by re-
Gently calling for tn" Us" OF t"d'rai I
troops in the MinGo county strike !
field Were a." true e. MS oatn 81 "i- 2
flee he would at once "Acr"lS" tn"
power rested in him 4 governor "t
IN, state Of West Virginia and COM
pei the coal companies !" di-hrln th'
hundreds Of Baldwin FritS gunm'n
cmploved by them. who have usurp"d
the police powers Of the Common
wealth and exercise these powers IN F,
the interest OF the coal operators and
contrary to the welfare of tn" citizens .
of West Virginia
The international executive board
declares that these industrial strug- /
giles in Alabama and West Virginia :
must be continued until the coal /
operators recognize the rights Of their !
employees. The principle of human /,
rights recognized by the enlightened !
power opinion OF the country is at
stake. There can be n" compromise |
of this principle The full moral and |
financial assistance Of the Interna-
tional Union, representing its mem
bcrship of One-half million mine !
workers. will be placed behind the !
mine workers OF Alabama and West |
Virginia in this fight"