The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-06
SOLDIERS TRY TO
KIDNAP EDITOR
Houston Stirred by High
handed Scheme to Gag
Texas Paper.

Houston, Tex.-(N. K. A.)--A sen.
sational attempt by Texas national
guard officers TO lcidnap @. ". San
deTs, editor of the Houston Press, and
take him to Galveston for trial before
a court-martial for his vigorous criti'
cism of the way state troops have
been trying to break strike OF coast
wise dockworkers was repulsed at the
Houston Country club the other night.
All Houston papers have editorially
announced this kafserlstic assault on
a free press. Meanwhile guard on
GERS are seeking legal advice" from
the attorney general TO Justify their
action in seeking to kidnap Sanders.
Guard officers ordered TO bring
Sanders within the jurisdiction OF
Brig. Gen. Jake VOTERS, who COM
mands troops maintaining martial law
in Galveston, did not march boldly up
to the office OF the Houston Press and
arrest him. They came quietly at
night, dressed In multi. They visited
his home in quiet residential dis
trict.
Sanders was not at home. This
fact and the further fact that these
officers. acting outside their martial
zone, were in hurry to execute their
attack on freedom of the press saved
Sanders from being kidnapped and his
constitutional rights outraged.
Attempt Fails.
He was at the Houston Country
club When the uniformed officers ar
rived there and attempted to take
Sanders away without warrant, lead
ing citizens OF the metropolis Of
Tn~a~ nrny,avNtIxt y,rauapt al
the kidnapping. NM tNtyN4t "A
SO Sanders 10 stilf vigorously criti-
cising the manner In which 500 state
guardsmen are being. used day by day
at great expense TO ali taxpayers Of
the state to further in Galveston a
vicious open-shop fight started in the
interests of the Morgan and Mallory
steamship lines.
The dock strike In Galveston isl
months old. June 8 Gov. w. p. Hobby
ordered state troops TO Galveston onl
Representations that city officials could
not or would not protect strikebrealers
Open shop sdvoeates claimed that
there was terrific freight congestion.
that 4.oo0. 900 bushels OF wheat needed
abroad TO prevent starvaton was held
up and that unsurpassed rlounE vas
otTeIaIs Protest, h
These charges were vigorously de-
MED by city officials as well as byI
striking union coastwise docksworkers, |
II was pointed out that deepsea dock |
workers, who were being paid q living |
wage. handled wheat and other export
cargoes.
But the open shop association plea
for bayonets financed by taxpayers was
supported by the Galveston commercial
association and the Texas chamber OF
commerce.
The troops came in. They camped In
n city park. City officials ordered them
to move. They moved TO n sandy
stretch Of beach miles from the docks
that were theoretically in need of
heavy and constant guard.
Citizens Anpered.
Citizens who knew there had been no
disorder justifying the invasion of the
states troops resented the presence Of
the open shop army. They backed upI
city officials demands that the
be withdrawn.
tsnswer of Governor Hobby was
BILE removal Of all city officials, |
Ill mayor down TO tho last peace |
Ill the ground that they were
rating with the militia. ByI
M General Wolters, the leading
corp14 -. lawyer and open shop advo-
cate Of Houston. was made dictator Of
GALVESTON.
strikebreakers became alarmed AZ the