The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-11
TENT COLONY
CONTEST IS On,
OPERATORS OBJECT.
TO USE OF GROUHDs
Assert Real Purpose Is to In
terfere With Operation
of Mine

Williamson, w. Va, Dec. 10.-Cod OBJ
orators and representatives or IT,
United Mine Workers in the Wllll2ml -
coal strike district came TO grips tooAL
in d controversy over the poS5sssion.cH
Il piece Of land near Burnwel, v W.
where q tent colony was set up oy tnel
striking miners this morning.
Claims and counter claims were MADE.
by both sides and officials OF the ope1-
tors and Of the union asserted that tAey
would carry the case to the highest
court, IL il is not settled satisfactorily
by civil authorities acting under the gu.
rection of the, military In control OF the
strike district. .-ssgi
See Interior purpose.
Officials Of the coal operators aSko.
citation declared that more than Ice
men appeared on plot of ground near
the Smith Fond Creek Coal company Of
Durnwrll, and set UP tents where the
company had been accustomed 10 2lecs
ing mine cars and other eQulpmank
Their men. they said, made no 2ttemp6
1t was their belief that the strikers bad
set up their tents OH this particular plcl-
oil ground TO interfere with the WorRlnx
Of the mine which it was planned to put
into operation shortly.
David Fowler. intcrna tional repreSen.
tative of the union in charge OF tue
strike, asserted on the other hand, tnat
the ground belonged to the union which
he said had been paying rental for
since last summer. He said he wound
await the outcome of the contest from
the local civil authorities, but that me,
would not surrender the plot without
legal fight. A lease Of the ground, FoH-
Ter said, was in the hands OF the district
board.
Counsel for the operators has piaceo
the matter before Colonel Hall, COM
nlanding the provisional ha tta lion here,
and it is expected conference between
the colonel, ". II. Bronson, prosecuting
attorney of Mingo county and Judge II.
ID. Bailey Of the circuit court, WIZ Do
held shortly, in an effort TO settle; tny
matter satisfactorily. Hitherto, II na1
been the policy of Col. Hall. TO permit
ti9uiug under the modified military law
existent in the strike zone, and II -
conceded every effort will be made 70
permit them to handle the present case.
il is the first kind, 1t is said, to occnr.
since the strike district was put under
modified military law, the latter part OF
Miner Badly Beaten.
Military headquarters reported to-
night that John f'loras, said TO De Sn..
pl0ycd by the Malta Cooperative CQal
COMPANY, at Hilmer, W. Va, was badly
beaten by unknown persons last niYhI.i
while he was returning to his homn
from a store near the mine, phyMs
clans statement accompanying the re-
port stated that Floras had suffered
internal injuries. This was the only re.
port in the violence in the area patroiled
BY troops.
hibitiou agents, carrying Eifles, arrtyssd
in Williamson this morning. The MIL
tary reported Their arrival to Sheriff e.,
T. Blankenship, who had the rifles 70.
moved to the court house until the llsh
could present satisfactory credeItialS..
Late this afternoon. the prohibith,u
agents had proved their identity, The
sheriff said. and the rifles VIII be re-
turned to them.