The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-08-25
INTERNATIONAL
LABOR DEFENSE
To- AID MINERS
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Continued from page j.
Local $685. on August 18th. President
of the sub-district, Lon Fox, Vice
President Cobb and district board
member Darby Darlington came to
the meeting
The Men Refused.
Fox and Cobb demanded that the
miners elect new officers and return
to work. The men refused and in
sisted that the case be reopened.
Cobb answered in the negative ques-
ton whether or not he would reopen
the case If the company were willing.
The meeting adjourned with the men
determined not to return to work un-
til their old officers were recognized.
A miner by name Asa Wilson,
known to be ku klux khan supporter,
struck an old miner, Bert Farthing
sixty-nine years old, presumably for
remark Farthing had made during the
meeting. A general fight ensued be-
tween the miners supporting the old
officers and those associated with the
khan and supporting the sub-district
officials. During the fray, Cobb pulled
a blackjack from his pocket. This
was taken from him and is now in
the custody of the law in Zeigler
Both Vobb and President Fox receiv-
ed injuries during the melee.
One of the miners Mike Sarovich,
who is strong supporter of the local
officers, was about to leave the hall
when he was shot down by Alex Har-
gis, former secretary of the local and
known to be a klansman. Sarovich
died several days later and Hargis is
held for the murder.
$4,000 Bail Raised.
| The same night, warrants charging
rioting were served on Bert Farthing
and his son. The two were immedi-
ately released on bail. The miners
continued to stay away from the mine
save to picket against those who
might be brot in to work On the
18th, warrants were served on Is lead
ing members of Local 1872, among
whom were President Henry Corbish-
ly and his two brothers. The warrants
were signed by D. B. Cobb and Lon
Fox and charged 26 Zeigler miners
with entering into a conspiracy to
murder D. B. Cobb the night of the
meeting on the 18th. More than
$4,000 in bail was raised in short
time and all were released.
Ziegler has been a solid phalanx
against any entertainments of the op-
orators and has been a rallying center
against the ku klux khan, which is
quite strong in this district. The min
ers in Ziegler point out that the only
| supporters the sub-district officials
have in ziegler are followers of the,
ku klux khan. In the present trial
Of the IS arrested Ziegler miners, they
say, it will be a case of triple ALI
ance between the sub-district officials,
the operators and the ku klux khan
against the miners.
important Trial.
Preparations are being made, not
only in Ziegler, but in every mining
town in the county where sympathy
is strong for the defendants, to or
ganize to thwart any attempt at frame
up. Two local attorneys have been
retained to represent the men at a
preliminary hearing next Wednesday
and defense committees are being set
up to raise funds to fight the case.
1t is believed that the sub-district Off
Gals are desperate enuf to go the
limit in pushing the prosecution and
a trial Of national importance may
easily develop. In the meantime the
members of Local 992 are keeping the
mine shut down and turning out every
morning to see that no miners enter
the pit Several clashes have occurred
at the mine but have been confined
to pick-handle fights, since the strik-
ers are careful to see that none of
their members carry guns.
James P. Cannon, secretary of In
ternational Labor Defense, said: This
is plain case of persecution Of work
ers who have been loyal in the strug-
gle against the mine operators. Be.
cause the prosecutors are corrupt
union officials makes the case all the
more fragrant. The miners Of Ziegler
merit the support of every honest
worker"
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