The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-16
Presence of Detachments of National Guard Fails to
 Check Exodus
200 MEN MEET TROOP
 TRAIN UPON ARRIVAL
Native Miners Claim They Are Being Discharged in Fa- vor of the For
 eigners

1 the vicinity of Flat River did not pre- vent the continuing exodus of foreign | born miners who since Friday have been driveh out of this district rts American miners. IO Tonight it is estinaed that 1000 f < eigners have left the district. 70 6 where they have gone is not defpo ly known here, though several 2 loads of refugees have been startS toward St. Louis, while others have gone in generally northern direc- tion. Some. fearing violence, trudged into the surrounding hill country, where they made temporary camps No mob violence occurred today Unsuccessful efforts were made to bring about a conference between the American born miners and the mine managers in an attempt to conserve labor to the mines. Superintendents Of several companies however, held conference at Bonne Terre. near here They declared that some help must he had at once unless the output of the lead mines is toabe seriously curtailcd. They concluded to leave the question or IOTelBH employment 10 the COfn- pany officials dn New York.
 WOMEN JOIN HUSBANDS
 Today weary mothers, carrying ba- bles with older children trudging along in the dust. lined almost every road out of town. They were going to join their husbands who were driven out yesterday and the day before. but many of them did not know just where to go. Trains were boarded at every town In the district by entire families of refugees.
 Reports of pillage continued. Two breaking into a vacated house and carrying concealed weapons
 Maj William Stepp of the Fourth Missouri infantry. warned Sheriff Ad- ans that he expected all prisoners turned over to civil authorities by the military forces to be held for prose- cution. Tom Matthews, prosecuting at torney. said he feared a withdrawal of troops would be followed by another outbreak against foreigners
 Judge Peter Hook of St. Genevfeve will arrive in St. Francis county to- morrow morning and Is expected to call a special grand jury to investi- gate the outbreaks.
 This morning 200 men met a troop train. In the crowd were two color bearers, each holding an American flag.
 They drew up facing the troop IN detrain A committee composed of F F. Davenport. a merchant Claude Brewington and J. H. Wilkinson. miners, stepped forward and conferred with Major Stepp. Labor Commissions CT Lewis joined the group
 INQUIRE ATTITUDE
 we came to see what your atti- tude is toward us." said MT. Daven- port. GD
 What Is the trouble about" asked Major Stepp. The representatives of the men then told their grievances.
 "We want only chance to go to work and support our families with out being thrown out to make room for foreigners. Winter is coming and the mining companies are discharging Americans to give places to foreign CTS. We wish harm to no one. We have killed no one; we do not think anyone has been hurt; we have de-, stroyed no property But the mining companies are discharging Americans and 1t is against that that we pro- test"
 "We are here to preserve law and order, to protect life and property. Un- der the laws of this country all have right to work and to live unmo- lested" answered the officer. "Y ou should seek a conference with the mine operators and adjust this diffi- culty."
 The operators will not adjust it,'' chorused the men. We have tried, but without result"
 T think they will try to reach settlement if you make another at- tempt" said Major Stepp.
 William Rich. a leader of miners. mounted an automobile and said:
 MAJOR STEEP FIRM
 Tt is our purpose to 'extract' tho foreigners. All who are ready to go to this work meet at River mines at ii o'clock"
 River mines Is half mile from Flat river.
 As Rich concluded Major stcpp forced his way through the crowd ard said:
 Let it be plain. If anyone uses in- limitation or coercion there will be trouble"
 "Do you mean that the men cannot send the foreigners out of town?" the major was asked
 "Yes" replied Major Stenp, "that Is what I mean. To intimidate them so they will leave is ille~al and we are here to maintain law"
 A labor committee then went amon~ the men urginr them to 20 home and await the result of the conferences with the mine operators.
 Major Stepp made tour of the for eign colonies. He found that 200 homes of foreigners had been pillaged and that women and children were without food. It also was found that American . born miners were buying cows and other property from the women at nominal prices
 Additional Ministers