The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-09
MISERY PAST
Belief
IN MINE ZONE
Kentucky Conditions as Bad
as Anywhere on Earth,
Dresser Declares.
PROSECUTION is URGED
Congress Probe Should Be
Instituted, Assertion
of Author.
Copyright. 1881. by United Pressl


PINEVILLE, KY, Nov. 9.-Theo-
dore Dresser, whose inquiry into
charges of official terrorism" in the
coal fields of southeastern Kentucky
has ended, declared today that he
considered conditions "as bad as
they could be anywhere in the
world"
Dresser, author chairman of the
National Committee for Protection
Of Political Prisoners, led the COM
mittee into the heart of a district
which for months has been torn by
bloody strife. Lines of sympathy
in the district are drawn sharply.
Sayings have resulted in wholesale
arrests.
There ought to be prosecutions
of the severest type against officials
of Harlan county," said the author
of AN American Tragedy" whose
personal sympathies lie to the left,
in matters affecting labor.
Il think there should be a con-
gresSional investigation" he said,
but l fancy the first step will be
state inquiry. 1t is the usual
American lineup of capital and
labor, with everything on one side
and nothing on the other, but two
bare hands!"
Misery Beyond Belief
The author investigator, who
some months back slapped the face
of Sinclair Lewis, Nobel prize-win-
ming contemporary, was affected
deeply by conditions he said he had
witnessed, and by portrayal of other
conditions given his committee vol
UNFAIRLY by witnesses.
ut is a very aggravated case
here" he said, because of the very
gallant temperament of these Ken
tuckians.
1--WE hear of the plight of one peo-
pie and Of another-of the Starving
Armenians, for example-but I be-
lieve that economic conditions here,
and the condition of actual physical
misery, is as great as it could be
anywhere in the world.
II have had much testimony given
me. We concluded with the meeting
at Straight Greek Sunday afternoon.
1t was attended largely, packed to
the doors.
"Out of it all, can't imagine a
situation in which stern prosecu-
lions of officials could be more de-
served"
Sheriff Denies Charges
nreiser's Investigation developed
the workers side of the bitterly
contested labor dispute, when the
author also threw open his voluntary
hearings to spokesman Of the other
side. Sheriff John Henry Blair of
Harlan county vigorously denied the
terrorism" charge.
High lights of the three-day in
uuiry included:
Testimony of witnesses that
utilization with unionism had cost
them their jobs and that payment
for labor was made in scrip good
only at company commissaries.
Denunciation of the National
Miners union" by Sheriff Blair as
'communistic organization CThe
Harlan mines are strictly non
union).
Arrest of Bruce Crawford, editor
of Crawfords Weekly, Norton, ".
q member of Dreiser's committee, on
a warrant charging he slandered
Sheriff Blair. Crawford was shot
by a mysterious assailant at Harlan
last summer. Blair's suit asks $780,
900 damages.
Interrogation of Dresser at one
meeting of his committee by Hern-
don j. Evans, editor of the Pineville
(Ky) Sun, elected the reply that
Dreiser's annual income was about
$35 900" and that he gave nothing,
directly, to charity.
Thugs in Saddle
Testimony that armed thugs
gunner and deputies" held sway in
the county, and that deputies were
on company pay rolls.
Refusal of Circuit Judge D. c,
Jones to testify on grounds that
because of its unofficial nature the
inquiry could accomplish moth
ing" Judge Jones has been ac-
cused by the miners of company
sympathy"
Testimony that Harlan county
mines demanded yellow dog" con-
tracts. in which workers were
pledged not to join any labor union
and that dismissals followed union
activities.
The Harlan County Coal Opera
tors Association is composed of ex-
ecutives who feel their own condi-
tions of labor are eminently fair
and who blame adverse competitive
conditions of labor for tie plight
of the Kentucky fields.
Blood has been shed there In
spectacular manner, reaching high
water mark last May with the am
bush of deputy sheriffs by citizens
of EvartS and the resultant murders
of four men. Shipping" from near
by hills down upon miners en- route
to the pits has been common.