Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-15

to trade at the company commits
saries at the various mining towns,
they subsist on rations shipped in by
the international union. Deprived of
funds as result of being out Of
work, they draw benefits from the
international union.
Propa danda Active.
Propaganda is being circulated by
both sides, each blaming the other
for disorders. Acrimonious state
ments and charges are launched by
supporters of both factions. Threats
and rumors Of threats are discussed
in virtually every gathering. Men
who have followed the situation pro
fess to regard it as the most serious
that has arisen since the trouble be
gan, not excepting the Matewau
shooting last May 10, in which ten
were slain.
The operators are firm in their de
termination to keep the field open
at any cost, the United Mine Work
ers are equally determined in their
insistence that the struggle must GO
on until their union is recognized
The questions of wages and working
conditions also enter into the dis
agreement, but these admittedly are
minor considerations.
David Robb, international finan.
cial agent Of the United Mine Work
ers, who is directing union activities
in this district, made public today
the first statement he has issued
since the industrial warfare flared
up again.
"The lockout strike in this field
can never be settled by thugs and
gunmeh," declared Mr.. Robb. He as
serted that the battle which started
Thursday has been brought about by
attacks on union miners by nom
union men now employed in the
fields. .-.....s
Will Not Be Driven.
"A high percentage of the men
now out are Americans, natives of
this district, and they do not propose
to be driven from their homes. Any
one who knows the mountaineer
temperament knows that they won't
be intimidated and that they will not
allow their women and children to
be made into targets. | have been
besieged with requests from union
men for money with which to buy
arms and ammunitions. These re-
quests / have, of course, refused,
and / have counselled the men to
moderation, but | know that many of
them will go right ahead firing back
when their homes or their tent col
onies to which they have been re-
duced by eviction proceedings of the
operators, are fired on
According to Mr.. Robb, there are
about $500 men still on lockout
strike" in this district, most of whose
places have been taken by non-union
workers from other parts of the
country.
He declared the coal operators
had proven their insincerity and un
willingness to settle the disturbance
peaceably on many occasions during
the last year, but said that the union
still was ready to negotiate. He as
serted the union viewed the proposed
sending in of federal troops with
complacency, and added that it
would welcome a congressional in
vestigation to determine where the
right and wrong lazy.
Tell Different Story.
Officials of the Williamson Coal
Operators Association, on the other
hand, contradicted every assertion
Mr.. Robb. made, from the question
of which side started the present
fighting to that of the number of
miners and their families now living
in tent colonies, which Mr. Robb
fixed at $500 men, women and chill
dren. The operators representatives
declared that at the present time
the mine owners have more employees
than can be used and that coal pro-
duction in the field is 60 percent of
normal They reiterated the state
meRt of the association that the
mines would be kept open"