The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-31
Van Bittner Urges Union Miners To Use WhateUer Means They May Choose to DisLodge Men Al Work
DerideS Governor in InfIam- matory Speech at Blocton YeSterday-SayS 0rganiza-
 ton Bars Alabama Workers If They Can't Win in a Year.
Fly LEON C. BRADLEY

r| SA@C-N - 1lAAOLEE
 "Alabamas little two-by-four gov ernor did not write the decision in the coal strike. Walter Moore, Charley DeBardeleben, Frank Nelson, Ben Roden and the other coal operators wrote that decision. They told the governor to sign it or they would ex- pose him, and the poor weakling signed it."
 Ihis was the statement of Van Ri,t her, chief representative of the Irnifa1 Mine Workers of America. at a meetin, of miners and their families at smith Hhl, Blocton, yesterday afternoon. The meeting was largely attended and mucn 1nthusasm was shown It was declared that practically all the men who had been on strike were there, together with their wives, children and other rel atives. The proportion of white people and negroes was about even
 NO SYMPATHY
 Bittner aroused the enthusiasm of his hearers with what might be termed :, fighting speech. He declared that the men who had been on a strike deserved 10 sympathy if they sat idly by and let the "scabs' hold their jobs The speak CT urged the men who had been on d strike 10 get their jobs back without de- .ay. and to use methods which would re suit in the departure of the men who were at work
 The governor, the operators, Connie Austin, the soldiers and others who had opposed any of the activities of the men while on a strike were scored by Van littner who declares that the United Mine Workers were just now getting ready to start the strike. 'The real strike at Blocton will not begin until liter this meeting is over, he declare L
 steiner has gone, the soldiers have ,one-all except the 10 who are in jail-- Connie Austin has gone. but the United 1ine Workers of America are still here '' aid Bittner, and you can rest assured hat the mine workers will be here long lfter Walter Moore, Charley DeBardele- en- Governor Kilby and Charley Oakle.. re in he'll
 RATION SUPPLIES
 In discussing the refusal of the union supply rations after April to the antilles of men who had been on a itrike Van Bittner declared that this ac- Ion was taken to force the. men to fight. 1t was not done because the union did ot have plenty of money" he said. Something had to be done to make you fight. You all know that if you have Tothing to eat that the governor and he coal operators are responsible. If here are any "scabs' left in Blocton in il days, you men ought to be chased out )f the state. Those "scabs have no 'ight to your jobs. The trouble is that { has been too healthy in Blocton foc 'scabs,''
 The speaker asked what would be done rattlesnake erawled intostheir midst. Shoot him called out one of the au- Hence. The trouble with you men is lat you have no fighting spirit" said The speaker.
 "G haven't said drive out the 'scabs '' continued Van Bittner. Look what 4hrist did to the money lenders he founl in the temple. He threw them out. We can carry out Chrst's laws. It is as safe to follow Christ as it is to follow General Steiner and Governor Kilby. Be practical Christians. follow Christs methods and you will get your jobs back. It is your God-given right to do this.
 'I would die before I would let then starve me and my family. Other red blooded men feel the same way about this. tIOQ DlJN the WCilldl WiiO lleio e husband who sits down quietly and lets them starve him and his family God pity the children of such father. We want men of the type who will say I am going to get my job back some how or other
 SPENT MILLIONS
 Van Bittner declared that during the strike the United Mine Workers had snent g. .250Oo) for food alone, sl76.oco for s.oes and clothing. S200,000 for tents and lumber. over S400G00 for lawsuits and legal assistance. and in addition had paid s;octor bills hospital bills and even fun eral expenses where necessary. This to- fal expenditure of more than $3.W9OO0 had come from miners and the,r families Tn other states, many of whom had had to sacrifice to pay the money He declared that the strikers in Alaba,na lived better than the workers in some other fields during the winter, due to the lack oi reyular work" You men have lived bes- ter during the strike than ever before. he said. Your wives tell me you have brought home more food than they ever saw before The average miner on a strike has ganed IS pounds in weight. But this picnic of the last six months $ over now. The real strike goes into eff feet after today
 .erbe operators talked about driving vour organizers out of Alabama said Van Bittner If those cut-throat op- orators had tried to drive us out, some of them would not have lived to read about it in the papers" he stated amid cheers. We are here to stay as long as you want us.'
 Credit for the advance in wages and the shorter hours received by tic miners during the war was claimed for the United Mine Workers of America
 
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