The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-21
NEED MORE SOLDIERS
tContInued from Page onel

The operators will fight to the last, but at present they wish to avoid dis order at all hazards. Accordingly they are slow about rushing non-union men to work. The few union men at work are to a great extent negroes, dagoes and Slavs, who are being kept under guard while at work. and who fear to leave the protecting rides of the miii- tia except to desert to the side of the strikers.
 The miners are simply awaiting de- velopments. They have two courses open to them. lawful resistance and H. iegalN resistance. At present they are living quietly, but at any moment the method may change.
 Tis truly the rocking chair period of the strike. when each side is calmly seated and waiting for the other side to start something.
 Soldiers Are Efficient.
 The Birmingham soldiers have proven themselves entirely efficient. For three days they have undergone hardships that would test the endur- ance of a regular, Hiked out of Birm- ingham without time to equip them selves properly. they have been con- stantly on the go since they reached their camp at Blossburg in the centre of a circle of a score of mining towns of the county.
 The policy of Major Ledbetter, com manding the battalion. has been. to SCOUT the entire country side, disperse armed gatherings, patrol the property of the operators and prevent clashes between special deputy sheriffs and the strikers.
 To do this, he has few more than 100 men, with twenty-five men in addition from the artillery battery, who are on duty with the Gatiings and mountain pieces at Blossburg. The militiamen have accordingly been subject to con- stant marching over the toughest and most mountainous countries.
 The Tennessee Company and the other operators have provided but poorly for their comfort on the short notice given. Up to today the food has been bad and the water supply worse. Few of the men have had sleeping quarters Of any thing like a comfort able character and few hours have been given them for sleep. The hos pital accommodations. on account of the brief notice given. are very limit ed and half the battalion is suffering from sore feet, while a quarter Is suf- fering from sheer exhaustion and stomach troubles caused by the food. water, and exposure. The men have been kept going on excitement, but this excitement Is dying out and should there be sudden call for active fight ing. half of the energy and the espirit. with which the young soldiers started. would be lacking.
 The permanent camp of the battalion is situated at Blossburg. seventeen miles from Birmingham, in a hollow on the banks of an alum water brook. On every side, the camp is surrounded by overshadowing hills and these have to be constantly picksted to prevent any hostile miners gaining access thereto and having the camp complete ly at their mercy.
 are being daily hiked to the surround ing towns, Pinckney City, Murray Mine. Brookside. AdamsviIle. Pratt City. while a company is stationed for the present at Republic. which covers the towns in that vicinity.
 Governor Conner yesterday visited the camps at Republic and Blossburg- He drove out accompanied by Mrs Co" mer and Miss Conner In his big autos mobile, stopping first at Republic. There he found the Woodlawn Com pany comfortably quartered in house with a fair water supply and fair food.
 His visit to Blossburg was far less pleasant. He made careful inspec- tion of the camp and its weaknesses were pointed out by Colonel Hughes Kennedy, who accompanied him. The Governor was not slow to act. He im- mediately informed the Tennessee company's inspectors that suitable tents suitable cots, and suitable cov- ering should at once be issued the men, a separate mess hall must be construct ed for them. The men had been eating in the same place though not at the same time which the negro miners used. Acting on the advice of pr. Mort Jordan in charge Of the hospital corps. he instructed that a car of water should each day be shipped the camp from the Avondale Spring and that lime be provided in great quantities for sanitation.
 He then spoke briefly and eneourae- ingly to the militiamen and departed for Birmingham.
 Sunday night and this morning. the soldiers showed the first effects on their nervous system of the long and unusual toil Throughout the night from midnight on. the sentries chal- 1enged supposed pickets of the miners and fired frequently. About 100 rounds were used during the night and every shot was useless save a voIley fired by detail on three armed men, found in hiding near a ditch near the machine guns. These men took to their heels and escaped without re- turning the fire.
 Today the camp is again quiet, the men enjoying we'll earned rest after their night of excitement.
 Reports from the various mining camps early tonight are to the effect that everything has been quiet today There is naturally considerable desul- tory shooting in various sections and a feeling of unrest prevails in all the camps. but no one has been reported injured.
 It was feared for a time today that the strike sympathy was spreading fn- to adjoining counties. Sheriff Long of Walker County and posse of fourteen deputies was called to Cordova this afternoon because of a report that an would be made to burn the big Frisco bridge there tonight. Re- ports from Cordova tonight are that while many people are on the streets and various rumors are heard, the Sheriff believes no violence will occur.
 Sheriff P. P. Latham of Tuscaloosa made a trip to the mining camps of that county today and stated tonight that he anticipated no trouble at the mines there.
 Governor Conner held a lengthy con- ference with Sheriff Higdon today about the situation in Jefferson County and the calling of the cavalry troops to the district this afternoon was the result of that conference. The Gov ernor also called a number of officials of the large mining companies into consultation today with a view of im- proving conditions for the militiamen