Evening Star Newspaper, September 13, 1921, Page 3

GOV.MOR EXPLAINS NEED "~ OFU.S: 'RROOPS IN COAL FIELD West Virginia Executive Says Attempt Was Made to “Shoot Unionism Into Di / stricts.” In response to a request from The ! in various parts of the state. My option Star, Gov. Ephraim F. Morgan of West Virginia, has prepared a state- ment on the history and causes of the mining war in Wes' Virginia. The statement follows, in part: “There has been so much written and so much said of a controversial na- ture concerning the attempt of union miners to invade two of the counties of West Virginia to compel unioniza- tion of non-union coal mines, and there has appeared such a great amount of criticism of West Virginia in the eastern press, based on misin- formation, that I gladly avail my- self of your invitation to make a statement concerning this movement and the necessity that existad for the calling of federal troops. “When 1 became Governor of West Virginia jas#March, six months ago, a coal strike was existing in Mingo county. It had originated in July, 1920, while my predecessor was in office, and twice prior to my inauguration he had been compelled to seek the as- sistance cf federal troops to restore order after assassinations, arson and various crimes had been committed. ‘When I succeeded Gov. Cornwell, the was to ask for federal troops or ask for citizen volunteers to repel the invasion. To save bloodshed I chose to the federal government for troops. “Instead of sending troops, the Secretary of War dispatched federal officers to . Charleston, who advised Mesars. . Kieeney, Mooney and other officers of the United Mine Workers that leadership carried responsibil- ity and firmly requested that they proceed forthwith to the vicinity of Madison and disperse the marching miners. With the exception of ap- proximately 1,200 men gathered in the vicinity of Blair and Sharples, the armed insurgents dispersed 'to treir homes and Gen. H. H. Band- holtz returned to Washington. Three Men Killed. “On the night of August 27 Capt. J. R. Brockus ‘and 4 @quad of state police, which had arrived in Logan county that day, rted down Beech creek toward Sharples to serve about forty - warrants which had been given the polige -by the skeriff of Logan county.. Proceeding down Beech creek, the polige force encountered armed men patrolling coal output of Mingo county was nor- | the roads. The first patrol surren- mal, although the mine workers’ or- ganization supported a number of tent colonies whose occupants have con- tinued to draw relief from the miners treasury. This condition still exists, although the operators in that county | claim they have an ample number of men to man their plants and point to the normal coal production as proof df their assertion. Firing From Kentueky. “Last May, two months after I had been inaugurated, the adult male resi- dents of the tent colonies, aided by other persons living in their vicinity and in sympathy with them, crossed the Tug river and began an attack on several mining communities on the West Virginia side of the river. The firing, of course, came from the Ken- tucky side. “At that time, after the joint request of the Governor of Kentucky and my- gself for federal intervention had, failed. I sent the state police force into_that county to enforce a procla- mation of martial law, which pre- vented unlawful assemblage and later, when the troopers were rein- forced with two companies of the en- rolled militia of Mingo county. en- abled the authorities to control the situation. At the time the act creat- ing the National Guard was not in ef- fect and it was necessary to create the enrolled militia under an old statute. “Since the issuance of the procla- mation of martial law crime has de- creased in Mingo county more than 90 per cent; normal conditions are rapidly being restored. “It was the enforcement of martial Jaw in Mingo county that was cited as a reason for the mobilization of the armed miners of Kanawha and Boone counties, who were later joined by armed bands from some of the mines_in Raleigh and Fayette coun- ties. It was announced that the ob- Jective of the march was to resist martial law in Mingo county. “The insurrectionists exhibited tbeir antipathy toward law enforcement of- ficers on August 12, near Sharples, Boone county, when an armed body of sixty men held up, disarmed and robbed two state policemen of their arms, equipment and horses and un- der threats ordered them to leave Boone county. Four horses were stolen by the armed raiders. Attempt to Kill Policeman. “On the night of August 19, at Ed- wight, an attempt. was made in that community to assassinate another state . _He was shot in the back by an armed body of men which left Ed- wight the following morning for Lens creek, at which point the armed miners began to assemble for their march into Mingo county, traversing n county in reaching their objective. “These armed bodies continued to as- semble on Lens creek for several days, patrolling the roads, halting and using railroad trains, pillaging stores of arms, ammunition and supplies, and