The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-23
by THOMAS MYERscoUoH.


Especial to The Daily Worker)
PEORIA, H., May 22.-AIl
miners agree, that the chestnuts
were pulled out of the fire in the
strike Of 1922, because the nom
union miners of the country
came to our assistance by lay
ing down their tools when we
did on April list of that year.
This is particularly true of the
Somerset, Westmoreland and
Fayette Counties of Western
Pennsylvania.
Yet, in spite of this fact, Philip
Murray, international vice-presi-
dent of the U. M. w. of A., him
self a product of a non-union
field, undertook to place the
blame for the loss of the strike
in those fields, on the strikers
themselves.
When he did this, Murray knew he
was not telling the truth, but he thot
he could get away with it because the
Illinois miners were far removed from
the scene of conflict and would not
be familiar with the facts in the case.
contradIcting Murray's Lies.
Being an active member of the u.
NJ. w. of A. in District No. at that
time, and being familiar with the en-
tire situation because of such close
proximity, will try to correct the
false statements Of Murray by giving
you the facts.
The coke region miners who were
specifically mentioned in the attack,
were, without question, as good a
bunch of strikers as any who partici-
pated in that memorable struggle.
They had actively taken part in the
preparatory work, and when April LIST
rolled around they dropped their tools,
thereby giving hope to the none-too-
confident men of the old organized
fields. During the progress of the
strike and up to the time when the
Cleveland Agreement was signed.
there was no semblance of break in
the ranks in the coke region.
Unions Promise to Coke Men.
Representative of our union az
meeting after meeting were telling
those men that, because of the man.
ner in which they had rallied to our
support, the U. NJ. W. of A. would
never forget them, that there would be
no contracts signed in any field I'M
less the coke region was signed up.
In spite of these promises the Inter
national Union signed contracts and
settled the strike elsewhere. The
coke region miners then began to feel
that they were being betrayed and so
notified the officials in charge. How
ever, they were pacified with the
promise of relief and With positive
ultimate victory, only to find that this
also was only promise to be broken.
L should be mentioned here that very
Nv men returned to work, even aft,r
Ie Cleveland agreement was signed,
d those that di1, were mostly men
10 had union cards from the adjoin-
union field, according to their own
tements to the men. of the region
were doing the piclSeting.
pulled Crossed BY international.
my things enter into the loss Of
trike in the coke region and the
uing counties OF Pennsylvania,
he strikers cannot in any sense
med. For instance. at certain
IL in one Of the principal camps
strike zone. one of the miners
his question OF ons Of the or
who was engaged with the
pacifying these men after the
N territory had returned all
to work: "Will the United
rkers sign contracts with the
panies who own both union
MON mines, IL such contracts
lude all the mines owned by
company"
no circumstances" an
organizer, will the U. M