The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-06
UNION COMMITTEE HERE ID GO OVER
 LOCAL SITUATION
Say They Are Building for Fu- ture and Intimate Recent Strike Handling lll-ad-
 viSed-WiII Study Case

Providing for the future rather than consideration of the present status in the Alabama coal mining field appears to be the aim of the organization com mittee of the United Mine Workers now in Birmingham clothed with power to act in the name of the ms ternational body.
 The committee consists of William Green, international secretary and treas urer. chairman; w. D. Van Horn, In diana Andrew Watkins, Ohio; John zim- merman, Illinois, and John O'Leary, Pennsylvania. All have arrived and are quartered at the Tutwiler.
 At 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon the committee held it's first session with the local officials of the union and discussed the Alabama situation with them. The committee intends to inquire minutely into the entire matter.
 MINDS OPEN
 Mir. Green said: We have come to Ala bama with open minds We do not know what we will decide Our first object is to make a survey of the field. We in- tend to probe every phase of the situation until we have clear conception.
 After we have gotten the views of the different men the job here we will try to effect an analysis of the matter that will be to the benefit of the union"
 Asked if the Alabama division of the union was to be left to support itself, MT. Green replied that no question in volving the Alabama field had been de- cided upon.
 MT Green remarked: q sense a misap- prehension down here as to the objects of the United Mine Workers. Our organ ization is not for the purpose of tearing down, but building up. We wish to es- tablish a cooperation that will be Of service equally to both sides"
 Mir Zimmerman dwells with stress on the importance of organization, and de- elares that "the Alabama miners must organize 100 per cent strong if they are to improve their condition" He says the negro must be brought up to the eco homie level of the white man or the white man lower his own level"
 MEET KENNAMER
 Among the first persons to be closeted with the visitors was J. R. Kennamer, president of the Alabama division of the United Mine Workers. It appears evil dent that the international officers are not inclined to the view that the Ala bama situation has been handled as well locally as it might have been.
 None of the officials would enter into details as to what might be decided In the Alabama case. The award of the governor in this strike seems to have been accepted. and the question confront ing the committee appears to revolve about the possibility of arranging some permanent schedule that will tend to build for the future They do not seem to have any definite idea in that quarter.
 Van Bittner, international representa- tive, was in touch with the committee soon afer their arrival and particlpated in the conferences that they are holding with the local officials.
 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Van Bittner, international represent ative, said last night: "The first meet ing of the visitors was in the way of organization. There were present the policy committee and other officials of the local organization. There will be another meeting this afternoon, at which the situation will be further discussed.
 No conclusions have been arrived at. So far as the present is concerned | the strike is over. That is past matter. What they are now consider | ing is the future of the organization | in this state. The organization com mittee is gathering data with view to rendering it's decision in that re- | spect.
 'l do not Know now iOnS VIII re- main, but l am in no hurry. My movements depend on the organiza- ton committees decision"
 | Numbers of merchants, farmers and 1 others residing in the vicinity of Brookwood and Searles have appealed to the Alabama company. operator Of mines in that neighborhood, to re- employ as many of the former strik- | ing miners, as they find it possible to | cro r10V TheSa cifiZens nledQe their own utmost endeavor to preserve the peace. They ask for unemployment of the men as an offset to great suffering among the miners, their wives and their children" The ap- peal is signed by a committee coa- sistng of R. IT. Montgomery. J. G. Burchfield and M. B. Cooper.