New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
Armed Miners
Abandon March
On Operators
Army of l,5OO Yields to
Leaders Plea to Give Up
Plan of Forcing Recogni.
tion; Go Home To-day
Spectdl Correspondence

Special Correspondence
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Sept. g.
The army of coal miners, all armed,
who started from Oakgrove before
dawn to-day on a forty-mile march
through the mountains to the Guyan
coal fields to enforce unionization Of
those mines. decided tonight to aban-
don their plans and return home.
Yielding to the threats made by Gov
ernor John J. Cornwell to call for Fed
eral troops to prevent the marchers
from reaching the Guyan fields and to
the pleas of officials of the miners un-
ion, the workers, encamped at Danville
for the night. decided to 60 back to the
mines which had lain idle to-day.
1t was learned tonight that another
party of men has been proceeding into
Logan County by way of Cabin Creek.
This is q much smaller body of men,
and they are now said to be about
twelve miles southeast of Madison, in
Boone County. Efforts are being
made by the mine workers officials to
stop further progress of this crowd,
and the Governor Is of the opinion that
they will be successful. since the main
body has been halted.
Others Offer to Resume Work
II is reported that the 800 miners
encamped at Montgomery have decide d
TO 90 back to work, but have given
warning that unless their Logan Coun-
ty comrades were allowed to organize
they would Immediately start march
across the hills that would not be
stopped until they had obtained salts
faction.
c. Frank Keeney, president Of the
United Mine Workers of District II,
in a telephone conversation with Gov
ernor Cornwell tonight, said the 1890
miners would call off the invasion and
return to their homes bv special train
tomorrow morning. Keeney and Fred
ganization, left here by automobile
this afternoon, after a conference with
the Governor, at which it was agreed
the union officials would order the
miners 10 return home on a threat to
cancel their charter in the national
organization of the United Mine Work
erS.
Governor Issues Statement
Governor Cornwell tonight issued
the following statement relative to the
situation:
Prank Keeney, president Of the
United Mine Workers of this district.
left here at noon to-day for Coal River
to head off the men who marched
across from Marmet. He went at my
request and as my repre- sentative as
well as in his official capacity as prcsi-
dent of the United Mine Workers. Be
fore he left told him | had appealed
to the marchers personally. had rea-
soncd with and warned them that II
they now persisted in invading the
Logan field they would do so at their
peril and I showed him wire | had
sent Secretary Baker preparatory to n
soldiers. | authorized him to tell the
men what my next step would be.
III later talked with Secretary Baker
and communicated with General Leon
ard Wood. commander of this military
district, and ali was in readiness TO
move two regiments Of regular troops
into the area threatened. For five
hours | have held on MY desk the tele-
gram requesting their movement.
have just talked to Keeney. who was at
Danville. Boone County. He advises
that the main body of men, 1900 in
number, are in camp there, and gives
me absolute assurance that they will
60 no further, but arrangements will
be made 20 bring them out on a special
train tomorrow. He left there imme-
diately after the conversation to head
off another party of the men some
twelve miles above Danville. but ! am
accepting his assurances in good faith,
and will not ask for troops unless
there should be another outbreak
which | have no reason to rear: l De-
lieve that the men Will all be BACK AZ
work Monday, rcgretful that they have
beer imposed upon and ready to help
discover and punish those responsible
for the wild stories that aroused them"
Mr.. 4 Mra. Coburn In The Better ole"
viii re-open st the DoTsn ~.