The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-04
From the Anniston Sta

From the Anniston Star.
 S7 WAVING failed to win victory for II1I the striking aniners of the Bir- sS S mingham district, and being poor loser, Van A. Bittner chief repre- sentative in Alabama of the United Mine Workers of America. is. according to well authenticated reports attempting to arouse the union miners in the Bir- mingham district to acts of violence.
 Pretending to accept the decision of Governor Kilby in the mine strike con- troversy, and after giving his pledge that the striking miners would abide by that decision. Van Bittner, in a Speech delivered by him at Blocton, is reported to have given expression to inflamma- tory utterances that are calculated to create a new reign of, terror in district that already is at high tension because just such men as Van. A. Bittner have been pouring poisoned advice into the ears of the miners.
 A report of Bittner's Blocton speech in Thursdays Birmingham Age-Herald quoted him as saying:
 "Alabamas little two-by-four gover- strike. Walter Moore, Charley DeBar- deleben, Frank Nelson, Ben Roden and other coal operators wrote that decision. They told the governor to sign it or they would expose him, and the poor weakling signed it."
 With this preface Bittner told the crowd that the men Iho had been on a strike would deserve no sympathy if they sat idly by and let the scabs' hold their jobs. If there are any 'scabs' left in Blocton in 10 days you men ought to be chased out of the state These scabs' have no right to your jobs. The trouble is that it has been too healthy in Blocton for 'scabs, " the miners were told.
 In other words. Van Bittner, the poor loser, would have the Blocton miners, who lave not been taken back in the mines, inaugurate reign of terror, make a war on the menswho are at work and get them out of the way. Implied in his advice .is violenee-the violence of attacking the working miners and of making way with them, by fair means or foul
 But Van Bittner goes further. He tells the Blocton miners that Steiner has gone, the soldiers have gone--all except the 10 who are in jail-connie Austin has gone, but the United Mine Workers of America are still here, and you can rest assured that the mine workers will be here long after Walter Moore, Charley DeBardeleben, Governor Kilby and Charley Oakley are in hell.'
 "I haven't said, Drive out the 'scabs,'" Bittner is quoted as saying. Look what Christ did to the money lenders He found in the temple. He threw them out Then he declares tragically: T would die before would let them starve me and my family
 Bittner's Blocton speech and his ac- tions since the settlement of the mine strike has demonstrated that he is not safe man to have in community. If there is not state law against melt ing mon to violence, then the legislature in the next extra session should provide one, for such speeches as that of the United Mine Workers representative are dangerous to the peace of the state. | Governor Kilby acted disinterestedly in the mine strike settlement. He was guided in his actions by the report made to him by capable investigators who had gone thoroughly into the situation. lie deliberated carefully before taking final action and he sought throughout to be as fair to the men who were on strike as to the mine owners and operators.