The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-05
Further Recruiting in This Sec
tion Ordered Stopped by the
War Department
TENSION HIGH
IN JACKSON co.
Citizens Committee Formed and
Ringing Resolutions Wired
to Washington

MdfldnHd, Fld-, hdS 4-NopcOio4.I
Recall OF the labor recruiters and the
stopping OF future recruiting in this
section is ordered by the war depart
ment, according to a telegram received
here today by Chairman John p. Carter
of the Citizens Committee. from Con-
gressman ]. Walter Kehoe, whose ef-
forts to that end have been unceasing
since the disturbance arose a week
ago today. At that time mass meet
ing of citizens was assembled at the
court house here and developed strong
sense of resentment at the action Of
certain recruiters for the contractors OF
Muscle Shoals in Alabama In coming
into our midst, in violation of state
laws. and taking out native laborers
by the hundreds who were already
fully employed in local works, the larg-
est OF which We're producing for the
government for food and shipbuilding
N. B. Elders and three associates
have already been taken into custody
by Sheriff A. J. Lewis, OF Jackson
county, and lodged in JAIL Twenty
five thousand white and colored labor
ers, then at work on the farms and at.
the mills and naval stores works of
Jackson, Bay and Calhoun counties
We're involved, as we'll as food pro-
ducts under cultivation to harvest crops
worth five million dollars, and saw
mill plants cutting rush orders for
government shipbuilding, besides other
productions, running also into the mil
lions We're threatened.
yT-l.
committee to draft resolutions and wire
them to Washington, consisting of John
p. Carter, attorney for the Aycock Lum-
ber Company and other operators NJ.
l.. Denley, the largest farm land oper-
ator in the state, and C. r. Evans. Of
Pennington & Evans, and the Blour IS
town Manufacturing Co. in Calhoun
county, and president of the Mariana
and Blountstown Railroad Co.
Strong resolutions were wired to
Senator's Fletcher and Trammell and
Congressman Kehoe, setting forth the
situation and asking their assistance
Prompt assurances were received from
them OF their active cooperation
BY this time the matter had devel-
oped into real sensation. taking i'm
not only the local state and county of
ficials but the executive office and at
torney generals office at Tallahassee,
the United States attorneys office at
Pensacola, and the department OF JUS
tice at Washington.
kilograms flew thick and fast, long
distance phones were used, a commit
tee from the Sawmill Mems Association
went to Washington, and the recruiters
remanded in JAIL Once released upon
demand of the United States attorney,
who said he was acting upon complaint
OF the war department. the men were
retaken and put back in jail.
The definite advices received TODAY
that orders to stop recruiting had been
issued at Washington, loosens UP the
tention considerably, though the men
are still in jain in Bay county await
ing official disposition.
Mr.. Carter, in speaking OF the matter
when exhibiting Mr.. Kehoe's telegram
to persons upon the street, called at
tention to the fact that he is chairman
OF the citizens committee and how has
the authority to communicate with
the assistant to the secretary OF war.
Stanley King, direct, and is requested
TO do so II further disturbances arise.
In speaking OF the matter he expressed
qualification at now being able to deal
with the war department direct. Hel
repeated that he had always been ready
to yield to any request OF the war de- |
partment, recognizing its authority in |
the matter, but maintaining that i'm the i
absence OF an order or request from
such source the penal laws OF the state
should be enforced right on and the
rights OF the farm and mill
owners should be protected