The labor world., 1921-10-01

The miners flocked into the union
and the whole field was organized in
a few days. Then the mine owners
union card and as soon as the men
were discharged they were evicted
from their homes.
'These evictions were illegal and
were conducted in brutal manner.
Baldwin Feltz detectives often broke
down doors and dumped families ana
their household belongings out into
the streets. They broke furniture and
often stole property.
Formulated Demands.
"The miners held a convention at
Williamson and formulated their de-
mands. They asked for an eight-hour
day, fair weighing and no discrimina-
tion against men because they We're
members of a labor union. All these
rights were guaranteed them by the
state law.
THE mine owners contemptuous:y
refused to discuss the questions at is
sue. Governor Morgan was asked to
intervene. He refused. He then waa
asked to call the state legislature in
oPCC1dI ScSS1OH u ScIti0 Luc ludIlCE.
Again he refused.
I'm the meantime the mine owners
continued depredations with their pri
vate armies. Union men were assas.
sinated. Meetings were broken up.
Free speech was joke and peaceable
assemblage was prevented despite
constitutional guarantees.
THE sheriffs and peace officers
were in the pay of the mine owners
and they deputized an army of thugs
and strikebreakers. Murders were
almost Of everyday occurrence ami
everything was done under the cloak
OF law and ORDER whereas If miners
protected themselves they were re-
sisting the law
I'VE have repeatedly appealed to
state and federal authorities for pro-
lection and for our constitutional
rights. The federal government did
send conciliators into the field about
year ago, but the mine owners re-
fused to treat with them. Nothing
else was done and Washington turned
a deaf ear to our appeals.
Martial Law Instead.
"The state government answering
| us by declaring martial law and turn
ing over the administration of this
law to private gunner employed by
the companies. You know about the
Battle Of Matewan' and the assassin
| alton Of Hatfield and Chambers. Then
| the whole thing eliminated in the ar
rest of 36 miners who were held in
Jail without any pretext of law. The
miners felt the lives Of their comrades
were endangered and determined to
rescue them.
Il just want to add one thing
more,' concluded Burkinshaw. 1.-The
papers allege that the locked out
miners are mostly foreigners led by
professional agitators.' Roth these
! statements are lies. I doubt if thero
is any section of America where the
ratio Of pre-Revolutionary war
HAmer1can stock is as high as it is in
,ttMingo county. These men are prac-
lHttlcally all pure Anglo-Saxo and their
4Seaders are all local men. The off,
(Ecials OF District No. II have stopped
them from marching on other occa-
sions and tried to stop them this time.
But the men were determined to res
cue thier comrades from jail. Per-
Ehaps it was a foolish proceeding, but
n they feel that the administration of
! the law has been broken down in
/ West Virginia and that it is up to
! them to reassert the rights for which
! their forefathers fought and died. In
view of the undisputable facts they
thardly can be blamed for so think
! .ipg.r-K