The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-11-05
"ApkEs NOUS LIE DELUaE!'

Ak kxl0 N0OS LIZ DAl0O00.
The most dastardly blow ever struck
at union labor from a federal court and
4 most dangerous stab at human libeF-
ty, was dealt Monday by Judge A. 3.
Anderson of Indianapolis, when he is
sued restraining order against the
United Mine Workers preventing them
from organizing in West Virginia and
compelling the operators in other states
10 break their contract with the union
by enjoining them from withholding
union dues from the wages of miners.
The court has clearly lent itself to
the program Of the anti-union combin-
alton of employers and big business
He has taken the shallow ground that
the operators in other states and the
Miners union were in conspiracy to
stifle competition and restrain trade.
He has outlawed by an autocratic de-
cree 4 perfectly lawful contract be-
tween employers and employees, con
tract approved by the United States
government,f and he has abrogated by
judicial ukdse the right Of the work
ers to organize.
Here is the situation: The operators
in several states and the United Mine
Workers have for many years past set
2,f$ara~ooa IN fnrnnona
agree{l to wage scales, hours Of employ
nient and working conditions. The
tendency all along has been toward i'm
proven,ent of the conditions Of the
workers, and when the. miners have
sought more they were met with the re-
ply that the operators could not afford
to do better 50 long as their mines were
in competition with the cheap labor
mines Ut West Virginia. It therefore
became necessary for the United Mine
Workers, as 4 matter of self-preserva.
ton, to organize the miners Of West
Virginia and to assist them to raise
their status, if the miners Of the other
states were to continue in their up
ward and onward movement, or even
to hold that which they now enjoy.
The West Virginia mine workers have
wanted to organize. They have well
coined union organizers. They have
joined the union in large numbers, only
to BE discharged from their employ.
ment when the fact became known to
their employers. The whole power and
authority of the state government in
thst pocket Of the coal barons, even
that Of the courts, were used to pre-
Won't lawful meetings of the miners. Au
army Of private police has been utilized
to break up meetings, to harass the
workers at their homes and elsewhere,
to arrest them on framed-up charges
and to hold them in Jail for indefinite
periods Of time. They have murdered
hundreds Of union men and still the
coal barons have not subdued the min.
ers or crushed their spirit. !
The situation became 50 rotten in Of
flcial West Virginia that the United
States senate found it necessary to ex-
anime into conditions there. A com
1nittee is now making an investigation.
The evidence against the mine owners
is overwhelming. They haven't leg
to stand on. They are now only SPAR.
ing for time, and with the union organ,
izers temporarily handcuffed, by Judge
Anderson 3. amazing order, they expect
to win back the position they lost
through the criminal methods of thei,
private police and hired gunner.
Only last week Phillip Murray, vice
president of the United Mine Workers
extended tho olive branch to the West
Virginia operators. He asked no con.
eessions from them as employers, bu!
merely insisted upon respect as Ameri.
can citizens for the ordinary guarantees
Of freedom; the right Of the miners to
organize, to bargain collectively, 70,
protection against discrimination be-
cause Of their membership in the union
the protection Of the unorganizcl
against eoereion or discrimination b.
union mon and organizers, tho assur
anee that political institutions will no,
be subordinated to industrial contro
through private police exercising thu
authority Of public officials, and thu
assurance that those miners who have
been Disseminated against because o.
their membership in tho union will b
restored to their former positions 0,
ones equally as good.
The coal barons promptly and indig
Aantly rejected MI. Murray'e generou.
offer. ''There can be no mine work
ers' unions in West Virginia. they
sid, and they forthwith rushed t
Judge Anderson = court for the iniunc
ton that lie issued Monday. And to
further embarlass tho United Mine
Workers in their work, not only in Yves,
Virginia, but elsewhere, the operator,