Black workers Ed England, Murphy Humphrey, W.H. Ford, George Bell, Rich Foster, Henry Witt, Ed Higgins, Charles Sharlo, John Elmore, H.S. Collins, Ed Woolens, and Comit Talbert were killed in 1934’s labor battles. Eight were killed in strikes around Birmingham. Below are Daily Worker news items of circumstances for most of their deaths.

‘Twelve Negro Workers Slain In 1934 Strikes’ from the Daily Worker. Vol. 11 No. 247. October 15, 1934.

I.L.D. Survey Reveals Deaths in Fight for Living Conditions

NEW YORK. Twelve Negro workers were killed while engaged in a struggle for better living conditions, during the first nine months of this year, a survey by the International Labor Defense shows. The total number of workers killed in such struggles was 54.

The list of Negroes follows:

1. Ed England. Negro coal striker, member of the United Mine Workers of America. Shot and killed by deputy and chief of police on the picket line at the Red Diamond Coal Company, on April 18.

2. Murphy Humphrey, Negro longshoreman, killed in the New Orleans dock strike. May 2.

3. George Bell, Negro miner, shot by Jefferson County special officers in the strike of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Co. May 8. With him was killed:

4. W.H. Ford, another Negro miner.

5. Rich Foster, shot by thugs in the T.C.I. steel strike at Birmingham, Ala., May 9. With him was killed:

6. Henry Witt.

7. Ed Higgins, Negro coal miner, secretary of the Empire local of the United Mine Workers. Shot by a leader whom he had charged with being a stool-pigeon. May 14.

8. Charles Sharlo, Negro longshoreman, killed by company guards in the strike against the Clyde Mallory and Luckenback S.S. Co. lines, at Galveston. Texas, in May. With him was shot:

9. John Elmore, another Negro longshoreman.

10. H.S. Collins, at Birmingham, Ala. Murdered when deputies opened fire with machine guns on parade of U.M.W.A. miners, September 9. With him was killed:

11. Ed Woolens, another Negro coal miner.

12. Comit Talbert. Negro share cropper, member of the Sharecroppers’ Union and active in the cotton-pickers’ strike. Kidnaped and murdered by night-riders, at Opelika, Ala., Sept. 13.

‘Ala. Bosses Whipping Up Race Hatred to Break Strike Unity.’ April 20, 1934.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 19. Tear gas squad 16 of the National Guard has been sent from Montgomery against the mine strikers. The National Guard was rushed to Porter mines, Northeast of Birmingham. The militiamen have sandbag barricades and machine guns. The strikers were prepared to march on Porter, but the United Mine Workers of America leaders rushed there to prevent them. Around 21,000 miners are on strike demanding higher wages, and union recognition.

Two pickets at the Porter mines were arrested on Wednesday. Both are Negroes, Leon Simpson and Will Frazier. A white miner, Gordon Bice, was wounded by fire of deputy gun thugs and police, directed at Ed England, Negro miner who was murdered yesterday at the Red Diamond mines at Leeds, Vice may die also.

William Mitch, district president of the U.M.W.A., gave out a statement on the death of England, blaming it on the “lawless miners” who carry concealed weapons, “I would hesitate to pass judgment.” he said. “We have repeatedly urged ore mine workers to refrain from violence in any form, and in no case to carry fire arms. I regret the shooting of both of these men and feel that if good judgment had prevailed it would rot have occurred.”

The Southern States Industrial Council meeting in Birmingham Wednesday is planning a campaign throughout the South in favor of the differential wage. The U.M.W.A. leaders are following a conscious policy on their own part of attempting to smash the united strike and the splendid unity of the Negro and white workers, while fomenting an attack on the Negroes. A telegram to Roosevelt yesterday by the 300 industrialists at their meeting says; “Racial strife is imminent.” The Age Herald says editorially: “The fact that the Negro miner has become conspicuous in the clashes with officers is fresh, and a bedeviling factor.”

Leaflets and shop papers, issued by the Communist Party, urge the spread of the strike to all mines and to the steelworks. They urge mass picketing, despite the U.M.W.A. leaders’ treachery. They call on the workers to elect rank and file strike committees. Send the guardsmen and deputies home, declare the leaflets. A sharp attack is made on the Southern differentials in all industries. They urge the pulling out of all maintenance crews. The leaflets urge the Negro and white workers to continue their splendid unity.

