The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-10
NELSON PRAISES THE COURAGE AND
 JUSTICE 0F K|LDY
Says It Is Costing State $100,000 a Month to En- certain Van Bittner at
 TutWiIer

Frank Nelson, Jr., member of the executive committee ot the coal operators, last night in commenting upon Gov Kilby's statement of yesterday declared that it now remains to be seen "just how long the outraged, tax-burdened people of Alabama are willing to pay $100,000 a month for the pur- pose of entertaining one Van Bittner as a permanent guest at the Tutwiler hotel"
 Mir, Nelsons statement in full is as follows: More and more I realize that our present governor is coura- geous and just and wants to do the present mine controversy.
 He realizes that he has no law to settle the unfortunate coal strike, to stop bloodshed and the destruction of property and very sensibly he asks public opinion to settle the matter
 
 correctly suggests that there are only two ways to settle the matter.
 First: Recognition, direct or indirect of the United Mine Workers of America by the coal operators.
 This would mean a subjugation or enslaving of 23,000 loyal coal miners by 1000 or 1,5o0 radical miners, domi- mated by few white and Yankeeized negro agitators. In addition to this it would mean a discharge of loyal miners to make room for strikers, which the operators will never consent to do.
 Second; Publication of statement by the labor agitators and their paid attorneys that they will no longer counsel the violation of the laws of Alabama as they have probably done heretofore by picketing, intimidating and preventing men from working who wanted to work and stating that all would be allowed to resume their voca- tions without intimidation or moles- tation, and followed by the immediate withdrawal from Alabama of the lead- CTS of the United Mine Workers of America and their labor agitators from other states.
 sMr. Van Bittnef of Pennsylva- mia would no doubt object to this
 
 comfortably domiciled nt the Tut wiIer hotel than when at home, and certainly more comfortably situ- ated than the men whom he has directed to be placed in tents and fed on Esau.
 The United Mine Workers of America have history in Ala bama, and, in fact, all over the United States In the more recent strikes I understand nine men have lost their lives in Walker county. Ala bama, and nine in Mingo county, West Virginia, not to speak of the loss and destruction of property. The operators of Alabama are doing this service for the entire state and have firmly made up their minds that they will not now or hereafter deal directly or indirectly with the United Mine Workers of America.
 AThe miners of AIabama. if left alone are all right. The strike is over. We arc mining more coal than we can sell and it remains to he seen just how long the outraged, tax-burdened people of Alabama are willing to pay $1OO,OO0 month for the purpose of entertaining one Van Bittner of Pennsylvania as permanent guest at the Tutwiler hotoI.o
 Van Bittner, international repre- sentative of the United Mine Workers of America. was asked if he had my thing to say about the governors statement yesterday afternoon. He replied:
 T will not have statement to make for the public either this evening or Thursday. have not thoroughly gone into the governors statement and shall not make comment until I have donn that"