Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-27
MACHINE GUNNERS KEEP
MINERS FROM MEETINGS
Sessions Scheduled by the Leaders
OF Alabama Coal Strikers Are
/ Prevented.
GENERAL DEFENDS ACTION
Small Detachmcnts OF Troops Guard
Property and Adjacent Towns and
the Soldiers Are Ready to Protect
All Men at Work.
tBy Associated Press1

BIRMINGHAM, ALA, Sept 26.-
State military forces under comma nd
of General Steiner prevented the
holding OF numerous mass meetings
scheduled for today throughout the
coal-mining districts OF the State by
leaders OF the striking miners. AT
some places the soldiers were armed
with machine guns.
Attempts were made to hold tho
meetings as scheduled, but tho
troops were on the scene and tho
union officials advised that the
meetings would not be allowed.
Thereupon the speakers gave way
and the crowds left the scenes. There
was no disorder.
Meetings announced included
points in Walker County, Bradford.
Republic. Wylam, MulEa. Blocton and
Docena Some OF the meetings had
been advertised in the newspapers
and some were called locally by dis
tribution OF handbills.
20 Soldiers mt Some Places.
Al the smaller meetings ten to a
dozen soldiers appeared. while at
others dctachments OF as many as
seventyfive men with machine guns
were on hand. At each place the
officer in command approached the
union leaders and informed them
that the meetings would not be per-
mitted
Commenting on the events Of the
day. General Steiner said tonight:
I'VE issued orders on our arrival
in the strike zone that there would
be no mass something's. This was
thoroughly understood by the strike
leaders. because We told them SO.
We were. therefore. more OF less
surprised when we got wind of the
Sunday schedule. We took steps ac-
cordingfy. No mass-meetings Mcre
held today and none will be held In
the territory under our Jurisdiction
This includes the entire mining fields
and the towns Immediately adjacent
TO them.
The reason why we will not per-
init the mass-meetings ia because
they are addressed by men whose
speeches tend to inflame the minds
of their hearers. and that in turn
tends TO lead to a breach OF the peace.
We are here primarily to prevent
any breach OF the peace. and we shall
stop that which aims in that direc-
ton.
I'VE are giving protection TO the
striker and operator alike. l have
received complaints from union
headquarters and made prompt in
restigation. have seen that jus
tice was done on both sides ! have
guarded the commissaries OF the
strikers and I have disarmed guafds
who were carrying weapons without
being legally qualified to do so. The
striker has been protected IN his
home and in every right of his.
II have told the strikers that they
could gather in their halls and their
accustomed places OF doing business.
The mass s-meetings are taboo be-
cause they tend to- undo that for
which We came here.
II want the man who wishes to
work to understand that we are for
his sake as well as that of others.
The man who works has nothing to
sell but his labor. We are going to
see that he is safe and secure in the
possession Of that commodity. We
are not going to permit that which
makes him afraid to go to work or
which will render his family uneasy
for his safety while he is at work"