The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1938-09-09
A.F. OF |. ASKS
INVESTIGATION
OF TERRORISM"

Atlantic City, N. j. (ILNS) Con
gressional investigation of conditions
in the coal mining areas was asked by
the American Federation of Labor Ex-
ecutive Council, in quarterly meeting
here. The council charged that the
United Mine Workers of America,
G. /. O. affiliate, was terrorizing A. F.
of L. miners.
A resolution asking the inquiry was
passed after the council heard a report
from Joe Ozanic, head of the Progress
sive Miners of America, which the
federation chartered to compete with
the u. M. w.
Copies of the resolution were sent
to federal authorities, and councilmen
planned, if congressional committee
undertook the investigation, to insist
that it study the conditions surround
ing the signing of contract between
the u. M. w. and the Harlan County
operators whom the u. M. w. earlier
had charged with terrorizing it's MEM
bers.
Ozanic Makes Complaint
William Green said that the u. M.
VS. terrorism extended through the
coal fields of Illinois, West Virginia
and Kansas. He said that Ozanic had
made the following complaint to the
council
"That the u. M. w. leaders have
used worse violence against the Pro-
gressive Miners than they themselves
charged against the Harlan mine OPP
orators; that public officials in some
! communities have refused protection
to the Progressives; that u. M. w.
Officials have prevailed upon state
and federal agencies to prosecute the
Progressives with perjured testimony
and bribed witnesses; that U. M. w.
officials have conspired with mine OPP
orators to enter into contracts without
the consent Of the employees involved,
in violation Of the Labor Relations
Act; that u. NJ W. officials were per-
mitted to mete out severe punishment
to any workers who dared to resist.
The Executive Council reviewed the
result of primary elections in many
parts of the country and President
Green later told reporters that the A.
f. of L. plan Of supporting labor's
friends on a non partisan basis had
proved practical and successful" /"
Primary Victories Cited
He said the country was not ready
for an independent labor party and
went on to say:
| "We are still an agricultural nation.
We have not yet developed compre-
hensive, economic and industrial pro-
gram on which farmers and labor can
unite. An independent political party
now would mean merely isolating la
boris strength Under non-partisan-
ship labor can be the balance Of power.
This way, no matter who wins, we
command respect. If we had labor
party and lost, our enemies would be
in control
Green pointed to several victories
for the federation in state primaries
this year Among them were the re
nominations Of Senator Smith in Soutf
Carolina, Senator Gillette in Iowa
Senator Barkley in Kentucky and Sen.
ator Pepper in Florida
"We are not interested either way
in President Roosevelt's purge list
The President has his yardstick ane
we have ours. We don't attempt t
shape political policies in Congress
we are merely interested in labor ane
economic legislation and no American
Federation Of Labor officer is aspiring
for political office or political leader
ship
Freedom For Mooney