Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-06
Mine Workers in Alabama
Are Suffering As Severely
As ArmenianS, Is Charge
Made in Statement.
GOVERNOR OF WEST
VIRGINIA FLAYED
Calling Out Federal Troops
Held Unnecessary; Inter-
national Union Promises
Aid to Strikers.
rBy The Arsoclnted Pressl

indianapolis, Dec. 5.-The
United Mine Workers of
America plan to carry a
struggle with the coal OPP
orators of Alabama and
Mingo county, West Vir-
ginia, ITO a fnish," said a
statement issued tonight by
the union officials.
According to the state
ment, the miners interna-
tional board has adopted
unanimously a declaration
promising the Alabama and
West Virginia miners "the
full moral and financial as
sistance of the international
union"
Governor Is Criticised.
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 asserted that II
he were true to his oath of office
he would disarm private detectives
who, it was said, are employed by
the operators. Regarding the Ala
bama situation, the declaration
said it was questionable whether
the people of Armenia, whose suf-
ferings have shocked the world,
were in any worse circumstances
than the oppressed mine workers
of Alabama.
The text Of the declaration fol-
lows: -
"The international executive
board is impressed with the spirit
of self-sacrifice displayed by the
mine workers in Alabama in their
wonderful fight for the right to es-
tablish 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 en-
gagged in this struggle are suffer-
ing from the most. intense perse-
cution heaped upon them by the
arrogant coal operators of that
state. Every conceivable method
has been used against them-evic-
ton from their homes, foreclosure
upon their household and personal
effects. false arrests and imprison-
ment. prohibition of the right OF
assemblage, denial of their statu-
tory and constitutional rights, un-
warranted use Of state troops In
the coal fields, denunciation by an
unfavorable press, and a most ma
licious public campaign OF mis-
representation, have all failed to
break their dauntless spirit. 1t is
indeed questionable whether the
people of Armenia, whose suffer-
ings have shocked the world, are IN
any worse circumstances than the
oppressed mine workers of Ala
bama.
West Virginia struggle.
"In Mingo county, West Virginia,
struggle of equal importance is
being waged. The miners of that
TERRITORY were locked out by their
EMPLOYERS because of their desire
to organize and their request for
the recognition of collective bar
gaining. They have waged a re-
markable struggle against over
whelming odds despite the innu-
merable outrages inflicted by the
private army of hired gunmen en-
ployed by the coal operators OF that
region. MANY men have been shot
In cold blood by these modern
Hessians. while in a multiplicity OF
instances others have suffered
from brutal assaults upon their
persons without having redress
in the law. The governor or that
commonwealth has utterly failed
to give protection to these citizens
and has displayed his shamefui
weakness by recently calling for
the use of federal troops In the
Mingo county strike field. We're
he true to his oath of office he
would at once exercise the power
invested in him as governor or
West Virginia and compel the coal
companies to disarm the hundreds
of Baldan- -Felts gunmen employed
by. them, who have usurped the
police powers of the commonwealth
and exercise these powers in the
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