The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-29
OPERATORS
METHODS
ELAYED
Bitumlnous Workers Charge
Gunmen Are Hired 70 Muir
der Union Men.

Charges that union miners have
been assaulted, wounded and even
killed by gunner in the employ
of non-union coal companies"
particularly in the bituminous
fields, were laid before the
United States Coal Commission
in q report filed today by COM
mittee representing the United
Mine Workers of America.
'.Murderous Methods" Alleged.
|. In order that ."'the true situation
may be brought squarely before the
American public" the committee.
ELLIS Searles, john Moore and
Thomas Kennedy, urged that the
commission in its forthcoming re-
port on the subject of violation OF
civil rights in the nonunion fields
pronounce clearly the principle
that every man has the right to
do so, and that this right shall not
be interfered with through the use
Of vicious, violent, unlawful and
murderous Methods. as
THE hilIsides OF southern West
Virginia, Utah, Alabama, Maryland,
Colorado, northeastern Kentucky
and other unorganized or partly orr
ganized fields are dotted with the
graves Of union miners who were
shot down or beaten by these hired
asSasGins Of such coal companies,!''
the report said. THE sole and only
offense of these unfortunate victims
was that they were union members
or that they wished to become mem.
bers.'
Officials Negligent, Ii Charge.
Pointing out that union officials
already have filed "a mass of in
formation for the purpose Of show
ing to the commission the outrage
Gus conditions that surround those
men who dare to espouse the cause
Of trade unionism," the report de-
clared:
I'm most instances, when the
United Mine Workers of America
has attempted to bring to justice
these deSperadoes and have them
punished for their crimes, the union
has met with little success because
of the apparent indifference of local
officials, who seem to regard the
taking Of the life Of a union miner
as legitimate pastime which may
be INDUCED in without hindrance
by company gunner.
1--WE are hoping that when your
report on this subject is made pub
lie it will declare positively against
a continuance of the present gun
man and armed guard system in
these coal-mining fields
Harrisburg Holds Interest.
Except for the stir created by the
report, Administration officials deal
ing with the coal crisis today turned
attention to Harrisburg, where
Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania
is attempting to head off the
strike scheduled for Friday mid
night. Everywhere here, from the
White House to the Coal Commits
sion, the belief was expressed that
somehow "a way OUT would be
found. that miners would not quit
work, that Pinchot would succeed
in concluding an eleventh hour
agreement whereby differences Of
both operators and miners would he
adjusted.
Regardless of what is done at
Harrisburg, the Administration, hav-
ing been pledged fullest co-opera-
ton Of Notwithstanding States
at the New York conference, YVES
prepared to rush substitutes to the
country under the distribution
plan now perfected by F. r. Wad-
leigh, fuel distributor, the Coal
Commission, Interstate Commerce
Commission and the Bureau Of
Mines. The plan will be placed in
operation Saturday, If there is a
strike.