Samuel Gompers to Woodrow Wilson

Executive Council.

President, SAMUEL GOMPERS, Secretary, FRANK MORRISON, Treasurer, JOHN B. LENNON,Bloomington, Ill.A short while ago I wrote you enclosing telegrams from representative labor men of Arizona protesting against actions of violance committed against the miners of that state, and I urged that the rights of those miners be protected. Since then other communications have come to me both from Arizona and other sections of the United States. Unrest exists among the miners in this country in a greater degree than has been manifested in many years.

The men working in the coal mines in this country are performing a service that is indispensable both to our own government and to our allies in the war which we are now waging. These miners have been generally patriotic and have been trying to do their part in the nation's work. The general organization has entered into an agreement with the mine operators in the organized districts and continuous production of coal is ensured in those districts so long as the contracts are carried out. But in districts where employers refuse to deal with representatives of the miners and where miners presentation of claims for higher wages and better conditions are arbitrarily refused, not only is the output of the mine stopped but there has been stimulated a spirit that will not promote the best interests of our nation, our government, and the necessities of our allies.

This morning I received the following telegram from Mr. Wm. Green, International Secretary-Treasurer of the United Mine Workers of America, and members of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor. The telegram explains the feeling that exists among the miners; that the rights of the workers, the common people of this country, must be maintained or we lose democracy and human freedom in our country:Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 1, 1917."Mr. Samuel Gompers,A. F. of L. Bldg. Washington, D. C.Have sent following telegram to President Wilson and Secretary Wilson. Ask you interest yourself in this matter. Some time ago members United Mine Workers were working under contracts with Victor American Coal Co which continues for at least one year at Gallup New Mexico. This company sold mine and immediately new concern discharged members our union and evicted them from their homes. We furnished tents for them and they were living peaceably therein. Yesterday Sheriff and company forcibly loaded eighty members our union in cars and deported them. We will not countenance this outrage. Demand federal government intervene and provide these men be returned to their homes. Unless this is done quickly I will favor strike of coal miners United States until this outrage is righted. Please advise quickly what will be done.
(Signed) Wm. Green,International Secretary Treasurer United Mine Workers of America."Those of us who have the best interests of this nation at heart can not expect the miners of this country to quietly submit to such illegal acts as occurred in Arizona and New Mexico. Therefore, I feel that I ought to urge upon you the necessity of some action to put an end to such illegal policies and outrages against the working men of this country. In addition to the telegram of Mr. Green, I also received a telegram from the Secretary of the Montana State Metal Trades Council which is as follows:Aug. 2, 1917"Samuel Gompers,A. F. of L. Bldg. Washington, D. C.We respectfully request and urge a speedy investigation of the lynching of Frank H. Little in this city this morning and believe it to the best interests of organized labor and the U. S. government that this be considered at once.MONTANA STATE METAL TRADES COUNCILC. O. EDWARDS, SEC'Y."Permit me to add my personal request that a speedy investigation be made of the lynching of Mr. Little and official information be given to the people of the United States. These events arouse within me a very great anxiety for the consequences if our government does not take immediate steps to maintain justice and constitutional rights to all of o u r citizens.President,American Federation of Labor.Hon. Woodrow WilsonPresident of the United States,Washington, D. C.