The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-08

vas heartily supported by the president of tho convict bureau, MT. Reginald H. Daw- son, and by Col. Sam Will John in the legislature. He made a personal inspection | of the main prison at Wetumpka and ported to the legislature the degrading conditions there, which resulted in gratify- | ing reconstruction of the main building l and enlargement of the land. Thousands I of acres of farm lands were purchased near Speigner, and the abandonment of the lease system apparently secured when
 another administration came into power. 1 The democratic party was in discord. The industries of the whole country were depressed. Labor was largely idle and otherwise unproitable to itself. Strikes
 came in Alabama where there was the
 most considerable wage class.
 l On October B. 1893. Col Louis V. Clark was ordered, by the governor with the Jefferson county companies to the boom town, New Decatur. where the Louisville and Nashville railroad had large shops. A forged order of the United States court, directing the reinstatement of certain strikers at these shops caused trouble. The presence of the troops was effective to prevent threatened outbreak.
 The next year. April IA. between 1000
 and 5000 coal miners of the Birmingham district went on strike.
 | This was protracted, violent and com plicated with the sympathy of citizens in 1 the early stages.
 After 10 days the governor went upon l the scene in person. He conferred with 1 the sheriff and with the executive board l of the order of United Miners.
 | No good came of the conferences. The
 situation constantly grew tense. mob went from Jefferson into Walker county and blew up the works at one mine at Horse Creek and set fire to another. Se- l rious trouble prevailed at Pratt. where
 the threat was to release the convicts 1 On May 25, the sheriff having despaired
 in fact of six weeks continuous hostile demonstration of strikers to see any hope | for peace called on the governor for help The Second regiment was promptly as- l sembled under Colonel Clark and went into camp at Ensey. This regiment was relieved by the First and that by the Third.
 The governor in person appeared on ths ground.
 Midsummer arrived and yet the strike 1 relaxed nothing. In the night. July &, Governor Jones arrived in Birmingham. | All barrooms were tightly closed at once. The troops had gone home. Great crowds j O. angry men were about the Louisville and Nashville station. The governor or- l dered Colonel Clark to take possession and disburse them. From Mobile Gen. J. W. Whiting with 600 men of state troops l came up Quiet seemed restored and all troops were ordered home.
 On the night of July 16 late in the afternoon alarm reached the city of re- Il ncwed outbreak at Slope No. 3. Pratt City. The troops were recalled by wire and
 next day all were present for duty.
 The sheriff had arrested more than 100 ps rticipants in the massacre at Pratt City and put them in Jail. The jail was guard
 ed but the sentinels were pelted with
 stones.
 Through half of April all of May, June and July until August 14 the troops were
 on duty The governor himself was in command. but in constant conference with the sheriff. the mayor and the command ing officers. He at last subdued, with a minimum of bloodshed resulting. the most for midable rioting the state had ever JOHN wITHERsPOoN DUBOsR