The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-19
MHITAMEN ON DUTY
 READY FOR EMERGENCIES
Many Believe Fire of Bloodshed is
 Only Smouldering.
Governor Conner Is on the Scene Watch ing the Deveiopments.-Does Not Thiak it AdisabIe to Call Out
 More of the Troops.
BY L. F. WOODRUFF.

RfrminRham, July 1s--tSpeciaLl--f peputv Sheriffs of Jefferson county. citizen soldiers of Birmingham ana striking miners of the mineral dlsLEict' after the disorders of the past two days' glared at each other today but oio noun ing more serious.
 hama. in the scene of activities, did nothing, but announce that he would await developments. No outbreak oc- curred during the morning and after noon The miners were passive, tne soldiers simply stood ready Tor emer- gencies and the deputy sherins content erty of the operators or the county. nut thA finder is here. The match IS here and the fire of bloodshed IS only smouldAring after the two strenuous days which have just passed
 The slightest provocation may cause the match to be applied to the finder and then Alabama will witness disor- ders. moi seen in the state since the mo- mentous days of 1884. The miners are in an ugly mood. Undoubtedly they have their grievances. The operators are to an extent obstinate and undoubt- ediy they have just cause for being so.
 They acted more than hastily on sev- eral occasions in their clasnes Witn tne strikers, but they have perhaps some cause. The militia alone has proved ab- solutely effective. The citizen soldiers are welcomed by the operators who wish their property protected. Ine striking miners say that they welcome the arrival of the militianaen as a guar antee against the alleged outrages or deputy sheFins. Governor Conner now ever does not seem to appreciate the value Of the citizen soldiers. He Is afraid that many extensive obilizafion Of the Khahki Clad boys will stir up the miners to a repetition of previous disorders.
 The Chief executive was moi eu- couraged by the passiveness of today. ne believes there is stiii T probability Of a repetition of the disorders. hut he nlso believes that it would be bad policy to crowd the mining dis- trict with troops. He believes that such action might be the match that would start the finder flaming. n this he has not the coucurrepce of the law pflcerg and the commanding of 6ders Of the military forces. Sheriff Higdon thinks the situation serious. He favors measures of prevention be- fore the storm has q chance to break. He has asked the governor to prevent any possibility of great loss Of life diateiy ordering the first cavalry squadron and the End Infantry Ala bafna National Guards for active @ Ities on the scene and to hold the entire srd Regiment subject to orders in Bir- Taingham. In this he has been heart fly seconded by Lieutenant Colonel Hughes B. Kennedy in direct command Of the militia of the district.
 The governor has mind of his own however. He fs carefully considering every phase of the situation according to his ideas. He has no wish to over- awe the miners by the presence of a large body of soldiers and stiIl the miners say that they want to have Tailitiamen present.
 You can say said Governor Conner today after he had returned from a cor ner stone laying at odenvflia St. Clair county. ''that am here in Birmingham to see that Alabama gives protection to its citizens. This is a bad time for strike. The country Is not in it's best financial condition and men are moro likely to allow their passions to get the better of their judgment. will see that the lives and property of Aiabamians and people working in the State, are protected. I intend to look out for the union mep as well as the non-union man. but order must be pre- served. Sheriff Higdon has asked me for the cavalry squadron and have issued instructions for the suuadron as we'll as the End Infantry to be ready to move. but the reports today from inc scene of the recent trouble are so en- couraging that I see no necessity for crowding the district with soldiers.
 T recognize that there may be trouble at any time. but the force here at present is capable of meeting 1t, un- til achievements arrive. do not wish to act hastily in this matter, but am determined to protect lives and property. It Is not likely that I wfll return to the Capitol until I am sure that everything Is serene here"
 Miners Respect Militiamen.
 The Governor. however, is more op- timistic than any other persons well acquainted with the situation. There are in the district on duty hardly more than 1s0 militiamen at the present time. They are scattered over the county. There are on duty approxf- mately 500 special deputy sheriffs. There are about 10000 striking miners