Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1916-11-16
FIVE COMPANIES COAST ARTlL-
LERY TO ENFORCE ORDER AT
MILLS IN ANDERSON.
MILLS MAY OPEN UP AGAIN
Governor Manning Orders Soldiers to
Enforce Writs of Ejectment
Against Strike Employees.

South Carolina on duty here to assist
In enforcing ejectment writs against
strike employees of Equinox and
Gluck Cotton Mills, residing on mill
property Sunday passed without dis
order
After Major NJ. F.. Robertson of
Greenville. commanding the troops.
had announced on his arrival that he
wished to acquaint himself with the
situation and the mill owners were
loath to drive the strikers out in the
rain, constables decided to postpone
the service of writs until Monday.
Reports that the mills might be re-
opened were current and it was stat
ed that the managements would be
guided by Major Robertson's decision
in this matter.
Governor Orders Troops.
mbia.-Governor Manning Fri
day night ordered five companies of
Coast Artillery to proceed to Ander-
son Immediately to afford civil author
lty there to carry out orders of the
court in ejecting striking mill opera
uves of the Equinox Mill from houses
and in enforcing the law.
The Governor ordered Major Will
liam +. Robertson, commanding the
battalion of Coast Artillery, to pro-
ceed to Anderson and take command.
He also telegraphed Commander
Crouch. Of the four divisions Of Naval
Militia at Charleston, to hold his COM
panies in readnes to answer a call.
The decision of the Governor to
send the National Guard into An
derson to preserve order and enable
the civil authorities to carry out the
orders of the court came after all the
civil processes had been exhausted.
The militia companies at once as
sembled in their armories and arc
proceeding to Anderson The Cover
nor ordered the necessary railroad
equipment made ready. BY daybreak
Saturday $50 soldiers were in Ander
son under command of Major Robert.
son ready to carry out the orders OF
the Governor.
The trouble at Anderson began
some time ago, when constables who
went to ejectc strikers from the
houses on the mill property under
ejectment orders from Magistrate Cox
were stopped by sympathetic crowds
of armed strikers.
The ejectment writs were then
placed in Sheriff John H. NJ. Ashiey's
hands. but the Governor received an
appeal from Manager Ligon, OF the
Equinox Mill, for protection, SAYING
the sheriff refused to act.
The Governor wired the sherirf tn
know of the situation and in reply
received a telegram which the Gov.
ernor said was 'insolent" The sheriff
in his wire to Governor Manning said
I'm part:
'Writs OF ejectment have not been
served yet. | will do this work ac-
cording to my own judgment and it
that don't suit you, you can send up
here and do 1t yourself"
Immediately the Governor replied
to him: Your insolent telegram re-
ceived. | shall without delay take
necessary steps to enforce the law in
spite of your attitude of disrespect
and defiance of the law and en-
couragement OF lawlessness."
In addition to the $50 National
NN@'A' ''''''i' "AiO pi OSttucu TO AMER
son there are 200 more IN the naval
militia which are being held under
arms to be sent there If needed
Orders to Troops.
Governor Mannings orders to the
troops read in part as follows:
/. Being satisfied OF the failure or
the civil authorities OF the county Of
Anderson to execute the laws and an.
iorce the orders of court, / hereby
order and direct that the following
troops Of the National Guard of South
Carolina report to Maj. William F.
Robertson at Anderson. s. c.. at once
fuiiy uniformed. armed and equipped
for active service:
First Company G. A c., Greenvllle.
Second Company c. A. c., Spartan.
burg
Third Company. c. A. c., Gaffney.
Fourth Company c. A. c., Jones
Vile.
Fifth Company c. A. c., Greenwood.
2. Maj. William f.. Robertson OF
Greenville, will proceed to Anderson
at once and take command OF thesh
forces
B. Major Robertson will use such
force as may be necessary to execute
the laws, preserve the public peace
and protect the court officers in en-.
forcing the courts orders. and Is an.
thorized to call on me for such add.
tional troops as he may deem neces.
sary to execute the laws. protect the
court Officers in enforcing the courts
orders and preserve the peace and
dignity of the state.
4. The travel enjoined is necessary
to the public service.
Richard l. Manning.
Governor and Commander I'm Cbiaf