The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-15

ness men of Birmingham yes
terday joined in signed state
ment demanding that union
mine officials, "having lost the
strike, shall concede it as lost
and declare the strike ended"
The statement indorses the action
OF Governor Kilby in sending state
troops and asks that they BE retained
in the field until the governor is as
sured that our laws will be respected
and maintained"
The statement followed by the list
of signers is as follows:
The governor of the state has given
to the public, through the press, a
| statement which clearly, fairly and ac-
curateiy sets forth the strike situa-
ton in the coal mining district In
this statement he informs us that ne
has recently been engaged in an effort
to bring about a settlement of diff
/ ferences but without result, and that in
his opinion further efforts on his part
would be utterly useless. He tells US
4 eAiot tASf otiihS. dS d SlTlhtt Is pIdC-
tically at an end. and that the opera
! tors have more men than they can
use and that more coal is being
mined than. can be sold. Notwithstand-
| ing these facts, the preservation of
| law and order and the proper pro-
lection of life and property demand
| the constant presence of the Alabama
national guard, entailing on it's mem
| bers and on their families untold per-
tS0na1 hardShin~ nj ~
| the taxpayers Of the state a monthly
expenditure of 100000 He suggests
only two possible means of settlement,
and these suggestions and his conclu-
sions, in his own language. follow
There is no serious difference be-
tween the operators and their former
employees. The only difference of con-
sequence between the operators and
the striking miners, and the real cause
OF the strike, is the simple question of
| recognition by the operators of the
union known as the United Mine
Workers of America. That was the
finding of the state coal commission,
which investigated the matter last fall.
ONLY TWO REMEDIES
| ~ can see only two immediate
remedies for the existing situation:
! Il Recognition, direct or indirect,
of the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
l N~A W tHC SOal OPcIatDJSs DlIeCI rec
1 ognition means the making of con-
tracts by and between the operators
and officers of the United Mine Work.
ers of American to control the condi-
tions of mine labor. Indirect recog-
milton would be the making of con-
tracts between the operators and the
workmen in their mines which would
be accepted by the United Mine Work
ers of America as satisfactory to the
organization.
80. Publication of statement by
the Alabama labor leaders and their
| well known attorneys to the effect
that they will no longer counsel the
violation OF the laws of Alabama
through picketing and otherwise, and
that all the workmen should be al,
lowed to pursue their vocation without
intimidation or molestation, followed
by the immediate withdrawal from
Alabama Of the leaders of the United
Mine Workers of America and other
labor agitators from other states
Such action on the part of the labor
leaders and their lawyers would end
the unhappy situation without an Of
fetal declaration from the United MiIe
WORKERS of America and permit the
4 Withdrawal of the soldiers and their
return to their distressed and anxious
families, many of whom are in sore
need Of the services of their boys IN
fortunately, there is no law on our
statute books to enforce the adoption
4 Of either plan. The only force that
can be used is the force of public
opinion, publicly and plainly. but law
fully expressed.
The question for the people Of Ala
bama to consider lis as to how Ions
| they will permit the existence of this
iintolerable situation which is costing
the taxpayers of Alabama 100000 pei
month. Public opinion can answu the
| question. Neither party to the con-
ttroversy can stand against it, / hope
the people will speak in plain, posi-
tive and unmistakable terms
STRIKE AGAINST STATE
$50 long as this strike was a con-
troversy between the union miners and
their former employees. we, a group o.
citizens in no way associated with tn,
business of mining coal, felt that il
was not our part to speak. But this
lcontroversy which began as q test oil
lstrength between the union miners and
the companies has now reached a poin,
where 1t Is test OF strength be-
tween the United Mine Workers Of
IAmerica and the state of Alabama We
recognize the miners right to work OF
rot to work but we 40 not conced,
the unions right to strike against the
state.
1t is q simple fact that the strike a:
such has failed. The coal operators
threatened at first with the cessation
Of work at their mines have avoided
that danger, and every mine in the
state has its full complement of mer
1t work at wages which are sAtisfac.
tory to all concerned and under con.
\ ditions which would be satisfactory II
only the threat Of the strikers could
be removed. The mine routine goes
on ~ before the strike was called
Il the output Of the coal is greater
than the demand and idle men arc
clamoring for employment
But having lost the coal strike
the United Mine Workers of Americs
lyet maintain their men banded to.
Igether in organizations now becoming
4 desperate from continued unemploy.
ment and ready for. any violence thu
moment the vigilance OF the STATE
troops is relaxed. What Is II cost
ing the union to maintain these strik
ers in armed readiness we do mo-
know, but it is costing the people Of
the state Of Alabama 100000 pei
month to keep the troops in the nell
for the preservation OF order In i
strike which was lost long ago. The
form Of strike Is being maintained ii
the hope that the treasury OF the state
kAhall become exhausted, and that from
sheer inability to pay them the gov
Iernor will withdraw the troops ant
Ileave the way open for organized vic.
lance against those men and mine own,
lers who have mined the coal ON which
We have depended for our health and
1t Ii the avowed intention on the par
Of the leaders to see whether this
purse Of the state OF Alabama Is 81
deep as that Of the United Mine Work.