Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-01
EJECT ARMED
GUARD OR NO
PEACE LEWIS
Operators Attitude Is
Blamed for I'm
rest.
SAYS us ATFAULT
Expresses Marvel at
Mine Workers.
Patience.
SAYS u. S. ATFAULT

HAMMOND, Ind, Sept. An ap-
peal to President Harding to drlvs
the BaIdwln-FeIts detectives cut of
West Virginia was made here today
by the Indiana State Federation Of
Labor at it's annual convention. The
federation completely upheld the
fighting miners of West Virginia.
The appeal to President Harding
said:
"When the United States troops
go into West Virginia, drive the
RaIdwin-FeIts detectives out"
John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers of America, in
a statement given out today relative
to the mine war in West Virginia,
declared that until the private de-
tectives are withdrawn from Logan,
Mingo, Mcdowell and Mercer Coun-
ties the dove of peace will never
make permanent abode in this
stricken territory
The noted miner chief made no refer
ence to the declaration of E. E. Morgan,
Governor of West Virginia, yesterday
that he had acted "hypocritical' in his
offer to help placate the aroused work
men, but confined his statement to what
he believes is the underlying cause Of
the labor unrest In that State After
reciting how the grievances of the miners
had been taken to Washington without
avail, Mr. Lewis said:
Under these circumstance can one
marvel that patience has ceased to be a
virtue and that the mine workers are
venting their pent up indignation and
resentment by assembling in force to
protest these outrages."
LEWIS STATEMENT
ON SITUATION.
The statement in full is as follows:
In West Virginia, from the line OF
the kanawha River northward, some 55,-
600 miners are employed, working under
joint agreements between the coal oper-
ators and the United Mine Workers of
America. In this section peace and har-
mony prevail between employers and em-
ployes with precisely the same relation
ship as exists between the mine oper-
ators of Ohio, Indiana or Illinois. and
their employees who are members of the
United Mine Workers of America in those
States
In all of this great area the Baldwin,
Felts mine guard or professional gun
man is unknown; no disorders occur and
community life in the mining camps is
peaceful. Contrast this condition with
the situation existing in the unorganized
territory south and east Of the Kanawha
River in the counties Of Logan, Mingo,
ATaIln oil Al,I.
some 10000 miners are employed, who
dare not become members of the United
Mine Workers of America for fear of in
stant discharge by the operators. They
live IN unincorporated mining camps
where their domiciles and the land upon
which they are located are owned solely
by the coal companies.
In most instances there are no public
roads leading to these communities and
ingress and egress are over land held by
the coal corporations.
EMPLOY GUARDS
TO SUBJECT MINERS.
"To police this territory and prevent
the miners from joining the union and to
hold them in complete subjection, the
coal operators maintain what is prac-
tically a standing army of mine guards.
These guards are furnished under con-
tract by a detective agency.
This corporation does an Interstate
business, charging the coal operators so
much per day for each gunman furnished
them and receiving a stipulated profit for
each one over and above the expenses
Of his maintenance.
These guards are recruited from all
classes and are equipped with rifles, re-
volvers or automatic pistols. These pro-
fessional gunner, directed by the agency,
have, during their years of employment.
inflicted an almost countless number OF
physical assaults and outrages upon in
dividual mine workers. The men em-
plOyed in the mines of these four eoun-
ties are almost 100 per cent American
They are of a race of mountaineers who
have peopled this section since the days
OF the first settlement of the country and
deep in their hearts is the Unborn love
of liberty. Their spirits rebel against
the unwarranted restrictions upon their
liberty and the indignities which are
Continued on Page EIeven.)