The labor world., 1922-07-15
Accepted as Gospel Truth.

the Congressional Record the most
lurid newspaper accounts Of the en-
tire affair. He was prepared to ac-
cept as gospel truth every word
concerning atrocities" sent out by
the Associated Press and other news
agencies. He assured the senate that
the authorities of Illinois were mere
puppets in the hands of labor and
that no attempt would be made to
punish the guilty. Senator Borah Of
Idaho, chairman Of the committee
on education and labor, interrupted
Myers to say: III.
Il do not disagree, with the sena-
tor at all in his assertion <that men
should be protected and should be
guarded in their rights. If those men
went there to work they ought to
have been protected, and even if they
went there at the suggestion Of de-
tectives as strikebreakers they should
have been protected against unlaw-
full assaults. f.
Curing Evil to Prevent Crime.
"But the men who brought them
in there-the -perators-must have
known from experiences of the past
that that such affairs as happened
at this place. quite lgree that men
have right to work and are en-
titled to the protection Of the law,
but am also a believer in the prop
osition that these conditions can only
be avoided by curing the evils which
bring on such awful crimes" c.%.
This did not stopsMyers, who for
years has indulged in periodical tir-
ades against labor. r.
In the house Congressman Gnody-
koontz Of West Virginia, spokes-
man for the West Virginia coal op-
orators. started the discussion by as
serting that 40 "unarmed, defense-
less men" had been "murdered,' and
that there were mo pal!iating facts,
no. mitigating circumstances
III the congressman had taken the
lstrouble to read the morning parer
he would have found that the death
| list totaled 81 instead Of 40. and that
two of the dead were union miners
who had been murdered before any
of the non-unionists were injured.
Congressman Denison Of Illinois
who represents the district in which
Herrin is located. reriiel to Goody-
koontz. T..
Evidence of Unbiased Witness
Denison is an ult-a-conserval:ve
Republican. Much of his law prac-
tice, it is said, has been for coal
companies. During the six or eight
years he has been in congress he has
voted almost uniformly with Big
Business. Therefore, in discussing
the situation in Williamson county
he can scarcely. be accused o. being
prejudiced in favor of organized la
Dor. e: $.
II think it is a mistake" said
Denison, ''for men to try to discuss
q subject, especially in a placealike
this about which they know very
little. "
"I venture to say that not one
half of what has been reported in
the press in respect to that unfortu-
nate situation in Illinois Is the truth.
know that a. great deal Of it IS
absolutely, unrelia BILE, and this is es-
pecially true OF those horrifying and
1 repulsive details to which the gen.
tleman from West Virginia, Mf
Goodykoontz, has just made refer
ence. 80
II am a little surprised that the
gentleman from West Virginia would
dignity these. stories by putting them
in the Congressional Record and rs.
peating them to the members OF the
house without first verifying their
accuracy. ~
"I do not believe there is any Sec
ton of the country where the people,
including those connected with and
influential organized labor. have
more respect for the law and less
patience with its violation than do
the people OF southern Illinois.
t. Coal Miners Aggravated. #z43s
II do not think the trouble there
has resulted from local condition.
There was combination of circum-
stances which led UP to it, and which
so aggravated and embittered the
coal miners that reason gave way to
passion and brought about the res
suits which'I am sure all must de-
| plore.
The gentleman from West Vir-
ginia has referred to the verdict Of
the coroner's jury. The information
I have is that the coroner's jury
heard. among other witnesses, some
Of the employees Of the company
whose mine was involved. The evi-
dence Of these witnesses was ID tile
effect that the first man killed was
q union miner, and that he was
killed by an employe Of the coal
company when he was not commit
ting any unlawful act. I am IN
I formed that this man was killed
when he was seen approaching
through the woods. and that testi-
nony % to the manner Of hi4, death
i was clear and positive.
4 am further informed that the
union miners ut Herrin had bee1
(contlhued On page 3. q 8.