‘Docker is Shot.’ May 3, 1934.

 Police Arrest Seven Negro Workers in Lake Charles

NEW YORK. Eighteen thousand longshoremen went on strike yesterday in Texas and Louisiana gulf ports, with the coastwise longshoremen on the entire Atlantic seacoast expected to walk out today. In Lake Charles, La., where longshoremen are striking for wage increases, shots were fired into a crowd of dockers, and Murphy Humphreys was killed. In an attempt to cover up the crime, police arrested several Negro workers. The longshoremen in the Southern ports had their wages cut through the introduction of the piece-work system. They are demanding the hourly rate and recognition of the International Longshoremen’s Association. Although Joseph P. Ryan, President of the I.L.A., is issuing statements to the press attempting to give the idea that he is heading the strike movement, the movement really developed over the heads of the union officials. Ryan, in taking on the appearance of the leader of the strike movement, is really attempting to head the movement in order to behead it. Already he has announced that the inevitable strike on the New York docks will not be over wages and hours, but for union recognition. Ryan is thus trying to confine the coming walkout to only the demand for recognition and eliminate all wage demands, for which the Southern longshoremen really struck.

‘Two Negro Ore Strikers Killed on Ala. Picket Line.’ May 10, 1934.

6 Workers Jailed After Raid in Birmingham Reign of Terror–DEFENSE MOBILIZES–Coal Miners Promise Support to Ore Men

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. May 9. Two Negro ore miners, Rich Foster and Henry Whitt, were shot and killed by agents of the companies, on the picket lines of the eight thousand striking Alabama ore miners. A score have been wounded. The National Guard has been called out by Governor Miller, jailer of the Scottsboro boys, and have set up machine guns pointed at the picket lines of the strikers. A bloody reign of terror is being instituted. The National Guardsmen been called out after J.R. Moore, president of the Alabama State Federation of Labor, and J.A. Lipscomb, lawyer for the International Union of Mine Mill and Smelter Workers (A. F. of L.) had asked Governor Miller to “interfere” in the ore strike. Foster and Whitt were shot and killed at the Raimund Ore Mine, captive mine of the Republic Steel Co. All ore mines are out solid and are determined to remain out until the demands for wage increases and union recognition are won. The city of Birmingham and vicinity is seething with strikes. Meat workers, cafeteria workers, relief workers, are on strike, and firemen have presented demands for higher pay. Coal miners, steel workers and ore miners are involved.

A bitter fight occurred on the picket line of the Thomas Blast Furnace of the Republic Steel Company. In this fight two special deputies of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company were also shot when the steel workers defended themselves. The officials of the Internation Mine Mill and Smelter Union have already made an agreement with the employers that they will not conduct picketing. The power lines of the De Bardeleben Coal Company were wrecked. The Southern Railway trestle near coal valley was also wrecked, as was the trestle on Southern between the Railway, Oakman and Coal B Valley.

A reign of terror against militant workers and against the Communist Party is being prepared in Birmingham. Six workers were arrested in Birmingham and are being tried on charges of “vagrancy,” tomorrow in Judge Abernathy’s court. Those charged with “vagrancy” are Jean Myers, Negro woman representing the International Workers Order, and five white workers, Blaine Owen, Harold Ralston, Carl Wilson, R.S. Harris, and Holland Williams. The charge against Jean Myers is being pressed first because she is a Negro. The International Labor Defense, the Communist Party and the Young Communist League are providing legal defense and developing a mass protest against the arrests. Six hundred workers on relief jobs at Gadsden are being held under guard. The Birmingham Post, trying to develop a “red scare” and fascist terror against the Communists, reports that Communists are “threatening violence” there. Three hundred Department of Public Works workers struck yesterday and one hundred and ten struck in Fairfield, the heart of the T.C.I. territory. The three Britling cafeterias, the Butchers at A and P are on strike. White students of Birmingham, Southern and Howard College are being recruited as scabs. The Tennessee Coal and Iron Co. coal miners have offered their unconditional assistance to the ore strikers. The six arrested workers, after asking for their constitutional rights, were told by Assistance Chief of Police McDuff, “S–t on your constitutional rights.”

