The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-09
ASK DIVISION Of.
7 IME To DEF { ND
ARRESTS BY GUARD
Striking Shop Crafts Call
Mass Meeting for Sunday
Afternoon to Condemn
Acts of Military


crafts of Birmingham Friday issued
call for a mass meeting at the
jefferson theatre Sunday afternoon
at o'clock to hear protests against
the arrests recently made by the
national guard in connection with the
strike.
Invitations to the meeting were
sent to a number of well known
clubs and organizations, and Friday
a committee from these bodies re-
quested a division of time to present
the side of the national guard in
the matter A reply to the request
for time was promised for Saturday
Formal InvItatlonx Sent
Formal Invitations 10 the mass
meeting were sent 10 practically
every civic and public organization
in Birmingham. The invitations are
signed by j. X. Walker, chairman OF
the executive committee OF tue s.riN-
ing craftsmen. among them was
one to the Jefferson County Law
Enforcement league.
In this Invitation the statement is
made that The national guard has
been in this county for the past
several months and has directed It's
efforts against the railroad labor
organizations who are, and have
been on strike" 1t is further stated
that it has been impossible to ac-
quaint the public of the true facts.
what the conditions are, how they
have been caused. and by whom,
and what the danger to our institu-
tons and our government is if same
is allowed to &C ntinue and progress"
Causes OF Complaint
Proceeding the invitation says.
we represent some 1000 men.
their wives and children In this par
tieular community numbers of them
have been stopped on the highways
and unlawfully searched and seized
others have been taken from their
homes in the night time. their homes
unlawfully invaded and searched
and the head of the family frequent
~ imprisoned without any process OF
Law, without any warrant, any indict-
ment or charge This has been done
by our soldiers who have subjected
! our citizenship to humiliation and
insult and have denied to them their
natural and constitutional rights.
MANY OF the people who have
been unlawfully seized and impris-
oned and insulted and Inundated,
will be present at the theatre meet
ing and will give their testimony to
the public.
You must know that to allow
such things to exist and continue
means the implanting in the hearts
of many OF our people hatred and
bitterness for constituted authority
which must not exist"
Committee Tenders Reply
Friday night committee presented
personally to Chairman Walker a re-
ply to the invitation signed by rep
resentatives of 10 organizations
which had been invited. This reply
requests a division of time for a rep
resentative to speak on behalf of the
national guard. This letter and its
signatures were as follows:
Dear Sir-Your invitation to at
tend an open meeting to be held
under the auspices of your organi-
zation at the jefferson theatre Sun
day afternoon, has been received. We
note that 1t is your intention to dis
cuss the national guard in it's rela-
ti6n to the railroad strike called
last July l.
"As members of the public, inter-
ested in learning the truth. we real
ize that this question, as all others,
has two sides. We note that no pro-
vision has been made to permit any
tional guard i'm this controversy
Without desiring to suggest to you
may we ask If you would be willing
to divide time equally at this meet
ing with person or persons who
might be suggested by the national
guard to speak from their stand
point.
With your answer to this In
curry. we feel that we can more
intelligently pass upon your invita-
tion to attend this meeting. Yours
very truly,
Law OBSERVANCE AND EN-
FoRCEMENT LEAGUE.
Tom o. Smith, Chairman.
JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COM
MERGE.
Charles T. Allen, President.
"HILLCREST COUNTRY CLUB,
Hugo Marx. President.
"ExCHANGE CLUB,
Maclin F. Smith, President.
! COUNTRY CLUB,
DR.. A. B. Harris, President.
THE BIRMINGHAM CHAPTER
ASSOCIATED GENERAL. CON
hAtIOftc Or a MER1CA,
Julian p. Smith, Secretary.
SOUTHERN CLUB.
| Dan B Dimick, President
! 70. G. HARTSFIEID, Sheriff.
AMERICAN BUSINESS CLUB.
William l.. White, President.
| BIRMINGHAM ATHLETIC CLUB,
X. Landgrebe, President"
Moore To Preside
According to Fridays announce
ments Sundays meeting will be pre-
sided over by Robert r. Moore and
the principal speakers will be State
Senator Walter Brewer, and John W
| Altman. The general subject of the
discussion is given as True Law
and Order, Constitutional Rights and
Guarantees and the Dangers to Oui
Country of Their AbrogatiCn." The
general invitation 10 the meeting il
addressed: "To All Citizens, Mer-
| chants, Professional Men and Won
en-, Pastors, Teachers and Those
Called Laboring People To All SO.
cieties. Clubs. Business and Religion.
| Organizations"