The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-09-25

marshal.
"Mr. Logan has never'met or con-
versed with me on the subject de-
clared Marshal Boswell when queried
concerning a rumor that the former
Polk county sheriff had been added
to the federal staff. Absolutely
nothing to the rumor," was Boswell's
decisive answer.
On last Friday Attorney General
Palmer notified District Attorney
Phillips that it had been represented
to him that the operation of the rail-
roads in the phosphate mining Sec
ton of Polk and Hillsborough coun-
ties was being interfered with and
to prosecute all parties guilty of such
interference for violating section II
of the railroad control act, which pro-
vides that every person who inter-
feres with the operation of any, rail-
road under federal control or who
violates any Of the provisions Of the
orders or regulations made pursuant
to said control act, shall be punished
by fine of $4,000 or Imprisonment
for two years or both.
District Attorney Phillips began an
investigation of the matter at once.
He soon ascertained that the train
men operating trains in the phos-
phate section had been notified by
anonymous letters and by telephone
that If they ran trains carrying sup
plies into the mining section or phos-
phate out Of the mining section they
would be killed. That notwithstand.
ing said threats the trainmen contin-
ued to operate the trains until train |
of the Charlotte Harbor railroad was
shot into with high powered rifles
That thereafter the trainmen operat-
ing all trains in that section refused
to run their trains in the mining Sec
ton unless adequate protection was |
given them.
Much Phosphate Contracted For
Attorney Phillips found that a fail
ure to operate said trains would re-
suit in great injury to this entire
section and the port Of Tampa in par
ticular, that phosphate was LOADED |
on cars ready to be hauled out; that
10000 tons Of phosphate had been
contracted for from this port; that
boats were on the way and were ex-
pected to be here from day to day
until Oct. to get said phosphate.
All the information received by the
United States attorney was to the ef-
feet that the state and county author.
tiles were not giving the necessary
protection to the trainmen. In q |
thousand word telegram the United
States attorney presented the entire
situation as presented to him to the
attorney general. Saturday the attor-
ney general wired Mr.. Phillips to
have Mr.. Boswell, United States mar
shall, put as many as he thought nee
essary to give the protection the
trainmen desired.
Mr.. Phillips notified Marshal Bos-
well to come to Tampa and advise
with him relative to carrying out the
instructions of the attorney general.
Since Sunday morning Marshal Bos-
we'll and Attorney Phillips have been
selecting men to appoint as deputies
to ride the trains in said section
They have endeavored to select men
as such deputies who are fearless,
courageous men of experience and of
good judgment. Six such deputies
will be placed on each of said trains
| with full power under the law to use
all force necessary to arrest any one
seeking in any manner to interfere
with the operation of the trains I'M
der federal control. The department
of justice has only one duty to per-
form and that is to see that the train
men operating the trains in said Sec
ton are fully protected and that gov
lernment controlled railroads are op.