A History of Organized Felony and Folly - The Clarence Darrow ...

A History of Organized Felony and Folly
president of the U. M. W. of A., for an official ruling. Fol-
lowing is Lewis' reply:
"Indianapolis, Ind., June 19, 1922.
"William J. Sneed, Pres. Sub-District 10, District 12, U.
M. W. of A.
"Your wire of 18th, Steam Shovel Men's Union was suspended
from affiliation with American Federation of Labor
some years ago. It was also ordered suspended from the
mining department of the American Federation of Labor at
the Atlantic City Convention. We now find that this outlaw
organization is permitting its members to act as strike
breakers at numerous strip pits in Ohio. This organization
is furnishing steam shovel engineers to work under armed
guards with strike breakers. It is not true that any form
of agreement exists by and betvv'een this organization and
the mining department or any other branch of the American
Federation of Labor permitting them to work under such
circumstances. We have, through representatives, officially
taken this question up with officers of the Steam Shovel Men's
Union and have failed to secure any satisfaction. Representatives
of our organization are justified in treating this crowd
as an outlaw organization and in viewing its members in the
same light as they do any other common strike breakers.
"John L. Lewis."
The strip miners having been classed as outlaws, or
beyond the protection of the law, the inference naturally followed
that they were proper subjects for the bludgeon, bullet
and rope.
On June 20, the telegram was published in the "Marion
Daily Republican" and the "Herrin Journal," the two leading
papers in the county, and thus its contents became known to
practically every union miner and sympathizer. On the afternoon
of that day, the miners held a mass meeting at the
Sunnyside Mine. Colonel Hunter notified Senator Sneed of
the meeting, and Sneed replied: "I know about it. There is
no cause for alarm."
On June 21, an indignation meeting of miners was held
in the Herrin cemetery at which the Lewis telegram was
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