The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-10-25
COMPANY SHERIFF
PROCLAIMS RIOT
WHENEVER ASKED
Makes Superintendent
His Deputy
By A. S.


AURORA, Pa. Oct. 24.-As an
example of the activities of the COM
pany owned town and county officials
in the mining regions Of Pennsyl-
vania, the following proclamation
might be considered;
Proclamation by the Sheriff of
Washington County, Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania"
Whereas, /, Ody C. Abbott, Sheriff
Of Washington County, have been
notified by citizens, industrial cor
porations and employers, that in GER
tain mining communities of Washing
ton County there has been serious
rioting, shooting and disturbances of
the peace, threatening the safety of
life, liberty and property -. ="
These are the opening lines of the
sheriff proclamation posted up at
the Aurora mine of the Duquesne
Coke and Coal Company at Avella,
Washington County, Pa, at the sta
ton and on the telegraph poles and
all along the high stockade of raw
yellow boards sawed off to points
that shuts in the mine and the scab
barracks.
Friend of Labor"
1t is said that Sheriff Ody c.. Alb
bott was elected sheriff of Washing
ton county as a "friend of labor. His
strike proclamation is an interesting
example of how the "rewarding
friends of labor" policy works out.
Abbott's proclamation goes far
beyond the general formal proclama-
ton issued by sheriffs in other coun-
ties at the commencement of the lock-
out. The sheriff makes no pretense
at judicial impartiality, but speaks
openly as the mouthpiece Of the coal
operators.
Where the proclamation posted in
the mining camps of the neighboring
county, states that the sheriff has re-
ceived notification Of a strike stu
alton from both employees and la
Dor organizations" as we'll as from
the employers, for the friend of
labor" only the industrial corpora
tions and employers" exist. No strike
or lockout situation is mentioned,
and on March 81, the day before the
lockout went into effect, Abbott
states that he has already heard that
there has been "rioting, shooting and
disturbances of the peace" deliber-
ate lie, calculated to create prejudice
in advance against the locked-out
miners in the minds of the public,
and serve as an excuse for company
violence.
The same menacing tone is main
tanned throughout the proclamation.
It declares that: "All peace officers
throughout Washington county until
the present emergency has passed
are commanded to dispense and pre-
vent upon the highways or vacant
property of all populous sections the
lettering or gathering of three or
more persons -, clause omit
ted in the other proclamations and
an weapon of oppression effectively
welded at the Aurora mine.
No Warming For Boss.
On the other hand, the Washington
county proclamation completely omits
the warning to coal operators includ-
ed in the Allegheny county procla-
nation, stating that: "All industrial
corporations, coal mining companies
and employers are hereby admonished
not to engage or permit persons
about their premises whose presence
and conduct upon said premise or
going to or from same, should incite
disturbance of the peace; and also
that special danger to the public
peace, life and property can be ere
ated by bringing into particular
communities employees and other
persons commonly known as Strike
breakers" Sheriff Abbott's pro-
clamation recognizes no strike stu
alton, only state of rebellion of
slaves against the sovereign over
lords of the coalfields.
The local enforcement of the pro-
clamation here at the Aurora mine
is in the hands of the deputy sheriffs.
Their appointment is approved by
he sheriff, and their pay comes from
the coal company. One of the two
deputies is merely an armed loafer
who will obey company orders. The
other is the superintendent of the
mine, also one of it's principal share
holders, and general car in the
camp.
This impartial officer of the
peace" not only enforces the terms
Of the sheriff's proclamation to the
limit (the clause in regard to the
dispersal of gatherings of two or
more persons is viciously enforced),
but is also the active instigator of
all the coal and iron frame-ups and
attempts at terrorization.
Need Labor Party.
Coal mining is the life of Wash
ington county, and the miners form
the majority of the populations If
the u. M, w. of A. took the lead of