The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-24
GUARDS 60 HOME.
Sheriff Hatfield and Force of
Deputies
Refuse Longer to Protect the
West Virginia Mines.
OFFICERS ARE JEERED
When They Serve Judge Jack
sons Writ of Injunction.
Writs of Ejectment to Be Serv-
ed on Strikers Wednesday.

Matewan, w Va, June 24.-No devel-
opments of a serious nature marked
Sundays situation at the scene of the
strike in the Thaclxer- -Matewan coal
field. At a secret caucus held at the
Thacker Saturday night, it is under
stood that vigorous expressions We're
made ty strikers in condemnation of
Judge Jackson's sweeping injunction
but the conservatives were in the ma
jority and no plan. of campaign was
mapped out looking to any trespass on
its conditions. However, the statement
is made that the men at work repre-
senting a small percentage of the 1000
involved, would be pressed to unite
with the strikers. While the injunction
was made effective Friday, the defend
ants in equity were not formally served
until this morning. The service of sum-
mons met with no particular act of Vi
olence although the officers were greet
ed with 1eers and imprecatiOns on
government by injunction" To ada to
the seriousness of the situation Sheriff
Hatfield and force of picked men who
reported for guard duty at the mines
have refused to serve and returned to
Williamson
White said last night: I'VE declined to
take a hand in the controversy because
the demand of the operators THAI all
intercourse between the strikers and
the non-union men be suspended was
manifestly unjust. We agreed 10 pre-
serve order, prevent interference of
violent nature and protect mining pro
perty, but beyond this we could not in
fairness go.'
The guards now on duty in the six
collieries in the district are selected
from the ranks of non-union nlen and
number all told about one hundred.
t,.a 7ad
advantage of position would make
stubborn resistance. Thus far they
have succeeded in enforcing the COM
pany's demand against trespassing by
strikers. It is expected that a Crisis
will be reached Wednesday, when 1t IS
currently reported writs of ejectnert
viii be served on strikers Occupying
company houses. This, if anything, VIII
precipitate hostilities, as not even tenn
porary quarters could be provided for
the homeless men and their families, all
available property at Thacker and
Matewan being in use, and Williamson
is badly crippled for shelter by reason
of the recent disastrous conhagration
Frank a. Hill, of Roanoke, president
of the Consolidated companies, " as here
today. in conference with his subord1-
mates and attorneys and left hurrledly
for KenoVa. It is believed he has gone
to Charleston TO appeal for co-opera-
ton of state militia. AS regards the
cause of the strike there is a difference
of opinion. The union workers de-
mand recognition of the union and
claim that determinations are made in
favor of non-unionists. They have as
particular grievance the discharge of
one of their number, a colored man, for
losing time to attend the United Mine
Workers meeting at Indianapolis, as \
delegate from their lodge. On the 9TH
er hand, operators maintain that the
strike is due to the refusal of Superin-
tendent Lambert of Maritime and
Lockfork mines, to discharge a miner
from the Elkhorn field, who declined to
Join the union on the ground that he
already belonged to too many orders to
Justify him in the additional expense.
The wage question does not figure, tho
wages paid averaging from So to $5 per
day being entirely satisfactory. Five
hundred dollars a week in relief funds
is coming into the field from United
Mine Workers of America
It is stated on good authority that
warrants viii be issued for all partici-
pants in recent riots by the Mir-go
county authorities. The men will be re-
leased on bond and future eruptions
will then come under the jurisdiction of
the federal authorities. All is quiet
this morning and as several hundred
of the strikers are working on repairs
on the Norfork & Western roadhed al
Panther, no developments are expected