New-York tribune., 1922-05-31
Coal Operators
Face Charges in
Curb on Miners
After a Conference With
Civil Liberties Official.
Untermycr Says He Will
Assist in the Proceedings
Oppression Is Alleged
in Non Union
Fields Denied Rights Of
Asseinblagc, 1t Is Said

Arthur Garfield Hays. New York at
torney, who was sent by the American
Civil Liberties Union into the Pennsyl-
vania non-union coal fields to test the
rights of free speech and free assem-
blage, and who announced after he was
arrested by mine guards for attempting
to hold miners meeting that neither
existed there, yesterday conferred on
the situation with Samuel Untermyer
at the latter's horne in Yonkers.
As the result of the conference, Mr..
Untermyer assured Mr. Hays that he
not only will cooperate in proceedings
instituted in Pennsylvania against
eight coal and iron police ana coal
company officials at Vintondale, but
that he also will aid Mr.. Hays in
further attempts to end expressions
i'll the non-unson fields Of the region.
Mr. hays, 1t became known, has be-
gun preparation Of suits in New York
City against the Vinton Colliery Com
pany, of Vintondale, which has local
Offices at 80 East Forty-second Street,
These, according to an announcemea
of the American Civil Liberties Union,
will charge assault, battery and false
arrest on behalf of himself and the
members Of his party. who were at.
tackled by coal ard iron police in Wins
tondaie on May 81"
Injunction To Be Asked
There also will be injunction pro-
ceedings started against the coal op
orators and their police, in an effort to
restrain them from interfering with ac
cess to Vintondale and from breaking
up proper assemblage and restraining
freedom of speech" it was declared.
The president of the Vinton Colliery
Company is Clarence M. Schwerin He
was informed last night by The Trib-
une, at his home at Great Neck, of the
intentions of Mr.. Untermyer and Mr..
Hays.
Let them go to it," he said. We're
not afraid of Mr. Untermyer, and
We'll be glad to meet him in court
and TO take the case to the Supreme
Court if necessary. We're ready at
any time, if he is"
"ls it true that the rights of the
union miners to free speech and free
assemblage are denied them in Vinton-
dale?" he was asked.
"The sheriff has issued procama-
ton forbidding congregating there"
was the reply.
And Is this constitutional?
~ don't >know-Im not a constitu-
tional lawyer You'd better ask Mr..
untermyer about that
Statement by Hays
Mr. Hays issued the following state
ment as to his experiences at Vinton,
dale
81 found Vintondale an armed camp
1t is no longer an American city. The
coal and iron police, mounted and
heavily armed, acting under the di-
rections of the coal company, permit
10 one to stand for moment on the
streets, and greet arrivals with threats
of arrest, obscene language and
physical violence.
Vintondale for the purpose of holding
a meeting to test the rights of free
speech than VIC were ridden down by
armed guards who assaulted US and at
tempted to throw US back bodily into
the automobiles in which we had come
They said to us: You bust up or We'll
bust you up
"We left town to obtain warrants for
their arrest and returned with consta-
bles from the nearby town of Nanty
Clio. We identified the police who
had assaulted us and the company Off
cials who had given them orders, and
] was on my way to see-the Justice of
the peace, who was holding court in
the coal company's Office, when l was
arrested on the charge of trespassing
me into filthy cell, where | was held
in confinement for an hour.
Guilty; Fined IS"
when | appeared before the Justice
of the peace he Informed me that he
would hear my case. He asked me if
was ready for trial. and when | re-
piled in the affirmative his answer
was Guilty; tine you S. | protested
at this. and he then announced that
he would suspend the fine on condi-
tlon that | would leave the town.
When l refused to leave Vintondale
and demanded hearing he then said
the case was concluded; that was not
guilty and would not be fined, and he
and the company guards left me alone
in the courtroom.
This terrorizing of citizens on the
part of the coal and iron police is no
mere incident of the strike The coal
companies have Exercised complete
control over the civil authorities of
Vintondale and other mining towns for
many years. They employ their own
policemen; they close postoffices, eject
visitors from the towns and hold court
in their own Offices. The American
Civil Liberties Union, which repre-
sent, will see this case through to the
end. Such wellnigh Incredible con-
ditions are a disgrace to the State of
pennsylvania and make for revolution.
There is only one rule in Vintondale
the rule of force"