The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-11-18
WORKERS ARE
DENIED CONSTR
TIJTI0NAL RIGHT

Washington, D. c., Nov. II. -
Charges that the Steel Trust inspired
and is backing the industrial warfare
in West Virginia as part of it's open
shop campaign, were made by Frank
P. Walsh, counsel for the United
Mine Workers of America, and later
substantiated by Samuel Utermyer,
w. Jet Lauck, Winthrop D. Lane
and other witnesses at the hearing
in Washington, D. c., last week by
Senator Kenyon's committee on labor
and education
eve expect to prove" declared
Walsh when the hearing opened,
"that what is going on in West Vir-
ginia is part of a general conspiracy
directed by Judge Gary and the
United States Steel Corporation to
destroy the powerful labor organiza-
lions of the country, which had be-
gan to cut deeply into their profits.
We shall show that this man Lives
ly, now under Indictment for the
murder of Sid Hatfield and Ed Cham
bers, two local peace officers
friendly to the miners, was ready to
believe that anything he might do
in the service of the coal operators
association in this region where the
Steel Trust is dominant factor,
| would be condoned even if he went
| to the extreme of killing men. We
believe Judge Gary and the corpor-
alton are guilty of these murders as
though the board of directors had
met and ordered the killing"
Untermyer Blames Steel Trust
Walsh's charges later were sub
stantiated by Samuel Untermyer of
New York, multi millionaire attor-
ney and publicist, who declared "This
situation is a more manifestation of
the general attitude of the United
States Steel Corporation to the la
Dor situation. | regard the steel
corporation as the greatest enemy
to industrial peace in this country.
| If the steel trust were tomorrow to
express the West Virginia coal oper-
ators it's desire that they recognize
| the unions, the unions would be rec
| ognized." A few minutes later Mr..
| Untermyer remarked that "The steel
corporation has grown so monstrous
| that it is stronger and bigger than
the law"
| Untermyer proved the steel cor
poration has huge holdings in West
Virginia and that indirectly but eff
fectively it controls the policies of
| the Norfolk and West Virginia rail
way, the Pocahontas Coal d Coke
company, and other concerns active
in various parts of the disturbed
| area.
| Testimony that the steel corpora
ton was responsible for the labor
| batting policies of the West Vir-
| ginia operators was given fresh sub
sanitation, when, after the hear
ing had been in session for three
DAYS, their spokesman flatly re-
iected offers of mediation by the
United Mine Workers.
Operators Reject Mediation
| Frank P Walsh had just deplored
the i'll feeling in West Virginia and
requested Senator Kenyon's commit
tee to use its mediatory offices to
effect a settlement along the lines
suggested by Philip Murray. vice
president of the United Mine Work
ers. Murray proposed that Chief
| Justice Taft of the supreme court
appoint an impartial administrator to
enforce industrial peace in West Vir-
ginia under terms of an agreement
drawn up by Senator Kenyon's COM
mittee.
1--WE will not have anything what
ever to do with the United Mine
Workers of America" z. I. Vinson,
their attorney replied. Il see no
reason why we should recognize their
union and under no circumstances
| will we do so, either through this
| honorable committee, through the
President of the United States, or
any other tribunal"
The agreement proposed by Muir
ray was based on the following fun
| damentals:
/. Guarantee of freedom of
speech, freedom of assembly and
| freedom of movement.
The right of all workers to or
ganize and bargain collectively
| through representatives of their own
choosing.
1 8. Protection of mine workers
| against discrimination because of
membership in the United Mine
Workers of America or other labor
| organizations
/ d. Protection of unorganized
against intimidation or coercion by
members of the United Mnie Work
ers of America or any other labor
organization.
S. Assurance that democratic in
stitutions will not be subordinated
to industrial control by the practice
of the operators in controlling dep
uty sheriffs, or by employing private
) guards instead of using the services