The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-09

follows:
Mr.. Editor:
Please allow me space in your paper
to give my opinion of the strike sit
uation as have seen it. Other peo-
pie have explained themselves to the
public through the papers, and lot
of newspaper correspondents have
come to Anderson and gone away and
reversed the situation. The newspa-
pers have twisted things to suit them
selves, and as they are all owned by
corporations they could not do other
wise, and Governor Manning being
one Of them, of course, came across
to try and help break the strike and
Cypress the laboring people at the
Equinox and Gluck mills. The Gluck
mill operatives went out about the
first Of August and the Equinox, the
! latter part of August. Mr.. Ligon.
general manager of both mills al
ready strong enemy Of mine, would
hardly speak to me when he met me
ON the streets, did not say a word to
me concerning the strike; never call
ed on me for anything. He and his
crowd, after running the strike stu
alton as far as they could run It and
when they would not go any further
eor was afraid to go any further, then,
Ar. Lyon called on me. He did not
ask me to serve the ejactment papers,
hut asked me to place deputies around
the mill to start it up. I told him
no; I would not do it, in as much
>as they had ignored me as Sheriff
all. the way through with the high
banded proceedings that they had start
ed. With Judge Cox to eject those peo-
pie from their houses, denying them
the right OF appeal, | said will not
surround that mill with deputies to
start II until they come to some agree
:Ment and let everybody go back to
work. Then he says to me. Sheriff,
we did not think yon ,wanted to serve
these papers" told him no; that
Judge Cox had never given ME a
paper to serve since he had been mag
astrate Of Anderson county and that
i would not serve paper from Judge
Cox at all now if I could get around
it.
Now, Mr. Editor, there has been
lot said about my refusing to serve
the ejectment papers. l did ask the
.Inf' authorities to give a bond and
would do this work and this they
refused to do. ! have always under
stood that notice os appeal stayed al:
arocedings, and on the advice OF my
attorneys I asked for this bond, but,
afterwards my attornc-s and the mil
attorneys agreed that if would go
ahead and serve the papers, they
would be willing to give reasonable
tine for the mill people to get hous-
es and then l was to put them OUT,
(which I have done. elected Mr..
Duncan on Friday and the other four
were to be moved out On Saturday
morning, but Mr.. Ligon was not ge.-
ting as much revenge on the mill op-
eratives by my course Of action as
he wanted so ! suppose he got in
behind Governor Manning to send the
militia to Anderson. Governor Man
ming not wanting very much OF an
excuse anyway wired me. I just
thought ] would let him know tina.
If he was going to- run this strike
as he wanted it run, he would be COM
PEELED to come and do the work him
self, and in place Of coming himself.
he sent the militia here to do what
he wished to ge done. Now, Mr.. Edi-
tor, what did the militia do when
they got to Anderson? Did they do
what Governor Manning prenteded
they were sent here to do? No; they
were placed inside of the steel fences
around the Equinox mill Mr.. Ligon
did not say eject these people from
their homes, but he threw the gates
wide open at the mills; said to ev-
eryone, throw down your union, come
in and go to work and the ten per
cent raise will come without asking.
We will not hear Of you asking for
!, ton nor cent raise with Governor