Montana labor news., 1936-01-02
National Gallup Defense
Committee Is Put On
Permanent Base
William E. kuehnel, President
Hartford Central Labor Union
Elected Chairman of Perma-
nent Body.

The National Gallup Defense Com
mittee, a permanent body which will
be in charge OF the defense OF three
Gallup, New Mexico coal miners sen
fenced to IS to 90 years hard labor in
a union-busting murder frame-up, has
been formed TO succeed the provisional
body which has functioned thus far,
it was announced by Frank L. Pal
mer, editor of Peoples Press, secre-
tary-treasurer OF the Committee.
William Z. Kuehnel, president OF the
Hartford Central Labor Union, was e.
ected chairman of the new body, which
is composed of representatives Of thirty
trade union locals and central bodie.
in every part Of the country.
The committee announced that it has
retained the firm Of William ], Dono-
van, former assistant United State:
Attorney General, to handle the appeal.
OF Juan Ochoa, Manuel Ayitia, anC
L,eandro Velarde, the three convicted
miners. John Simms, former New
Mexico State Supreme Court Justice
and Hugh Woodward, former UniteC
States District Attorney, both Of AL
buquerque. N. M, and Wheaton Au.
CUR, Of Santa Fe, have also been re.
tanned in the appeal by Mr.. Donovan
The appeal is expected to be argued
early in 1880.
Seven other defendants were acquit
led in the trial Of The 10 Gallup min
ers held in Aztec, a New Mexico coun
try town, TWO months ago. Ali wer,
charged with the murder of Sheriff M
X, Carmichael OF Gallup, N. MI, Apr
a, 1885. Carmichael was killed in tn,
cross-fire Of his own deputies whel
they opened a revolver and tear-ga
barrage on a crowd OF unemploye,
miners. The ten were singled out 70
prosecution on account of their out
standing union activity, and especial,
their activity in aiding in the building
OF United Mine Workers of Americt
locals in Gallup. The town Of Gallu
and its administration are entirely i'm
der the domination Of the Gallup Am
~erican Coal Company, a subsidiary G
Kennescott Copper Corporation. ]
was this open-shop corporation whic
stood behind the prosecution.
Since the April 4 events, and espe
cially since the conviction OF Oeho;
Velarde, and Avitia, an active campaig
Of terrorization aimed at smashin
every attempt at unionization in tn
Southwest has been carried on. TIL
~. M. w. A. is not permitted to NEE.
Nicholas Fontecchio, international re
preventative Of the U. NJ. w. A. ha
appealed to Governor Clyde Tingle
OF New Mexico to end these viola
tons OF civil liberties. The Nationa
IGallup Defense Committee is support
ing the Y. M. w. AS fight agains
these violations.
Another aspect Of the case which ha
attracted wide protest has been the pol
icy pursued by the United States De
partment Of Labor Of deporting all per
sons who are certain to be Witnesse
in the event a new trial is granite.
to the convicted miners.
In announcing the formation OF tn
permanent committee, Mr.. Palmer a
he same time made public a f%inancia
statement Of income and expenditure
or the period of the existing of tn
provisional committee. The statemen
shows total income, including loans, G
l$6,3z2o2; total expenditures OF 5000
V. an a total deficit including loan
repayable, OF S4,598.60. Legal exper
ditures mainly in trial preparations,
was Shown in the statement, amounte
TO $5,787.45, or 81 per cent OF the tot;
income. The firm of William J. Dor
} ovan is serving in the case withol
fee.