Resolutions are being introduced into all workers’ organizations, including union and strike meetings, denouncing the arrests as an attempt to terrorize the workers out of fighting for higher wages and union recognition. The resolutions demand the immediate unconditional release of all six arrested workers, the right of free speech and assembly without police interference, the immediate removal of McDuff for denial of constitutional rights he is sworn to uphold, and demanding recognition of the labor unions in all Alabama enterprises. The statement of the Communist Party on the arrests, in a leaflet distributed today, emphasizes that the raids and arrests came as the result of the fear of the employers of the growing strike movement of the workers, and because of the splendid May Day demonstration, which took place in spite of the greatest peace time mobilization of armed forces ever seen in Birmingham. The Communist Party’s statement points out that the workers of Birmingham cannot be stopped in their fight for better wages and conditions by the terror launched against them. They do not have rabbits’ blood in their veins. The city firemen of Birmingham are demanding wage increases to $45 a month. The coal miners have found that the N.R.A. “raise” on which they returned to work, has become a pay cut, because the employers are now making enormous allowances for washer losses.

‘Two More Negro Miners Killed; Workers Fight For Right To Strike; Call National Protests.’ May 11, 1934.

Strikers Smuggle Out Appeal for Aid; Many Wounded–STRIKES MOUNT–Meetings Banned; Po lice Raise “Red Scare”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. A wave of murderous terror has been launched against the 8,000 striking iron ore miners by the steel trust gun thugs, police and National Guard troops, as two more strikers were brutally murdered on the picket lines and many wounded. The strikers, George Bell of Sloss Red Ore mine, and W.H Ford, of the Muscoda Ore mine, the latter owned by the Morgan-controlled Tennessee Coal and Iron Company, were shot down in cold blood by T.C.I. gun thugs Four ore miners and one coal miner have so far been murdered by the steel trust agents. Simultaneous with the murderous assault on the strikers in the mining area, in the city of Birmingham itself, under the slogan “Wipe out Communism,” chief of police Hollums is directing his police in a reign of terror against all strikers and all militant workers who are fighting for their elementary rights.

The Birmingham workers and miners in the surrounding area are fighting in the face of the most extreme terror of the police, gun thugs and state troopers for the right to strike, to organize, to picket and to meet and speak. The chief of police has ordered all workers’ meetings banned, and the arrest of anyone holding a meeting. Iron ore strikers who are at this moment surrounded by armed thugs and troopers and who are in momentary danger of their life, smuggled out an appeal for immediate help which is herewith transmitted to the entire working class.

The letter is addressed to the International Labor Defense and declares, “For God’s sake have the I.L.D. come and save us.” The letter declares, “It all happened half a mile from T.C.I. property on the L. and N. railroad. A group of us were standing on the railroad. A car drove up with a bunch of T.C.I. gun thugs. They tried to provoke us picketers, hut didn’t succeed. Then they moved off a little way.” “All of a sudden they opened fire on us. It was out and out murder. We didn’t have a chance. They just mowed us down. Two were killed and their bodies were picked up later in the woods. Those who were wounded carried away into the weeds to hide, but the thugs followed and threw them into a car. They carried them into the mountains and left them there to suffer. Then the T.C.I. thugs went on to a high school and shot into the yard. They went to a church where they thought the I.L.D. was holding a meeting and fired through the window and wounded one man in the arm.”

Seventy-five per cent of the iron ore strikers are Negro miners. The terror is particularly vicious against the Negroes.

Miners Defend Selves

The miners are defending themselves. The strike wave Is growing, but the strikers badly need the support of the entire working class of the country. Laura Stark, organization secretary of the International Labor Defense, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in the office of the I.L.D. Alexander Racolin, I.L.D. attorney, was arrested at the same time. Racolin was later released. The Birmingham police department is now engaged in a vicious drive to round up ail militant workers. Chief Hollums declares, “I have ordered that Communism be wiped out.” He thus raises the “red scare” in the attempt to enforce the low wage scale announced by Roosevelt and the N.R.A. for the ore miners and to outlaw all strikes and all organization of the workers against wage cuts. Hollums and the police department are blaming the murders on “Communist agitators,” thus preparing the ground for further frame-ups on the strikers and on all militant workers who dare to organize or to strike. A Grand Jury investigation has been ordered into the shootings with the obvious aim of preparing frame-up material against all arrested workers. All organizations and individuals are urged to telegraph and write immediate protests to Hugh Johnson and President Roosevelt at Washington, to Governor Miller at Montgomery, Ala,, and to City Commissioner Downs at Birmingham.

