The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-17

\ l tration can cause the strike to come | to close within. 24 hours" This is MT. Bittners first statement since Governor Kilby's appeal to the {, people of Alabama, and in this signed statement he outlines several plans, part of which are for the church to l take hand in the arbitration. MT. Bittners signed statement is as follows:
 VAN BITTNER'S STATEMENT The most extraordinary appeal made | by Governor Kilby to the public to force settlement of the strike has brought many letters. resolutions and statements to the attention of the people which in the main are nothing more than partisan ideas | of the personalities of either the miners leaders or those leading the strike for | the operators In fact, the only thing that seems to have been accomplished is the widening of the breach rather than creating sentiment for the settlement of | the strike. Attacks made upon individ-
 uals will settle nothing. It has been well said. that nothing is settled perma-
 nently until it is settled right The great principles involved in the l strike of the coal miners cannot be ob-
 scured in a maze of personalities. Human
 beings are so frail when compared with
 these great fundamentals that have been given such a natural place in the laws ! of God.
 i The fundamental principle for which
 the miners are contending is simply this: We shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through our chosen
 Representatives.
 There can be but one answer of those who are opposing this fundamental prn- l ciple It is: The miners shall not have | the right to organize and deal through representatives of their own choosing. "It isn't question of whether Van A. l Bittner thinks the miners have rignt to enjoy this fundamental principle or l whether Charles DeBardeleben thinks the
 miners shall not have the right to enjoy this fundamental principle. The question 1 is: Have the coal miners of Alabama thIs right and how must the question be de- 1 termined? To call off the strike won't
 settle the question. It would only be
 with you again in the very near future. | Let us as Americans reason this prop ositon out in a sound. sensible, logical way Certainly the strike can be settled l if all of us are honest in wanting set | clement.
 WANT SETTLEMENT 1 "The miners want settlement of the strike: the operators want. a settlement of the strike and the public wants set
 tlement of the strike. As Americans, as citizens and as business men, we all
  Are the Alabama miners asking for , something that is new to our Christian- 1 ity, our government or the coal mining | industry?
 "Every Christian church in America says the miners have right to organize 1 and bargain collectively through tneir chosen representatives,.
 nPresident Wilson, proclaiming the at titude of the government of the United States. says. The right of workers 10 1 organize in trade unions and bargain coi- llectively through chosen representatives,, 1 is recognized and affirmed. This right shall not be denfed. abridged or inter l fered with by the employers ..The coal operators Of every stare III | the country, with the exception of Ala l bama and a few spots in West Virginia f say the miners have the right to organ iize and bargain collectively through tneir chosen representatives,. Coal operators employing s5 per cent of all the miners l in the United States recognize this run damental right of the miners. "Therefore we are forced to conciude jt that the principle for which the miners are contending is in accordance with the esta ablished principals of Christianity, government and the wel1-ordered process of the coal mining industry
 OFFER METHODS "That settlement of the strike might be reached, we are offering the follow ing methods to the people of Alabama: "1. The governor of Alabama, or if he does not care to do so. then the Presi- dent of the United States, demand that the miners and operators meet in con ference and settle the strike "The first proposition Is the sensible man to man way of doing business. When men get together and look each other squarely in the eye and honestly attempt to settle their differences, there can be no failure.
 which might be practical. The chief jus tice of the supreme court of Alabama may be agreed upon by the operators 70 act as the umpire of an arbitration board that might be agreed upon. The Presi- dcnt of the United States might appoint a commission to settle the strike. The labor council of the Methodist, the Sap tist. the Presbyterian, the Episcopal, the Roman Catholic church or the Federatee Churches of Christ might be means or securing an arbitration commission some of your honorable county Judges might be agreed upon to act as the umpire or an arbitration board that would settle the strike.
 .sThere are many ways to settle the strike. The party to the confroversy that would refuse to accept any metnou |of settlement of the strike would most certainly be held responsible by the pup lie for prolonging the strike.
 "If either one of the above propositions Iis accepted by the operators, the strike can be settled in 24 hours.
 .Iet US lay aside personalities, preJu- dice and partisanship and get together and settle the strike on a basis that IS fair to the miner the operators and the public Respectfully submitted