The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-28
500 U. S. TROOPS
MAY Be USED TO
GUARD PROPERTY
Governor To Call on Army If
They Are Needed
Officers Have Promised To Fur
nish Men Upon Request.
l. W. W. START THEIR WORK
Attempt Made To Wreck Pipe
Line Near EIDOradO.
Elevators and Packing Plants
To Be Guarded.
|. W. W. START Their WORK

Governor Capper may ask Tor oOV
regular troops to protect property IN
the Kansas oil belt and industriai
centers Troops were promised IN
te1eerams received by the governor
from Newton d. Baker, secretary OF
mr. and from General Carter IN
charge of the central division, Chicago
Rapular army men will be used IN
Topeka. Kansas City, wichita Hutch-
ipson. Eldorado, Chanute, Indepeno-
ence and other towns.
While a definite request mas not
been made. the governor stated TO-DAY
+,,+' he believed the danger of l. w.
w activities could be overcome thTu
the use of 500 trained armed men II
is probable General Garter viii si seiIO
the men to various towns ana CIlieo S
fror1 one of the cantonments where
.I, - army men are stationed.
There is slight probability that men
-,-ili he taken from the national army
at Camp Funston
Guard Packing Plants.
plans of Governor Capper today
o,I1ad for protection of all large IN
dustrial plants He will ask TOT troTPS
to police packing plants, nlllls'
vatOrs, manutacturlls ro,,Inhar of
fineries and pipe lines A nuhhpTI u
soldiers will be used in the paCklls
house district in Kansas CITY Ran
rTrooDs will also be asked 1or the PIo-
lection of mills, elevators ana manu-
Featuring plants in Topeka The local
-IS'.+e, to he DIaced under soldier guard
I,5iI1 Drobably include all OF the large
Topeka mills and elevators, the Woltl
and Seymour plants ana the Coh'A-
mental creamery. , -.
Immediate action will be taken oy
41,e Government in meeting threatened
~ in Kansas one
raDort today indicated an attempt 70
blexV M an oil line south of Eldorado
Tuesdav night. Further trouble Is
anticipated.
Hundreds of l. W. w members anu
svmpathizers are in the state at TINS
time. according to reports sent TO the
Governor. Bulletins sent to 1. w. w.
members have urged them to direct
their energies in Kansas. They were
advised that less interference was
probable in this state than IN any
of the central western districts Based
on these bulletins and many kilograms
from pipe line and refinery owners,
the governor asked the war depart
ment for assistance This assistance
was assured in kilograms from Secre-
tary Baker and General Carter.
Think 500 Men Enough.
Il do not know the number of men
needed in Kansas at this time" said
the governor, but believe the situa-
ton can be handled by 500 men. A
definite request for troops will be sent
at the earliest possible moment"
More than a dozen large oil refin-
cries are in operation in the state at
this time and an equal number are in
course of construction. A number of
oil and gas pipe lines are also being
laid. In addition to these industries
are more than a dozen large packing
plants and more than $50 large mills
and elevators This property will be
poIiced by regular soldiers, especially
where the property is located in the
large towns and industrial centers of
the state. In the Butler county oil
fields, troops viii be asked for Eldor-
ado, Augusta and Towanda.
Blow Up Blocked.
EIdorado, Kan. Nov. 2s.-An at
tempt to wreck the Prairie pipe line
at Allen, five miles south of here, was
frustrat ted by the night watchman last
night. The watchman heard noises of
men working where a number of pipes
join and on investigation. his light
was shot from his hand, the bullet in
iuring his hand and the men ran in
the darkness. The watchman fired
several shots, but no trace of the men
was found. Dynamite and fuses We're
found ready for the explosion