The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
Eugene Brown Says Time Has Come to Fix Responsibility
 For Conditions in District
(Continued from Page Ffve)


 whom have come from the small villages
 and farms of the state. Up to now,
 negro miners have not taken kindly to union methods and union domination; up l to now they have resisted the blandish- nents threats and ntimidations of union agents and agitators They have been highly paid, fairly treated and on the whole have been satisfied and pros- porous.
 "It is known, however, that for long
 lime this powerful union hoped to fasten it's control over the coal fields o< Ala bana- and that it's emissaries have been
 socretly and constantly working to this z In local unions and their presence ana ! equal participation in general and off
 eial meetings were promptly conceded
 "F1attered by undue consideration and authority. start towards unonism was made and spirit of dstrust and unrest
 among them gradually and inevitably followed. The one and only aim of the United Mine Workers, the recognition of their union by the coal operators of this
 district, was carefully and expertly
 camouflaged by multitude of mislead- ing and false statements and charges. N HOW STRIKE BEGAN Sporadic strikes at different camps began in April, and in September, just as winter was approaching. and the need for a larger coal production was im- perative, a general strike was called with the openly declared purpose of closing Iievery coal mine in the state, regardless of the suffering, not unmixed with death, lHwhich this action must necessarily en- tail.
 st Through excitement, threats and in- Intimidation, thousands of miners anxious to work. not in sympathy with union ism satisfied and happy in their work and homes, were frightened into likeness and the production of coal was seriously lcurtailed. is.s.s., '. ~ Soon new chapter in the story be- gan. Emboldened by a seeming success the operators and numbers of their loyal employees were strangely overlooked. s'wanton destruction of non-union work
 mems homes and the ambushed murder s!of young Adler. together with an off, Scer of the law and others, followed in fquck succession.
 Local county and city officials seemed siunable or unwilling to cope with the
 situation and . reign of lawlessness and disorder was seemingly fast approaching. Then our governor acted, and but
 for his promptness, wisdom and cour- age, other widowed. childless and home less mothers would, perhaps today be 'iplanting flowers on the graves of their dead.
 ;I The troops of the Alabama national guard under the command of fear
 less and able leader, took charge of the tstrike zone and orders were issued that their sole mission was to preserve law atect every man in his right to work as The willed.
 Public meetings and picketing on the part of the union were by authority of the state law prohibited. and notwith-
 standing misrepresentation. villification and abuse, privately and publicly ex- pressed by union leaders and their legal advisers, these orders have been strictly and firmly enforced.
 MINERS TAKE UP TASKS z Assured of protection, those who were Idle through threats and fear, again took up their tasks and conditions rap idly improved Production increased and sa threatened coal famine with it's dis Astrous and unavoidable results in dis ease and death was averted. More mon have applied for work than can be used md more coal is being mined than can be sold.
 z 'rhe strike. as strike, in so far as available men and production of coal is lconcerned. has ceased to exist and yet Ehs last chapter in the story is still to lbe written.
 Tn December. when it was generally ,known that the presence of the military, hcting under the orders of General 'Stsiner. had effectively prevented a. gen. leral closing down of mine operations by giying protection to life and property, the first and highest duty of any gov- ernment. general meeting of all the local unions was called and behind cloeed decrs resolution was adopted author 1xing In plain defiance of state law Dicketing of every mine operation and prders were given that every effort 1 khould>be used to prevent non-union min itrB from working. f Following this resolution and instruc- tions picketing began and it was the Aanifest duty of the military and all of- | 4lcerB of the law to immediately and ef- l &ectually prevent it. for when the laws i of this state are with inpunity openly | 'defied by any man or Organization. then }t ceases to be a fit habitation for decent pr honest people. A young soldier In the discharge of 1te eworn duty. was forced to tAke ths
 e ef picket,ng miner While his