The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-18
STRIKING MINERS
 WILL CARRY CASE
 ID FEDERAL COURT
Charles E. Hughes Is Their Counsel = Center Effort Here as West Virginia
 Case Ends

IICl C do fNCok VII SHho
 Case Ends
 Van Bittner. international represen- tative of the United Mine Work CTS of America. recently returned from conference held with the interna- tional officers at Indianapolis. has is- sued an official statement in which he declares that the union, through their chief counsel, former Justice Charles Evans Hughes will begin proceedings immediately in the federal courts for the purpose of establishing the con stitutional rights of members of the organization and representatives of the organization, who are all citizens of the United States and in Alabama handling the coal miners strike He declares the lynching of Baird only brings to a climax a series of lawless events charged against mem- bers of the state militia by striking miners.
 With the ending of the West vir- ginla strike he says, the interna- 'tional, backed by over 550.000 red blood ed American citizens. will now be able to concentrate its wealth and Influence here in bringing about the emancipa- tion of the Alabama coal miners from the tyranny and oppression of their employers and keeping up the contest
 nde finitely."
 Mr. Bittner says further, Nothing
 ia intended to be done or will be done by the miners in de- fance of the law or constituted L. t-. ingness to cooperate with the governor of Alabama, or anyone else acting in concert for the public veal in bringing about an amicable adjust ment."
 He closes with statement in which he bitterly assails the coal operators as "Nindictive, mercenary operators. who are preventing settlement" STATEMENT IN TWO SECTIONS His statement is in two sections, the first being as follows:
 Van A. Bittner, chief representative of the United Mine Workers of America, to- day announced that as a result of con ference held in Indianapolis during the past week with International Presider. John L.. Lewis. Vice President Phillip Murray and Secretary-Treasurer William Green, the United Mine Workers of America, through their chief counsel
 
 gin proceedings immediately in the fed eral courts for the purpose of establish i ing the constitutional rights of members | of their organization, and especially the officials and representatives of the or | ganization, who are all citizens of the l United States. and in Alabama handling the coal miners strike"
 EMPHASIZES THE TENSITY | The second l,art of the statement reads: x;.t.tI. driver and brother of the superintendent ot the Galloway Coal company. resulting l in the arrest and Imprisonment of 10 members of the Alabama national guard, who were on strike duty, for murder. Tn connection with the lynching of Will l Baird, striking mine worker, at Jasper, on Thursday, only brings to climax ! series of lawiess events charged against members of the state militia by striKins miners.
 1 "1t only emphasizes the tensity of the I situation and demonstrates more forcibly | than anything we could say or do that 1 the present military and law enforce ment agencies instead of maintaining l law and order, are either directly or in- 1 directly responsible for creating reign I of terrorism which has deprived the miners of every right guaranteed to them I by the laws of this state and the constr 1 tuition of the United states
 'The implication of members Of the Alabama national guard in the murder i of Baird and the brutal attack and as sault by members of the Austin law en- forcement squad upon prominent Bir- mingham citzen in no manner connectcd with the miners organization, Justities the conclusion reached by many profni- inent. Alabamtans that these agencies have demonstrated their inability U fairly and satisfactorily handle the stua- ton or safeguard life and property anu will doubtless result in strong pressure being exerted in Washington to have fed- eral troops sent here to take charge os the situation | ..T'he mine workers organization stands for law and order and we have dohe ,eyerything possible to contribute to tnas rasuit and suppress violence. In this connection, it is significant, that up t2 this time, of all the miners who nave lbeen arrested and charged with various crimes and misdemeanors. throughout Ithe coal fields, none of them, thus far. has been convicted. a ..The Alabama miners are fighting TOT a principle, to bring about better worS, I ing conditions. to establish peaceiui dnu l harmonious relations between theh S'.A
 ployers and themselves
 .The greatest opposition to settie- t,nent of the controversy is advanced ps
 a small group of operators who' nay
 ing created conditions in thelr respectN,
 mines that are satisfactory to tnemseisc cS land enable them to operate their Hines land sell coal at big profit while otnes rnines are either idle or operating a' great expense with inexperienced iaoor are preventing other operators 70 ehte' into negotiations for sttlement.
 NEVER IN BETTER SHAPE
 .nThe United Mine Workers were nevsi , in better shape to wage tneT Iisnl Aoi justice and humanity than now
 ..With the ending of the west vlrsniA"
 str;le the international organization Ihacked by over 550,G0o red-blooded Amer ican citizens. will now be able to con ,I certrate it's wealth and influence here q hrinping about the emancipation of th'
 Alabama coal miners from the tyranny ,sd o,,nress.op of their employers an. [ raar;np up the contest indefinitely. "Nothine is intended to be or Will pt Idona hv the miners in defiance or law o'
 onrstit,,ted authority, but every right ahe nriy,ege guaranteed under the un:le. ' rr.atas constitution to it's citizenship VII be invoked .., .,,, an 4,;, the expenditure of hundreds of thou s.nds and perhaps millions Of dollars ps Y nur organization, and know 1t mas 'i readv cost the operators millions or uol lars. ,a;te-at.
 our willingness to cooperate with tn'
 yrss;dent of the United States. the soy 5 ernor of Alabama. or any one else ace
 i,,a in coneer. for the public veal
 tringing about an amicable adJustnen'