New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-15

members of District No. II Of the
Unitea Mine Workers OF America in
the so-called treason trials in prog
resg at Charlestown, w VA, and we
characterize these prosecutions by coal
interests as an attempt to destroy the
organizations of the mine workers In
the coal falds OF West Virginia, in
tended TO drive all labor unions from
the state and to tighten the grip Of
this intrenched feudalisn in control and
domination of government In I'll Ut state.
sSecond--We denounce the use ~
this prosecution Of private funds which
spokesmen and representatives Of coal
interesta have admitted from the wiz
ness stand and on other occasions are
being supplied to the state by the mine
owners for this parpose, and we chargo
that the sinister purpose behind tho
contributions of money is to drive the
organization Of the mine workers from
the state and enthrone the mine own
ers in complete and undisputed con-
troll OF the economic welfare of the
mine workers and their families.
Denounce Special Prosecutors
@Third-We condemn the presence
as special prosecutors for the state 81
attorneys known to represent the coal
pIbAuShkE iuLGESSISi Oh w est Virginia
and who heretofore have appeared in
civil and Congressional Investigations
in behalf of these interests, and we ex-
press the belief that these attorneys
IN their function as special prosecutors
are acting for and in behalf of the
high finance and the mine owners,
whose aim and purposes are to destroy
all semblance of organised labor in the
coal industry of West Virginia.
"Fourth-We call upon the Governor
of the State of West Virginia, Ephraim
r. Morgan, to remove the faint of the
coal interests from the prosecution of
these cases, and to put this function
in the hands of the duly elected Off.
Gals OF the county where the trials
are IN progress.
+ "Fifth-We urge upon the people of
Jefferson County to uphold and main
tain their traditions for fairness and
impartiality in the administration of
Justice, and to guard against convic-
tons IN these cases degenerating into
mere automatic process because the
feudal interests of the coal mining in
dustry of the state demand it. We ask
these citizens TO join in driving from
their midst the sinister interests that
are standing behind the prosecution of
these cases and seeking the destruc-
tion OF the miners' organization as
means of their own ACKNOWLEDGMENT
and profit.
Sixth--We pledge our moral sup
port to the officials and members Of
District No. IL of the United Mine
Workers who have been indicted on
these charges of treason and conspir-
acy and promise them our active aid
and cooperation to the end that they
shall have fair and impartial trials and
that the selfish and special interests
seeking the destruction of their or
ganlzation shall be driven from behind
their prosecution
Rail Board Attacked
Mr.. Gompers paid his respects to
the Railroad Labor Board in the follow
ing language:
For more than twenty years there
was no interruption to the transporta-
ton service of our country, because
all disputes were Voluntarily settled
American fashion, man to man, between
the parties in interest.
when the Railroad Labor Board
was created and given jurisdiction
there was strike; when it was ig
nored in the negotiations there was
a settlement
"Of course there always will be a
misguided Few demanding boards or
courts or compulsion in some form,
and others seeking royal road to per-
petual industrial tranquility, but so
long as nature continues to make man
in the present mold much time will be
saved in our progress to happiness and
prosperity and costly experimentation
avoided if the right Of wage earners to
organize without discrimination, b to
bargain collectively, to be represented
by representatives of their own choos-
ing in direct negotiations and adjust
ments with employers in respect to
wages, hours of labor and relations
and conditions of employment is
recognized and accepted as the guiding
rule OF our every day industrial life.S
The council meetings. will end on
Saturday. Other matters on which
declarations of especial interest are to
be made are, Supreme Court decisions
affecting organized labor and the com
plicated building trades situation in
New York City and elsewhere.