The labor world., 1921-09-10
Information Lacking.

q under the rule of the mining inter-
ent must destroy the rule of gunner
Information Lacking.
with the situation in West Virginia
at most critical juncture it is almost
beyond belief that there has not been
placed before the public complete and
accurate information regarding the
events leading up to the position taken
by the President of the United States"
says Mr.. Gompers in his statement,
and he continues:
There are certain basic facts which
must be considered before there can
be fair and proper judgment Of the
West Virginia situation. These facts
have not been presented adequately
and in most cases not at all.
''The public press has been negli-
gent and the federal government has
been equally so in not presenting to
the people the full underlying truth.
Prejudice Miners Case.
''The great mass of news relating to
West Virginia conveys the impression
that laWless bands of miners are row.
ing the state without reason except an
unjustified bitterness against the mine
O"AcAS OueuuCdIeu 1HOuntdlneeTS,
they are called.
There are four basis facts which are
consistently ignored and which it is
the duty of government and press to
present. These are:
1.-The mines of West Virginia
constitute the last refuge of autocracy
in the mining industry. In these
mines an unrestrained, unlimited
greed dominates absolutely. Absen-
tee owners hold immense tracts of
rich mining land, demanding only
dividends.
Private Army of Killers.
"2-1he appetite of this private
greed is upheld by a private army Of
killers the like of which no longer ex-
lists in any other state. This private
army is paid by the mine owners and
naturally seeks to justify its presence
by making "business'' for itself in the
form of trouble. The Baldwin, -Felts
detective agency recruits this army,
but the mine owners pay the bill.
Deputy sheriffs, paid by mine owners,
form another wing of the private
army, equally dangerous.
A Direct Protest.
protest against the action of the mine
owners Of West Virginia in refusing
to abide by the award Of the United
States coal commission. If the United
States government at this time de-
fends the mine owners and does not
destroy the private armies of the mine
owners the government is in the po-
sltlon OF sustaining a defiance of an
order issued by its own authority.
"4-The state government Of West
Virginia has broken down, not be-
cause the miners have protested
against lawlessness, but because it has
failed to stop the mine owners from
enforcing law as a private business at
the hands of privately paid and pri-
vately directed gunner.
All Are Ignored.
These four paramount truths have
been almost totally ignored To neg
lect to present these facts is, in my
opinion, a breach of d public trust
upon which the integrity of the whole
newspaper world must rest it's claim to
confidence and belief.
'These paramount truths have been
found to exist by representatives Of
the United States government. The
government itself, through the United
States senate, established these
truths. It found them after long and
palnstaking inquiry. They are indis.
putable. They are as they have been.
"The Federal Bituminous Commits
sion rendered it's report on March 10,
1920. It carried with it an award Of
"a cents fiat on pick and machine
mining to the bituminous miners or
the United States. The coal operators
of Mingo county, West Virginia, re-
fused to apply the award, and instead
they arbitrarily applied five, ten and
fifteen cents on each mine car rate,
out that field.
'The capacity of these mine cars
varies from two to five tons, and the
highest rate paid per car was $1.40.
This price for five tons Of coal repre-
sented and included all dead work and
tonnage rates.
Owners ignored Award.
"When the award was granted the
bituminous miners by the commission,
the miners of Mingo county sent COM
mitteemen to the operators and re-
quested that the award be granted in
full, and the companies refused it.
The miners contended that the award
was granted. them by their govern
ment and they were going to insist on
it. Every plea to the operators was
met with refusal, and finally the min
ers Of Sprigg, Stone Mountain and Red
Jacket went on strike, called meetings
and sent committee to Charleston
to interview the Officials Of District
II, U. NV. of A.. -.. -e2sz...
'They We're told plainly by the Min
ers Union that the union would not
organize them while they were on
strike, to return to work, put all the
mines in operation. and then if they
desired to become members of the
union, they would be given the oppor-
tunity. s 81 3 .sS5F.ss2
Many Joined Union.
These instructions were Carried
out. Again the commit tees were rs-s.s
ntinued On pege two.l