Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-24
alabama COAL
MINERS STRIKE
IS CALLED OFF
Operators and Workmen
Agree on Gov, KiIby as
Sole Arbiter-Guardsmen
Recalled From Mine Field

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Feb. "a
The Alabama coal strike ended to-
day. Concurrent with an order by
the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca, suspending the strike, Alabama
national guardsmen were Withdrawn
from the affected area by executive
order signed at 1855 D. m.
BY agreement between the coal op-
orators and the union, the entire
question of settlement has oeen
placed in the hands of Governor Kill
by. who has accepted the office OF
mediator Both sides have pleogeo
that the governors decisions and or
ders shall be final.
The pledge of the operators Is
signed by James Bonneyman, chalr-
man: G. F. Peter, Frank Nelson, Jr''
Charles F. Debardeleben, and FRANK
|G. Morris. The mine workers
pledge is executed by Van A. Bit
ner, chief representative; J. R. Ken
manner. president district 20; Will
liam Harrison, international board
member, district 20, and J. l.. Clemo,
secretary-treasurer, district, 70.
Agreement between the operators
land the union was brought through
the efforts of Victor H. Hanson,
Birmingham publisher, who acted as
representative of the people OF
Alabama.
Mr.. Hanson presented the pledges
20 Governor Kilby last night and
was in conference with him until
learly today, when announcement
was made that the. governor &C.
cepted the task imposed upon him
To Name Commission
In presenting the agreement to
Governor Kilby. Mr.. Hanson urged
the appointment of commission
to aid him in arriving at just and
proper terms of settlement, and it
was stated that such a board or
advisors will be named. Under terms
|of the agreement, the governor must
make all decisions and issue all Or
ders in the settlement, but this
'loes not preclude his calling to his
vestGation.
ng factions together Mr.. Hanson
I'D each that 1.-The public is being
owly ground to death" and that
lis appeal was made an behalf of
ave nothing to gain and all to lose
|ty continuation of his industrial
strife" He called upon strikers
nd operators to join in an agree
2ent whereby neither shall @dcri-
ice aught of dignity, honor or pres
The union officials said in their
T. greement that they ARE conceding
great DEAL" but are willing to est
heir case entirely upon the fairness
ve convinced of the merits of our
contentious" ....r... ....
The agreement signed by the op-
orators committee is brief. The
ledge is made that decision and or
;ers of the governor shall be con-
We represent" This is the first time
that the operators have agreed to-
submit their case to mediation.
History of Strike.
The coal strike was called on Sep
ember s, last. year. Various es-.
Inmates have placed the number of
men on strike at from 10000 TO
into the coal fields in October, last
year, and have been constantly on
duty since. Various disturbances
have arisen as result of the strike,
notable among which was the lynch
ing of William Baird, a miner, at
Jasper, Walker county, on January
10, Nine members of the state guard
are now under indictment charged
with the execution of the miner
Baird was the ninth man in Walker
county to meet death as a result
Of the strike war. Killings and riot
ing have occurred in other counties
After union miners were elected
from compny houses by court
decisions, tent colonies were estab-
lished for the families of striking
miners.