Evening journal., 1921-04-21
SAYS Miners
FACE HUNGER
Salvation Army Declares
10000 in Alabama
Need Help
UNION BENEFITS
ARE CUT OFF

BIRMINGHAM. Ala. April 21
Omitted Press). - Declaring that
$4,000 men. women and children in
the Alabama coal fields are facing
starvation and OF this number sew
eral thousand are already absolutely
destitute" Brigadier L. NJ. Simon
son. commander OF the Dixie Divi-
sion" Of the Salvation Army. Is pre-
pairing TO turn every agency Of that
organization TO relief work. a let
ter pledging such assistance has been
sent by him TO Governor Kilby. and
the organization is awaiting the Gov
ernor's reply. suggesting how il may
be best Offset before opening relief
activities on a large scale.
The action Of the Salvation Army,
together with numbers OF petitions
for relief being advanced 20 the Gov
ernor by the miners is expected 10
result in early action toward reme-
dying OF an almost unprecedented
condition growing out Of the recent
strike in the Alabama fields.
Defeated in the strike their union
rations and clothing issues discon-
/ tinued, thousands OF miners are ap-
pealing TO the State for assistance.
claiming that they are actually suf-
/ fering and in danger OF starvation.
Coal operators say lack OF demand
I for coal makes il impossible 10 en-
ploy the miners who struck months
ago and who called or their strike
on February % through an arbitra-
. "A L.
ment OF the strike issues in Governor
Klby's hands. The governor decided
! against the miners on every point.
Union leaders say that none Of tho
strikers has secured his job back.
Until April 9, tho strikers were
furnished regular benefits by ths
United Mine Workers Of America or
that date the union discontinued thii
action. pointing out that the strike
had been officially ended severa
weeks previously.
Il am informed that these miner
and their families have become alb
solutely destitute since then" Briga
dier Simonson declared. while IN
Salvation Army has not had persona
ivestigators in the coal fields. W.
have been informed that about 26.
600 persons are destitute. I believ
that the number is more accuratel.
about $4,000 to 10000, OF whom sew
eral thousand are in desperat
straits. From 1000 to 5000 famiiie
must be helped.
I'VE are already supporting fam
lilies although doing no work on
large scale as yet. We have aske
the governor TO suggest how We ca
best assist and are ready TO cooper
ate in any way he desires 10 the fu
extent Of the funds which we can 50
cure for the work
Brig. Simonson's letter to Kilh
declared:
''In the coal districts there is a
ready the appearance OF destituuo
Poverty stalks and no one can for'
tell az this time just what effort wi
J be required to avert serious suffei
ing. These coal miners who an
facing starvation could easily becom
dangerous tofthe peace and welfar
OF the community"
simultaneously with the issuanC
Of the Salvation Army letter ID
Walter s. Brown. head Of Birmine
hams Department Of Relief an
Correction. issued a call for fund
with which TO meet appeals for hell
o 1--WE are being flooded with az
peals from miners who have come
Birmingham, he declared.
Investigation Of conditions Of COT
] fields is expected to be made short
2 by a committee representing Birn
5 ingham civic organizations now De
b ing named. This committee is O.
pocted to determine conditions an
number OF persons as we'll as
p make recommendation for relief.
Figures as TO the persons affectC
differ widely. Union leaders clail
2 that about 10000 miners. their wivl
a and children are destitute in n
- coal fields. most Of them living
tent colonies occupied after th'
5 were ousted from company house
. Operators say this figure is FAR t'
high.
Appeals to Governor Kilby are b
ing made by many local unions
the u. NJ w. A typical petite
drafted by miners in a Birmingha