The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-10-26

have the support OF the broadest mass movement
of workers and sympathizers.
The L W. W. General Defense Committee in
sists upon conducting the case of the Harlan
miners as a pure murder case. No such issues
as wage CUTS starvation conditions, terror, use
of thugs and modern gangster warfare against
the miners. would be introduced into the trial
by them. Their representatives have made state
ments to the effect that they are interested in
those who claim to be T. w w. members only.
They declare openly that they are against "reds"
and claim to be respectable" They have as
ISOLATED Senator J. M. Robson, lawyer who
was hired by the United Mine Workers, although
the U. M w. of A. completely betrayed the
Kentucky miners and sold them out. This same
Robson is known a rah, rah, rah, 100 per
cent American" reactionary, supporter of not
only the coal operators, but also the A. F. of L.
bureaucrats whose chief concern is to Wctimize
the militant workers
The lawyer who has been hired by the Cen
eral Defense Committee Captain Ben Golden, is
an elderly man who has never handled labor
case in his life and absolutely unfamiliar with
the labor movement.
The General Defense Committee has not
pressed for a mass trial and is against mass pro-
tests, as is openly proclaimed in I. w w. papers.
The International Labor Defense and all the
workers who are members of this organization
know they can place no reliance on legal de-
Tense, alone, against the coal operators in the
coal operators court In the Harlan cases they
find coal baron D. C. Baby" Jones sitting
as Judge in the case. Judge Jones wife owns
large blocks of stock in many coal companies in
Kentucky.
The Kentucky workers who sat in court while
the so-called jury was being selected for the
Harlan cases, got a good idea Of capitalist JUS
tce. One after another possible jurors got up
and were opposed as thugs.
In the early part of July the International
Labor Defense pressed for the formation of
Harlan Miners Defense Committee to be set up
in Kentucky This committee to include pris-
oners defendants, leading miners, and repre-
sentatives of the International Labor Defense,
General Defense Committee, and the American
Civil Liberties Union Attorney Golden at first
agreed that this a proper and good pro-
posaE But the General Defense Committee rep
resentative sabotaged this proposal for coopera-
tive defense. The American Civil Liberties Union
in person of Roger Baldwin wrote the I. W. W.
agent, Price, that such committee would have
no backing" and ARE in no position to make
contracts" although the l. L. D. had pledged its
backing to the Harlan Miners Defense Com
mittee.
The September Pond Issue of Industrial Soli-
darity, which is full of d-slingng against the
International Labor Defense and the Conlr1lu-
nists, states that the I. L. D. has refused ito
agree to an honest handling of funds and pol
ICY" in connection with the Kentucky miners
cases. The T. L. D. has withstood such ISLANDERS
for many years because it publishes full audited
accounts for all funds it handles. But what
honest worker could agree with the I. w. W..
policy?
In the September 18th issue of Industrial Soil
darity, their main cutlery is against the Inter
national Labor Defense and not the coal barons'
terror. Referring to Harlan, they state the /.