New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-06
0perators Call
Gompers Mine
Charges False
\. Guards in Mingo County,
/ and Field Peaceful Until
Union Organizers Came
IA. Asserts Association
paw Award Not Ignored
r.bor Leaders Accused of
Seeking to Destroy Bust
mss of All Independents
8 rae rrssmns's Washington Bureau

80 rae rrsbmnsss Washircton Bureau
DARLINGTON, Sept. 5.--Samuel Com
- president of the American Fed
.-.t;on Of Labor, WAS charged to-day
& The coal operators of the Williamson
x.,d West Virgins. in their answer to
Il. regent utterances in defense of the
w;nro miners, with resorting ito sys-
tom Of falsehoods that will not bear
me light Of inquiry
The statements of Mr.. Gompers arc
<bsrscterized in the reply as hypocriti-
81. false and misleading. He is de-
.er;bed IS deliberately disappearing
he conditions that preceded and sur
vsrnded the attempt at an armed in
vasion of Logan and Mingo counties.
rhe operators association denies that
ruards and nrivate detectives are en-
Moved at the mines. and declares the
protection of all property in Mingo
County is in the hands Of duly con-
st;suted officers of the law.
Defends Non-Union Scale
The reply is signed by Harry Ohm
stsd. chairman Of the labor committee.
Tine rate of wages and the actual earn
! inrs Of the non-union mine workers in
the Williamson field are greater than in
the union fields of the state. he asserts,
and the unionization of these mines, it
il de- Jared, would mean an actual re-
suction and loss in the earnings Of
the miners.
He asserts that the mine workers
themselves are opposed to the union
mtion of this field The invasion of
Logan County and the proposed in
rssion of Mingo County ais not spon-
.aneous uprising. but was threatened
bv the United Mine Workers organ
nation in the Williamson field as early
IS April and May. 1920" he adds.
The present policy of the United
Nine Workers, says Mr.. Olmsted, is
to destroy ali business of non-union
operators and bring about the sub
lection of the entire coal industry to
such unjust and unlawful demands as
!. may desire to put into effect"
"The officials Of the United Mine
Workers have brought themselves so
close to the charge of treason against
tae government Of West Virginia, as
veil as the government Of the United
States that 1t occasions no surprise
that they are now running to cover
the statement says, and it continues:
the instruction that they have
staged in Kanawha and Boone counties
was not developed as a protest against
the presence Of Baldwin-Felts guards
in Mingo County, or Logan County.
w.. va, or In Pike County, Ky. as
CLAIMED mere are no guards in Mingo
tounty. The only persons charged
win tine duty OF guarding property in
Mnso County are duly constituted
oncss OF the law, and these have been
aTsd on and assaulted by gunner and
tnuH Of the United Mine Workers
EIue out of number Four of them
mare been assassinsted while in the
psrlormance of their duties. Mr.. Com
psss cannot justify the rebellion against
the state Of West Virginia upon that
asfsensical, hypocritical plea
Wage Award Jurisdiction Denied
Another falsehood by Mr.. Gompers
ftlates to the charge that the Mingo
strike was occasioned by the failure of
amigo operators to put into effect the
gosernment's bituminous wage award.
lae mime operators were under no
oniigatlon TO do SO. they having no sort
q connection with the coal. fields COW
cred by that award
Nevertheless, the increases allowed
oy the United States government were
adopted in this field promptly after the
amount OF Increase had been fixed. 1t
mas never before been alleged that the
SsliKe IN the Williamson field was due
70 wage adjustments OR any cause other
ia, ian 10 compel reception Of the United
aine workers organization.
Noai Is measured rather than
Weighed in this field, because it is
'he easiest and most satisfactory
method of accounting between the
miners and the employers. The men
aase never asked to have the system
changed. They don't want it changed.
ar. Gonpers says that the mines
" west Virginia constitute the last
.asiage OF autocracy in the mining IN
sas.ry. Such brazen effrontery.
Inc last word in autocracy in the
mining industry is the car of the
TT s Mine Workers organization
n. me aespotism practiced by him more
shan anything else stimulated the
---A'tNic VI AdudWud anu OLNG{
sounties to make their raid upon the
A0h-unlon county of Logan.
Lays Disorders to Organizers
mr Gompers makes himself ridisu-
lsuus 10 West Virginians when he makes
ne plea about the miners protesting
sssaihst iawtessness, in so far at least as
re re reiers to the United Mine Workers.
l me miners themselves are generally
4~-aoiding. Every disorder that has
lser occurred in the mining fields of
aest Virginia has been occasioned by
W. w. mugs and outlaws of the United
~. ~. Workers organization.
~ IN the counties of Logan and Mingo,
, ssse Virginia, and Pike County, Ken
11 ss3y having an aggregate area of
5000 square miles and an aggregate
p -. of 116.847, there were not
ea as many as 100 peace Off
isas prlor to the invasion by the organ
sse OF the United Mine Workers. |
" az were not needed.
H., Sot any OF these peace officers were |
en si.a"in-Felts employees. but included |
any y regularly chosen deputy sheriffs
Ma, eonstables and other officers who |
TN not Baldwin-Felts employees. |
's statement is irrefutable.n