invading private homes in search of guns. *On the night of August 23 the armed assemblage had grown to such propor- tions (the number having increased to several thousand) that the officers of Kanawha county advised me they wers unable to cope with the situation or dis- perse the insurgents, and on the follow- ing day I requested federal troops when I was advised that the insurrectionists had started toward the Logan border. T felt that federal troops were necessary because the National Guard had not yet been reorganized under a law that had been effective for less than thirty days and the state police were engaged in the enforcement of martial law in Mingo eounty and distribated at their stations ' jdered, but the second patro] an- swered the command of Capt. Brockus to surrender with a volley of bullets. The fire was returned and three men were killed. The police then retired to Logan ‘county and at my jrequest did not renew their efforts to serve the warrants. “When - they received - reports of this encounter the miners, who had returned to their homes, started an- jother march toward Logan couaty. i Automobiles by the score were com- imandeered by the armed miners and, with truckloads of ammunition, they again started for the Logan border. “After I had sent the adjutant gen- eral of West Virginia to Sharples and, at his command, the men had refused to disperse, on August 29 I renewed my request for federal troops and, after a second investi- gation by federal officers who visited Ilhe scene of conflict, my recom- mendations were approved by Gen. | Bandholtz and the troops came. | Why U. S. Troops Were Asked. “The state has been criticised by persons unfamiliar with the gravity of the situation because federal troops were requested. West Virginia is not the only state that has re- quested federal troops. There are i numerous instances in recent years states, and they were sent to other states, an dthey were sent without the measure of criticism- that has been directed against this state. Why was the request made for federal troops? Because 6,000 deluded men were in insurrection against the con- stituted authorities of a sovereign state in deflance of law at a time when the state was without a Na- tional Guard and her quota of 200 state police were engaged at other points in the enforcement of law. “What were the basic causes of this revolution, this insurrection against the state, and then the federal gov- | ernment? Ostensibly, it was organ- ized as a protest against the enforce- | ment of martial law+in Mingo county. i where crime had been reduced per cent, and to remove what Samu=l : Gompers of the American Federation of bor and John L. Lewis and Philip Murray, president and vice | president of the United Mine Work- ors, and the district officers of the { latter organization termed the Bald- win-Feltz mine guards. “Regardless of the assertions of Gompers, Lewis and Murray, there were no Baldwin-Feltz or other mins | guards in Mingo county when this { insurrection occurred. I take it that | these labor leaders and their lesser agents in ascribing the motive far the insurrection to be the removal | of Baldwin-Felts mine guards were seeking to defend those who sen in arms against the state of est Virginia. The Baldwin-Felts detective agency, which operates in | the two Virginias, is not a popular organization. But when Gompers, Lewis and Murray assert the cause of the revolt in West Virginia was to remove the mine guards of any description from Mingo county they are seeking to camouflage an insur- rection that was directed against the constituted authorities of a state by making it appear that it was directed against something which did not exist. “Many crimes are charged by the leaders of the United Mine Workers againet the so-called mine guard system that they have charged exists in Mingo and Logan counties, and doubtless many assaults have been made upon agitators and organizers and for which the transgressors should have been punished. But, even if it were true that innumerable SPECIAL NOTICES. WANTED—A VAN LOAD OF FURRITURE from New York city September 14, from Phil- adelphia September 16 and 17. THE BIG 4 TRANSFER COMPANY, INC., Main 2159. 1125 14th st. n.w. BIDS FOR THE NEW SALEM BAPTIST Plaas and specifications Chureh are now open. at 1715 Florida ave. n.w. PIANOS FOK KENT—CPRIGHT AND GRAND Dlanos for rent at ressonable prices; remt a ‘on Durchase price by agrecment. HUGO WORCH."Hi0 6 Victrotas Sad rece o SHORT STORY WRITERS, LET ME EDIT and_type your work. PUBLIC STENOGRA- PHER, 631 Pa. ave., cor. 7th st. . The Shade Shop W. STOKES SAMMONS. 830 13th St. = We give the best values in Window Shades in town. ‘Let Me Call and Show You what Asbestos Roof Coating will do. The only coating applied with a brush that will stoj leaks and preserve any kind of roof. Esti- Tates ‘furnlaned free. We apply same and rantee five years. Also sold in bulk. Mad- m_Clark, 1314 Pa. avi s.e. Phone Linc. 4219. Did- the Roof Leak? —Casey makes roof leak |pmol and does the work guickly. 