The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-20
RIFLE SALE CAUSES TALK Feeling of Unrest Pre-
 vails.
DO NOT ACCEPT EXPLANATION
Wide Interest in The Advertiser
 Strike Story.
No Guns Were Sold by Local Firm to the Strikers-Strikc Not Feared
 by General Graves.

The exclusive story of The Adver- tiser yesterday portraying the condi- tiens in the Birmingham mine district, and the possibility of a great strike this coming summer, created wide spread interest throughout Alabama The reported sale of rifles to the min CTS in great quantities has created a feeling of unrest as to the real situa- ton. the people of Alabama in gen eral being unwilling to accept the ex- planation of the labor union officials, in regard to the matter.
 In Montgomery 1t is recalled that, only recently The Montgomery Fair put on sale 250 of these old Springfield rifles, and the fact that these weapons were so quickly disposed of has caused the circulation of the rumor that the local firm sold their entire stock to representatives of the Bir- mingham miners. General Manager Danziger was seen in reference to the matter yesterday afternoon. Ee says that there was nothing in the report that the Fair had sold the guns to the miners. or their representatives. In fact. he says that the guns sold here them as curios, and that not half dozen of the guns sold fell into the hands of persons not known to the management of the store.
 MT. DanZiger says that he could have disposed of three or four times the number sold in Montgomery, but fear ing that these guns might fall into ob- jectionable hands, the first order of The Fair was not repeated. The guns which were sold here came from the Government arsenal at Augusta, hae- ing been purchased by St. Louis firm. which deals in goods of that kind. and when disposed of at a price of $1.sS. 1t made very acceptable furnishing for den, or for coZy corner. The fact that no ammunition was offered for sale with the guns and none can be secured In Montgom- cry. MT. Danziger says, is good evil dence that those who bought them here were not making the purchase with the object of securing weapon.
 The story of The Advertiser attract ed much attention from the military authorities. Since the big strike of last summer. the members of tho Na- tional Guard who served in the coal region and mingled freely with the what they had learned during that strike that 1t would be followed by another one this coming summer. The report of the laying out of a camp was first circulated among the militia and the possibility of a great walk -out Is of absorbing interest to them.
 The high officials of the guard. how ever. are not fearful of a strike this summer. Adjutant-General Bibb Graves stated last night that he dis not contemplate any trouble in the mine regions this summer. He said that from his understanding of the there was at the present time many idle men in the Birmingham dis trict; in fact. there are ab out two men to every job, and that if the union men should strike, the mines would not have any trouble whatever in keeping plenty of labor. At the present time Graves says that many of the men are on half time, and that none of them are in a position for a strike at the present time.