The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-09-03
union Chief BLAMES
ARMED ASSASSINS
Mine Guards and Detectives
Said to Have Been Cause
of Revolt.
GOV. MORGAN ACCUSED
Preachers, Doctors, Mer-
chants Are Said to Be
on Firing Line.
MINERS ASK CONFERENC E
Leader Asserts Harding Order
for Meeting Of Operators and
Diggers Would End Strife.
BIZ nc Asaocinfed Press.

/ CHARLESTON, w. Va, Sept. Phillip
Murray, international vice-president OF
the United Mine Workers OF America,
gave out to-day the following formal
statement on the West Virginia sit
uation, as representing the views of
the mine workers.
After making a survey of the en-
tire situation in the disturbed sections
of West Virginia I am forced to con-
clude that there is but one solution to
the whole questis-I as it affects the
citizenry of the State of West Vir-
GINA, and that is complete abolition of
the mine guard and Baldwin Felts sys-
tenn now in general use throughout the
non-union coal mining fields of this
State.
Despite any statement that might
be made to the citizenry by the Gov
ernor of the State of West Virginia
evidences of the brutality of the mine
guards and Baldwin Felts agencies can
be found in the non-union territories
OF West Virginia. My personal judg
ment is that the presence of Federal
troops in the disturbed sections of the
State will result in immediate quiet be-
! ing restored The men engaged in the
| present conflict against the Governors
misuse of power welcome with open
arms the coming of Federal troops.
They believe that their presence in
4 this field will at least assure them,
their wives and families protection
from assassination at the hands OF this
armed band OF desperadoes.
| Agreed to Disperse Peacenbly.
| 1T Is not generally understood but
il is nevertheless true. that on August
1 eS these citizens engaged in the present
uprising against the Baldwin-Felts and
mine guards entered into an agreement
with Gen. Bandho,ts and President
keeney to dispense peaceably and re-
| turn to their homes. with the distinct
understanding that their lives would be
protected while following out the terms
of the agreement.
THE miners, in good faith, did dis
perse and did return to their homes, but
not quite twenty-four hours after they
had returned to their homes an armed
band or men. consisting of members
/ of the State constabulary and deputies
| from Logan county. crept into the town
/ of Sharples in the dead OF the night
when the men, women and children or
1 the community were in their beds. and
when those armed thugs had completed
their nights work they had killed two
members of the United Mine Work
crs of America and injured another
two. They stealthily crept back to
where they came from, and despite the
1 fact that the responsibility for the
| commission of this most reprchensible
| crime was charged directly to the
State. yet up until to-day. SO far as
4 / know, the Governor of the State OF
West Virginia has not even interested
himself in this most deliberate killing,
which IL is alleged members OF his own
state constabulary committed on Au-
gust q.
The feelings of tho citizenry of the
| entire State OF West Virginia were COM
pletely outraged as a result Of the crime
4 which was committed in Sharplcs and
resulted in a complete rehabilitation OF
not only the forces which had returned
10 their homes under the terms of the
\ original agreement made with Gen.
| Bandhoitz and President kecney, but In
| addition to that force there came up the
4 valleys of Lens Creek Little and Big
4 Coal Creek hundreds OF citizens from
practically every county in the State to
| join with the citizens of Sharpies. Blair
and all Of the other mining towns in the
neigh borhood in a fight for the abolition
Of this most terrible system which Is
permitted to be practised by the State
authorities.
well Known Citizens Fighting.
"The general impression that has been
created by the Governor is that the
movement OF this armed band of men is
confined to members of the United Mine
Workers of America. Nothing could
be further from the truth. As a matter
Of fact from my own personal observa-
| ton OF the situation, / discovered that
| the men who are on the firing lines
fighting for the abolition OF the guard
| and Baldwin Felts system consist OF
miners railroad men. merchants, doctors
| ministers of tho Gospel and almost every
element OF the citizenship OF those COM
| u1unities and throughout the state IL
represented in the forces that are night
ing for the establishment OF true law
and order in the state.
THE slogan OF the men on the fighting
line Is. as they give II to me;
1--we fought for America In France.
We returned homo to find that we, In
West virginia. are not really and truly
| In America We have made up our
minds 20 do battle in West Virginia for
the purpose OF returning the State to our
country
'Icverywhere you 70 along the fighting
line all that one will hear Is: let us
win West virginia back 70 America
stories Of Lcotin1 Denied.
additional CHARGES have been made