The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-11-11
Smash Frameup
Of Harlan Miners
Fight to Finish on Boss
Terror Needed in
Harlan, KY.

HARLAN, KY, Nov. declaring
that the struggle for the rights of the
workers, the right to assemble and
organize, for the elf-dsfenSe of the
miners, as well as for the right to
distribute the Daily Worker, would go
on more energetically than ever, after
the Dresser investigating committee
leaves, the International Labor De-
Tense, through its representative here,
George Maurer, issued the following
statement:
The International Labor Defense,
whose organizers have been arrested
and terrorized in Harlan County and
in Kentucky, will continue the fight
for workers rights after the Dresser
Committee has completed it's investi-
cation, 1t will especially organize and
rally the workers and synpathizers
in struggle for the right of self
defense against the attacks OF the
company thugs.
The holding of open, public meet
ings, under the auspices of the In
ternationaI Labor Defense and the
National Miners Union, which takes
place in Straight Creek today and in
Wallins Creek, Kentucky, on Sunday,
will be continued from now on in
an effort to gain for the miners the
right of free speech. free assemblage,
the right to organize and picket
against starvation.
The International Labor Defense
calls on all miners, as well as other
workers and sympathizers, to rally
to and support the International La
Dor Defense in this struggle for the
basic rights of the workers.
All effort will be made TO mobilize
mass support to break down the
vicious frame-up murder charge
against Burnett and fifteen others
now in prison at Mt. Sterling and
Winchester, Kentucky. These eases
are coming up for trial at the begin
ming of the Nov. 16 term. This isp-
resents a vital period in the struggle
against the murder reign of the Har-
Ian coal barons.
The existence Of eight criminal
syndicalism cases against miners
whose only crime" is either reading
the Daily Worker, belonging to the
International Labor Defense or the
National Miners Union, or aiming te
organize these workers groups, is
proof that the terror in Harlan
County is undated.
The Dresser Committee brought
out the fact that vicious attack is
directed by the coal operators and
the county authorities against the
distribution and sale of the Daily
Worker. The International Labor
Defen@ will lead the fight for the
right to circulate the Daily Worker
and other workers papers which are
a powerful instrument in the struggle
OF the miners against the damnable
conditions of starvation and disease
exposed by the Dresser Committee.
We demand the immediate cessa-
ton of the operators and government
terror in Harlan County and Ken
lucky. We demand a complete in
vestigation on the part of the state
government of the collision of the
coal operators and government off,
Gals in their outrageous attempts te
legally murder these innocent min
ers. We demand the removal OF Of
ficials responsible for this frame-ur
in the courts. We demand the RICH,
Of self-defense to miners who mus
have the right to protect themselves
against the murderous attacks Of
"the law and of the company guards
both in the hands of the coal OPP
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