‘Negro Docker Murdered.’ May 14, 1934.

GALVESTON, Texas, May 13. Charles Sharlo, a Negro picket, was murdered by special guards on the Mallory Steamship Company and C. Van Horn, another striking Negro longshoreman, was wounded when the company sent two truckloads of scabs through the picket line to unload a ship. Sharlo was shot at by three special guards for Clyde Mallory line which did not sign Gulf Port strike settlement. Dock workers say “we would rather catch fish in the bay than work for the wages they pay us.” Strikers of the Inter-Coastal Gulf Pacific Line and the West Indian Docks have returned to work, winning wage increases. The men were getting prior to the strike 70 cents an hour straight time and 13 cents a bale. The agreement now calls for 80 cents an hour, with $1.20 for overtime, 15 cents a bale for cotton handling and a 44-hour week.

‘Negro Docker Murdered.’ May 16, 1934.

HOUSTON. Tex., May 15. The longshore strike continued in the gulf ports against three companies which refused to sign agreements with the union, the Clyde Mallory line, the Luckenbaoh Steamship Co, and the Moore McCormack. John Elmore, Negro longshoreman, was shot and killed by company guards who fired on pickets on the dock at Galveston. Ralph Langrave was shot in the leg. Another striker was also wounded in the attack. The shooting took place when the company tried to bring 150 scabs to the S.S. Wichita Falls. The captain fired the first shot from the bridge of the ship. The scabs, many of whom are unemployed farmers from Cameron, Texas, are being held like prisoners by the company, being refused the right to go home. A mass meeting has been called to protest the killing of this worker.

‘Negro Miner Shot in Ala. Terror Dies.’ May 18, 1934.

Four More Arrested in Raids, Lawson Wires Just Before Arrest

ED. NOTE. The following wire was received from the Daily Worker correspondent at Birmingham, Ala., John Howard Lawson, a few hours before his arrest. The Daily Worker has learned from a telephone conversation to the I.L.D. that Ed Higgins, a Negro coal miner and secretary of the Empire local of the U.M.W.A., who was shot on May 14, is dead.

BIRMINGHAM. Ala., May 17. Continued tension prevails in the strike-torn area. As a result of the militant demand of the strikers, two Jefferson County officers, Grady Baker, county marshal, and Sam Arnett, deputy sheriff, were arrested, charged with the murder of two Negro pickets last week. Both immediately posted $10,000 bond each. Hugh A. Locke attorney for Hillman Hawkins, St. Clair County miner, announced he would file damage suits against the Alabama Fuel and Iron Company as a result of the massed attack on his home by men in four automobiles. The attorney has collected approximately 150 discharged shotgun shells and metal base cartridges picked up around Hawkins’ home. Contempt of court citations have been served on nine men for alleged violation of the anti-picketing injunction obtained May 9 by the Republic Steel Corporation Thomas plant.

Birmingham police continue persecution of alleged reds in their efforts to terrorize the working class. Early this morning four Negroes were arrested. Alfred and Felda Barnes were seized in a raid on 2011 Avenue K. Ensley; Jim and Pearl Battle, at 1514 24th 8t„ Ensley. Chief Hollums announced that “Inflammatory” literature had been seized, including a resolution demanding equality for Negroes in jury service, opportunity to run for political office and the right to vote in primaries, and also International Labor Defense membership cards. Continuing their terrorist tactics, police today carried out a check of ail news stands in an attempt to trace places where the Daily Worker is sold. The funeral this morning in Ishkooda of a murdered Negro striker was attended by large crowds of white and colored workers. The speakers stressed the solidarity of white and Negro workers in joint struggle for better conditions. A Negro speaker pointed out the role of the police in carrying out bosses’ attacks on all members of the exploited class, declaring: “They shoot you down, and It don’t matter what your color is.”

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.