The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-12-26
ASKS FOR TROOPS
TO PROTECT MINES
GOVERNOR HART REFUSED RE-
QUEST OF WILK ESON COAL
co. FOR PROTECTION

TACOMA, Wash.-(By A. P.)-
| Governor Hart today refused the re-
quest of the Wilkeson Coal and Coke
company for troops toe protect the
nonunion workers at Wilkeson from
attacks by union miners who were not
| taken back since the coal strike was
settled Governor Hart says that
| Sheriff Morris, of this county thinks
he has the situation in hand
Attacked Nom Union Miners.
TACOMA, Thursday Night.-(By
A. P.)-John J. Hewitt, treasurer of
the Wilkeson Coal & Coke company
of Wilkeson, Wash, at $3.50 tonight
from Tacoma telephoned Governor
Louis F. Hart appealing for troops to
be rushed to Wilkeson because of
! fighting which is reported to have
broken out between union and non
| union miners who are ex-service men.
81 have been informed tonight that
union miners at Wilkeson attacked
several of our non-union men and
beat them up," said Mr. Hewitt "I
understand that they then formed in
quite large force and then started
for our mine works but were turned
back by some of our deputies.
Il have asked for troops to protect
our miners and the mine properties
and am awaiting reply from Cover
nor Hart
The Wilkeson Coal & Coke COM
pany is the only mine of the state
which is holding out for the open shop
basis of operation, which was insti-
tuted when the miners refused to re-
turn to work in conformance with the
orders of their international and dis
trict officers and the settlement made
through the government.
Reports of labor trouble at Will
keson began to arrive here this aft
ernoon, but could not then be con-
firmed.
Later J. 7. Lee, mine superintend-
ent, advised Sheriff Tom Morris here
that two non-union men, arriving on
an auto stage from Tacoma today
had been taken off and beaten by
crowd of union miners and that fur
ther trouble was likely.
Following this a deputy sheriff at
Wilkeson reported that another man
arriving to go to work was met with
a demonstration by the union men,
but no one in that affair had so
far been injured.
Additional deputy sheriffs in auto
mobiles were then sent tonight to aid
hose already at Wilkeson and were
hardly on their way when Treasurer
Hewitt sent his appeal to the gov
,rnor
Ill-feeling between the unions and
he present employees has been pro-
lounced for some time, officials
stated, adding that the physical dem
against the union
nen began yesterday.
1t is feared by the mine operators
hat the force of deputy sheriffs is
Unable to cope with what they de-
cribe as increasing violence and that
he troops will be needed before
rider can be restored and maintained.
Furnish Troops if Required.
OLYMPIA, Wash, Dec. 25-Troops
will be furnished the Wilkeson coal
mines if needed, Gov Louis F. Hart
tated tonight, but it would be the
ederal and not the state soldiers.
This, the governor said, would first
nean communicating with Lieutenant
ieneral Liggett at San Francisco and
ause a delay until at least tomorrow
efore the troops could be started for
Vilkeson.
after receiving the request from
fr. Hewitt of the Wilkeson -mines,"
ne governor stated tonight, II COM
lunicated with Sheriff Morris of
fierce county, who stated that he
'ould send his chief deputy and a
umber of other deputies to Wilke-
on in I the morning, in addition to
hose now there. The sheriff stated
nat he believed he could organize
forces to maintain order.
when | informed Mr.. Hewitt of
lis, he seemed satisfied and unless
lie disturbance gets beyond control
the sheriff's forces tomorrow, l
ill not request the ordering out of
oops"
Prisoners Had Chicken Dinner.
Tho nrisonor,u II, tho atnh oorrt-