3207 14th ST. N.W. Phones Col. 155 and 1381 TADAMS’ PRINTING Is its own recommendation. - Consult us now. HIGH-GRADE, BUT NOT HIGH-PRICED. THE SERVICE SHOP BYRON S. ADAMS, FEEaeee BIDUCNIP FREIGHT AND GREATER SE- eurity household goods to Pacific it and LATITE SE ES Laid right over old wood shingles with- out.ripping o, Saves. labor and b= you a solid, durable foof. Made asphalt. Let us apply them. IRON Roofing, 1416 F st. n.w. CLAFLIN FOR EYEGLASSES. Company. Phone Main 14. Tin Roofs—Slag Roofs REPAIRED AND PAINTED. Call Main “Heating and_Roofing .S:'-g Pk SHOE REPAIRING. Mothers! School Time Is Near! We ADWEAR Gitls and Boys shoes. Adwear soles at same price outlast three real leather soles or money back. Shoes called for and delivered. lin 591 and 4278. Unique Shoe Shi Parlors. ADWEAR SOLES COMPANY, 1319 N. Y. ave. 1726 Pa. ave. 300 ROOF PAINT, $1.30 GALLON Made Prince’s metallic and linseed ail. from - C. C. PAINT CO. ROOF TALKS: ‘Phone mey- - R. K. FERGUSON, Inc. ‘ml 8th St. Phone North 5&»‘ - By 3 FRENOCE m| ‘Wash. Loan & ] REPAIRING. RECOVERING. SPECIAL NOTICES. Time to Put Furnaces —in order or to see us about in- stalling new Heating Plants. ng_engineers and know the right heating troubles. Expert work at Estimates on request. Biggs Engineering Co., 1310 14th st. n.w. Phone Franklin 317. ‘Warren W. Biggs, President. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCK- holders of the Union Bullding Co., for the election of officers and directors for the en- suing year, will be held at its office, 119 8. Fairfax st., Alexandria, Va., Monday, Septem- ber 19. 101wt 11 o'ciock &.m. LOUIS BEYER, Jr., M. PARKER, Becretary. President. ‘WANTED—A VANLOAD OF FURNITURE TO New York city, Sept. 24th or 26th and from CLEVELAND before Oct. 1st. \ THE BIG 4 TRANSFER 00., INC., 1125 14th st. n.w. Main 2159, STEAM AND HOT-WATER HEAT, BOILERS cleaned ‘and repaired. VERMILLION, Montello ave. m.e. Linc. 2818. O 3 YOUR OLD WQOD FLOORS made new, planed, scraped and| repolished ; new floers laid. Call any hour. C. 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LOBOY" Selections from “The Mikado,” Sullivan “Serenade” ...............Drdla Walts suite, “Espana.” Waldteufel Grand scenes from -“Romeo and Jullet P Gounod crimes have been committed in Logan and*Mingo counties by the so-called mine guards, these crimes were not committed against the union miners of Kanawha and Boone counties which furnished the larger number of insurrectionists. Call Unfonism Real Alm. “It was not the elimination of the mine guard system that the leaders of the United Mine Workers sought to gain by this insurrection. It was an attempt on their part to force unionization of the Mingo and Logan coal flelds, to shoot unionism into those districts if necessary. “The mines in these twao tountles are operated by non-union labor, and in order to secure employment the employes have accepted voluntary reductions in wages, as have em- ployes in many other trades when they realized that war-time wages cannot be continued. 4In the union mines of the state the officers of the United States Mine Workers have refused and declined to permit the employes to accept reduced wages during the life of the contract| which was made by the government, and which does not expire until April of next year. As a consequence, the 6 GENUINE BuLL'DurRHAM TOBACCO We want you to have the best paper for *“BULL.” So now you can receive with each packageabook of 24 leaves of W11k~ the very finest cigarette paper in the world. union mines are idle much more than the non-union mines where the cost of production has been lessened, con- sequently lessening the cost of coal to the consumer. Except where physical conditions operate to thelr advantage, the union coal fields cannot compete in the present market with the non- union coal flelds, and the officials of | the United Mine Workers are familiar with this condition. Highest Regard for Union Labor. “Personally, I have the hignest re- gard for union labor. I know from personal observation that it has ac-, complished much for the wage-earner in many instances. It has brought him comfort and contentment that other: wise would not have been secured. But in West Virginia the miners' or- ganization must be purged of radical and revolutionary leadersiin before it can expect to find a footho!d among the contented miners in non-union dis- tricts. “And the leaders of the labor move- | ment in America, especially those who are in national authority amonz the | United Mine Workers, must refrain from giving their support to lawless characters who happen temporarily to be in command of the destinies of thelr organization in_the state. ‘The national leaders of th> United Mine Workers ought to be using their efforts to free the organization from radical control rather than encourag- ing thelr district leaders to continue insurrectionary tactics in defiance of law and order.” i HOUSES Furnished and Unfurnished FOR RENT From $135 Per Month Up JOHN W. THOMPSON & CO., INC. 821 15th St. Main 1477 ‘Washington—the most “Livable” City in America ESULTS TELL. 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