The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-30
Official Grave On logan
u S. TROOPS MA Y BE ORDERED TO STA IL
HEAD OF MINGO OPERATORS REPLIES TO
LEWIS; CHARGES ACTS OF TREASON BY
MARCHERS; DETECTIVES NOT EMPLOYED

Williamson. W. Va, Aug. 2o-.Assert-
ing members OF the armed band which
attempted TO invade Mingo county.
through Logan county. had subjected
themselves 10 the charge OF treason
against the state OF Nest Virginia,
Harry Olmstead. chairman Of tho labor
committee Of tho Coal Operators asso-
citation IN tho Williamson held. today
tciegraphed President Harding r. denial
OF charges made by John l.. Lewis.
PRESIDENT OF the United Mine Workers,
In asking federal authorities TO aid In
tho Organization OF a committee to arbi-
trnte the alleged labor controversies IN
tho coal fields OF the state.
The telegram follows:
Tn considering tho appeal made to
you BY Mr.. John l.. Lewis. president OF
the United Alne Workers OF America.
az reported in tho newspapers Saturday
morning last. We deem II proper that
you should DO so with the advice that
the Opera tors association of William
ron Field has steadily and uncompro-
misingly refused 10 deal or C0n:"r with
that organization. and must continue 10
abstain from doing so.
We must content ourselves In this
brief communication with the statement
that there Is no sort OF controversy be-
tween tho members OF this association
ard their employees. There happens
not 20 he a single employee Of any mem
Der Of this association whom Mr.. Lewis
represents or for whom he Is entitled
TO speak.
Every mino within this coal feld Is
fully manned ant IS amply prepared 10
produce peak tonnage, should business
require. and were orders forthcoming
The production records for May and
juno last passed. were record breakers
In this neId. Tho workmen IN this 1e ID
are. IN ratio OF nine 10 one. at the least
mon who. whether from desire or In
ttmidR,lon or force, became members Of
tho United Mine Workers organization,
at the outset Of the strike. but later re-
pud,ated their union pledges 10 reclaim
thair Jobs. Approximately nVo thousand
Of them, which number practically In
cluded every workman in the fleld. sign
Cd petitions during Juno last. praying
tho senate committee on education and
labor. which committee was charged by
a senate resolution with an invcstiSa-
ton Of our labor conditions 70 make no
finding which would commit this field to
the domination Of tho United Mine
Workers OF America A copy Of tho
preamble OF this petition IS ~ mail for
YOU for your inspection and considera.
ton.
During the past sixteen -.onths the
nam" Of Mingo has become a household
word throughout the United States. The
entire country has been looking on. On
Interested spectator. while hingo cHrn-
T. operators have blocked the game or
the conS2!raturs whose aim II was 20
control and submrrBe coal production In
West Virginia. To tho coal operators
belonging to this association and their
loyal employees II due tho credit for
saving the industry In this state the
people OF the United States from being
frozen into submission to the demands
OF the United M!ne Workers. and the
governmcn, from, being subjected 10 the
conditions through which Great Britain
has tuat passed.
The operators Of this neld do not
smrloy private d4'ectivee 20 guard their
property. Il Is trUc. however. that the
baldwin -Felts Agency has hecn used In
this field recently. but only FOR the rur-
nose ~ securing advanC" Information
with respect 10 intended shoot!ngs,
dvnam!tlugs. arson. etc and this ser
vice has hern discontinued.
The charge that these men are Of thc
lowest type and character IL not true.
Many Of these men havs been employed
by tho uHit"d States government
through the RaIdwln-Fc!;s Agency.
'"we do not doubt thst you are ad-
,lred or tho recon. events within this
state. wherein N" ofnrials and m"mhers
OF the United Nine Workers Of America
contrivsd and executed Hr open. armc"
lnsurrection against he officers m! the