The Washington times., 1922-04-25
v. Va. MINERS
ARE EGU|[TLESS,
'DEFENDSW WALSH
Victims Of Oppression, Says
Former Chairman of War
Labor Board.
BY FRANK p. WALSH,
Former Joint Chairman af National
War Labor Board.

tCopyrishti loEs, Dy CoStnopouthn NeWs
Service.)
NEW YORK. April 25.--It is a
terrible spectacle to contemplate
American citizens shackled together
like slaves and placed in prison az
the miners of West Virginia were,
preparatory to their going on trial
ut Charleston on treason and other
charges. 1t is terrible to contem.
plate, for these men are. In fact
guilty OF nothing more than having
defended their homes. They defend
ed their homes when attacked by
State police and the special police
of the coal companies.
II any treason has been commit
ted, II was surely by certain officials
OF Logan county, West Virginia, who
previously had sworn to uphold the
Constitution. They are the men who
should be prosecuted.
Accuses Coal Barons.
II men can be prosecuted in West
Virginia for protecting themselves
their families. and their homes
against attack by officers Of the law
then men in any other State likewise
can be arrested and placed on trial
The people OF West Virginia nre fine
minded and honest. and so far as |
know there is no reason to believe
that the miners about to be tried
will not receive justice at the hands
of the Juries before whom the cases
of some 400 prisoners are to come
But the point is that these men, as
I see II, are not guilty of the
offenses charged.
II IL the coal companies OF Logan
county, many OF whose head official.
and stockholders live in Boston, tha,
are responsible for the conditions
which have been brought about
These companies practically control
the county and a majority Of the
local officials. 1t was the presiden,
Of one OF these companies, and a
Bostonian. who made the assertion
that the union mine workers OF
Logan county should be tracked
down as the police OF New York city
track down criminals
ut In shocking 10 think that 9
man should say such n thing about
American workmen who have don.
nothing else than to seek a Twins
wage, and when that was denies
them defended their homes wher
attacked by men who either were
directly in the service Of their for
mer employers. or by county Off
cials who had taken an oath to up
hold the law. II IL a terrible story
this West Virginia coal strike sit
uation, and a reflection on our so
cial conditions when men can b,
accused OF treason and other crimes
for protesting against being de
prived OF that which the Constitu
ton OF the United States guaran
tees them.
Much concerning this situatio
was brought out before the Con
gressional Committee. OF which
Senator Kenyon was chairman! BY
admissions of William u. Coolidge
Of Boston, president of one OF tn,
coal companies operating in Logar
county, I showed that union miner,
were deprived Of their consutu
tional rights
Predicts Court Fight.
Bear in mind these men ar
American citizens who can trac,
their ancestry back several genera
tions. They are not foreigners"
Yet these men were deprived o
the right of free speech; free assemb
lage and other rights assured then
by the Constitution.
Now, what are we going to d,
when men OF this nation are treated
rs they have been?
One thing Is certain. and that II
that II these trials go against thu
/ - !. a.
up to the Supreme Court of tn,
United States, its principles involved
make them the most important sine
the famous Dred Scott case, o
which all the worlo KNOWS.