Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-07-01
MINES WILL SUE
UNION AND COUNTY
President Lewis Also May Be
Held Liable
DAMAGES TO BE DEMANDED
President Lester Determined To Get
Evidence Against Mob; Attorney
Charges Only Common Labor
At Mine Was Non.Union.

i Chicago.-Legal action for the 70.
/ covery OF damages sustained by the
Southern Illinois Coal Company as the
result OF the mine riots at Herrin and
the destruction OF the company's strip
mine there, will be started Immediate
ly against the United Mine Workers
of America and the county Of William.
son in behalf OF the company and the
families OF its dead employees. Follett
w. Bull. attorney for the coal COM
pany, announced.
The suit against the United Mine
Workers. the attorney pointed out.
will be the first suit under the recent
Coronado decision by the United
States Supreme Court holding labor
organization liable for damages. The
suit against the United Mine Workers
will probably be filed in the Federal
Court at indianapolis and that against
Williamson county at Marion. ILL.,. the
county seat
Attorney Bull declared Williamson
county liable under the statutes for
the full amount OF damages suffered
by the company. damages which, he
said, were yet unestimated because
every effort to reach the mine had
failed.
He added that the action against
the miners union may also include
suit against John l.. Lewis. president
OF the miners. whose telegram stated
the company's imported employees
were common strike breakers"
Copies Of this telegram, Mr.. Bull said.
had been posted throughout Herrin
and had evidently melted the men 10
action
Of the comparys property. Arthur. $.
Lytton, Mr. Bulls partner. planned to
leave the scene of the trouble for
/ Chicago. according TO word from Mr.
Lytton at Herrin. He will bring what
hrst-hand reports are available direct
to William J. Lester. OF Cleveland.
president of the company. who Il in
Chicago with his wife. and Mrs. C. X.
Mcdowell. wife OF the mines muir.
dered superintendent
Mrs. Lester is sister of John +.
Shoemaker. assistant superintendent
OF the mine whose body has not been
recovered II was believed to be in
Herrin. while McDowell's body was
reported TO be in morgue at Marion.
Both Mrs. Lester and Mrs. Mcdowell
are under the care OF physician.
MY greatest concern now is to get
the bodies of my friends and those OF
the workers" Mr. Lester said tonight
This Is the most appalling thing
that We can imagine-men shot down
in cold blood under 4 flag of surren.
der. Not man was injured. under
stand. until after the flag went up
We'll get the evidence on that mob
II should all be made public There is
a way to get these men. When they
drink moonshine - and shoot - IL
there's moonshIRe there they'll drink
II again"
The strip mine was being operated
without any official agreement with
the miners union. according to Al.
torney Bull Mr.. Lester sought an
agreement with Frank Harrington.
president OF the Illinois Miners, in
April. Mr. Bull said. but was told that
under the national organization policy.
no coal could be mined in the State,
following the strike April /
After more than a month. Lester
again communicated with Harrington,
Mr. Bull said. asserting that ne could
not afford 10 pay the high cost OF
uncovering unless he was able to ship
the coal and sell II at present market
prices. Attorney Bull said harrington
apparently agreed and that the com.
pany then made arrangements TO
bring in common laborers to load the
cars.
only this common labor was non.
union" explained Mr. Bull. "All the
shovel runners were unionized and
they were the only skilled labor on the
ground. Previously even the common
labor had been union and this un-
doubtedly was the seat Of the trou.
BILE"