Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-27
ASKS HARDING
TO ARBITRATE
IN MINGO WAR
President of United Mine
Workers Asks for Executive
Action in w. Virginia.
WOULD ABOLISH GUARDS

dent OF the United Mine WoFkeIs 81
America, for a conference Of mine Oper-
stors and workers to end the industrial
situation and threatened war in Mingo
and Logan Counties. West Virginia. il
was stated AT the White House today.
The President discussed the situation
with Senator Sutherland. West Virginia,
and it is understood the feasibility of
calling q conference was considered.
Suggesting a conference between miners
and operators, John L. Lewis, interna-
tional president Of the United Mine
workers Of America. has sent a telegram
20 President Warren G. Harding asking
him to take the first step in arbitration
OF the Mingo County. ". Va. mine DIFF
feuIties
Mr. Lewis. in his message. states Fed
eral troops are not needed in Mingo
County but that the protection of the
rights Of citizens is needed. He suG-
gests that the conference. which he pro-
poses, take up the question Of abolishing
the private detective guard employed by
mine operators and Of settling the diff
ferences between the miners and the
operators on any honorable basis.
The message TO the President follows
The disturbed situation in the coal
addressing you this MESA ge. The pres
ence OF many hundreds Of armed agents
Of the notorious Baldwin Felts detective
agency. employed by the coal operators
together with the acts Of brutal violence
which they have committed, has developed
sense Of outrage in the minds of the
mine workers Of the State which has re-
suited IN their assembling in large bodies
70 put an end to such an iutOlerable sit
nation.
Low TYPE OF MEN
As DETECTIVES.
The Baldwin -Felts Detective Agency
maintains its chief Offices in Roanoke. Va.
and does an interstate business. presum-
ably making ii ameuabIe 70 the regula-
ton OF Federal statutes. This concern
employees as its agents men OF the lowest
type and character and equips them with
rifles and side arms 10 act as guards in
the coal fields. The coal operators Of
Logan, Mingo. Mcdowell and Mercer
counties in West Virginia employ these
gunner by the hundreds, and evidence
conclusively. shows that these armed
men practically control the county gov
eminent in each Of the aforesaid counties
Brutal outrages are committed by these
thugs from tine 20 time upon the per
sons Of the mine workers who are en-
ployed in that section. No redress is pos
si5le to such citizens. because local au-
thority is entirely set aside by these in
fueaces.
The influence Of this notorious agency
has in the past extended even into the
councils Of the State government and ap-
peals for protection which. from time to
hoF- 10 h. ha 9-4r
mine workers to the chief executives Of
West Virginia have been denied The
cost Of maintaining this private army in
CONFIRMATION Of the constitutional guar
2ntees OF our citizenship and the sta
tutes governing such matters is charged TO
the production cost Of coal and the public
compelled 70 bear the burden. In other
words. the coal consuming public IS com
PEELED 20 pay for the maintenance OF these
Hessians Of industry.
IN Mingo County since the inaugura-
ton Of the present lockout Of the mine
workers more than forty men have been
killed. which Killings are directly trace
able to the murderous acts OF these de
PRAYED men who kill as a part OF their
daily work 7 call the attention Of your
EXeellency. 20 the fact that the chief wit
ness for the NingO County coal operators
Investigating the strike. was q Baldwin
Felts thug named Lively. who upon his
return from Washington. deliberately
murd sTed two unarmed mine workers on
the steps Of the courthouse at Welsh. Nc
Dowell County. West Virginia.
FEDERAL TROOPS
NOT NEEDED.
This bloOdthirsty act was the culmina-
tien Of a long series Of such outrages
which resulted IN the present Outburst Of
indignation on the part Of the West Viz
ginia miners and their assembling in
large bodies to resist such assaults. In
the minds Of the mine workers Of West
Virginia there can be no peace so long
as the Baldwin Felts thug system is in
such complete control of the machinery
OF the law and such terrible acts GO un-
rebuked.
Federal troops are not needed IN Yves
Virginia so much as the recognition Of
the rights Of citizens as guaranteed by
eur constitution and law and the surren-
der by the Baldwin Felts army of pri-
vately employed gunner TO the eonsti-
ted authorities OF our Government The
United Mine Workers Of America deplOre,
the situation IN West Virginia which has
disturbed the domestic tranquility o.
our Nation and anirms its allegiance to
the principle Of obedience to the law OF
the land.
Il OFFER as a constructive suggestion to
meet the present emergency in West Vir-
glnis that your eXcelleucy direct repre-
sentatives Of the operators IN the dis
turbed sections~of West Virginia aHd rep
resentatives Of the mine workers to sp-
pear In conference to give consideration
10 the following propositions which are
involved:
l. THAT the Baldwin Felts guard sys-
TEN in West Virginia be abolished.
2 That an adjustment Of the eontrO-
versy raging between the Anngo County
coal operators and the mine workers of
that section he effected upon any honor
able basis which can be found.
I make these suggestions to your ex-
cellency IN all good faith and sincerity
and with a full appreciation Of the public
interest which is involved. I pledge the
cooperation Of the United Mine Workers
Of America in an honorable attempt to ad
just the AingO County situation and II
directed by you to do 81 will gladly ar
range for adequate representation on the
part OF the mine workers in any confer
ence which Won may initiate"
Mr.. Lewis is cooperating in a similar
conference called by Governor Warren T
McCray for Tuesday for the purpose OF
settling Indiana mine difficulties.
HUL1 WOTTND2TN