Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-12-09
UNION. /. MINERS 70
FIGHT TO FINISH.
Pledges Support to Workers IN
West Virginia and Alabama /,
sTROAG STATEMENT ISSUED
Men Engaged In Struggle TO BE Given
4 Full Moral and Financial Assistaues
by International Body. ----.,r


by International Body. ---.tr
Indianapolis, Ind. ~ The Unitsd,
Mine Workers Of, America plan TO car
ry on struggle with the coal Operst-
crs of Alabama and in Mingo eonntT,
West Virginia, cto a finlsh.s' said d
statement issued here by tho unAep
officials.
According TO the statement, the un-
Ions international board has unani-
mously adopted declaration, prom
Using the Alabama and West virginia
miners "the FUN moral and financial
assistance Of the International UaH
ION" !" we fssT' \
Tire text Of the declaration as Adc
nounced as adopted by the board fol
lows: .-.@..5a 4al . Abk
."Thc international executive board
is impressed with the spirit OF self-
sacrifice displayed by the Inine work
ers Of Alabama In their wonderful
fight for the right to establish the prin'
ciple OF collective bargaining and corn
pei recognition by the coal operators
Of the award OF the United States 3D.
luminous coal commission. The 1900
men, women and children whe are en-
gagged in this struggle are suffering
from the most Intense persecution heap9
upon them by the arrogant coal oper-
ators OF that state, Every conceivable
method has been used against them
eviction from their homes, foreclosure
upon their household and personal ef-
fects, false arrests and Imprisonment,
prohibition Of the right of assemblage,
denial Of their statutory and coustitu-
tional rights, unwarraDted use Of state
troops in the coal field DenunciatioD
by an unfavorable press ana a most
malicious public campaign of mis-
representation have failed to break
their dauntless spirit. Ii Is indeed
questionable whether the people OF Ar
menia, whose sufferings have shocked
the world, are in any worse circum~
stances than the oppressed mine work
ers OF Alabama. Az ~
'In Mingo county, West Virginia, "A
struggle OF equal Importance Is being
waged. The miners of that terr'tory
were locked ont by their employers be-
tduSt vi tiltH dthlItf w CEHitliDt uhu
their request for the recognition ii she'
principle of collective bargaining. They
have. waged remarkable struggle
aralnst Overwhelming odds, despite ths
innumerable outrages Inflicted by the
private army of hired gunner employ
ed by the coal operators of that region.
"Many men have beer shot In cold
blood ID those modern HessionR Willie
In multiplicity of instances others
have suffered from brutal assaults
upon their persons without having ror.
dress In the law. The 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 fed
eral troops in the Mingo county strike
field Were he true to his oath 0f Of
fee ne would at once exercise the pow
er vested in him as governor of the
state of West Virginia and compel Inc
coal companies to disarm the hundreds
of Baldwin-Felts gunner employed BY
them, who have usurped the police
powers OF the commonwealth ana cEer.
else these powers In the interest 81 the
coal operators and contrary to the well
fare Of the citizens Of West Virginia.
THE international executive board
declares that these industrial struggles
in Alabama and West Virginia lrslst
be continued until the coal operators
recognize the rights Of their employees.
The principle Of human rights recog-
nized by the enlightened public opinion
OF our country is al stake. There can
be no compromise of this principle.
The full moral and financial assistance
of the international union, represent
ing it's membership Of one-hall LIillion
mine workers, will be placed behind
the mine workers OF Alabama and
West Virginia in this fight"