The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-17
STATE C0NSTABULARY SENT To
Al|NGO BY COVE RNOR CORNWELL
Action Follows Complaint
From Governor Of Ken
lucky Of Firing Across the
Border at Working Miners

Charleston. W. Va. July l6.-Mem-
hers &c tho state ConSta bulary OF West
Virginia will be sent 10 MinEo county
To prevent occurrences OF clashes on
the Kentucky border during the past
Few weeks, according to a letter sent
to Sheriff c. T. Blankcnship. at Mate
wan. BY GOV. John J. Cornwcll todaE.
In telegram sent to tho sheriff AT
the same time. tho governor asked l"r
correct version" Of the facts concern
inG tho firing oCca Sionally taxing place.
on the border. II" said the governor or
Kentucky Ind complained that fir nS
began on tho West Virginia side hut
that a statement given out by IN"
United Mine Workers officials at
charleston. said IL began on the kcn-
lucky side.
The latest fatality IN occur IN tho
Ningo coal field whore a strik" Of min
crs has u ,cn in progress several "SrkS
happened near Panther WcdncSdaE last.
when B. H. Hatfield. Mcpowcil count i;
deputy sheriff. vas shot from ambush.
GOV. t'ornwell claimed in his lEitcr
10 Sheriff BlangcnShip that {. +. NC
ncy. president Of tho United Mine
Workers. District II, and other ofhcial"
have been tclcgraphing tn" president TO
.cnd fcdrrs; soldiers to Mingo county.
After describing what martial law
would mean to the communities Whetc
+, was in force tho governor toId IN"
sheriff that az the United Nine W ORR,
Crs realized that when thoE nerlanueu
f,1cr,I troops, thcy arc inviting such
,j,uaiion. they would not he asking FOR
ihrm aud they would be using all thcir
mower IN cooperate with You IN mum
jaininE public peace.
The Governors Letter.
charleston W. Va, July lb.-GoNern-
rr John J. Cornwcll in reply TO queries
concerning lawleSsn"ss in MlnGo Coun
~ denied that lawlcsSncsS was referred
t. and gave out telegram and letter
he had dispatched to sheriff u. !.
Blankcuship at Matewan. The Telegram
follows: ,,,
"Goycrncr OF kentucky complain ms mat
firing across tho border began on "c<t
Virginia side. Statement gwen OUT D!
United Mine Workers officials here SAYS
il began on Kentucky side. Necessary
for me TO know facts in order TO com
municatc with Kentucky governor.
Please wire M" n correct version.
In his letter To Sheriff BlankrnShir'
Governor Cornwcll went further into thc
situation. lie declined this afternoon to
comment further than 10 make the let
IL enclose cory "f wire am JUS,
sending you. am very. much dlSlurbSu
over the repeated clashes across nv
Kentucky border and sincrr"i! nope lllH'
when tho state police get there q rcpi-
tinn Of these occurrences may be pre-
vented.
will grow more and moro nlS'St'''
about this, his contention being that the
firing originates on this side. II y
cannot hc prevented any other WAY
VIII eventually II" forced I" I'll mat
country with federal troops. something
| would very much d"pl"re.
would Moan Martial Law.
mfr EcCn"N aud tn" other "tflrlalS
Of tho United Mine Workers who nave
been lcicgraphinE the president I" S"nd
federal soldiers in your country llt'Ic
-.aliZc what they arc inviting. Federal
ircnpS moan martial law; WhrtEal law
nc,ns a suspension OF IN" civil counts
and tho ri\il law; il means I" make mat
rntir, country q military camp. WIN
everybody within tho specified hnuhn-
ar, subject to military law and subject
in trial by military courts. II means
that nycrv gun, blE and little. VIII NC
taken from it's owner and every man
arrested vino goes outSId" Of tn" pre-
sCrlhcd boundaries. Tn" far reaching
consequences Of such = stop cannot be
fully apprcClatcd. and under no Elr'uh-
stances do want In h" driven !" mat
course. If tho United Min" Workers
realized that when they demanded cd
oral troops. they are inviting SUCH
situation. they would not h" asking for
rover To- cooperate with YOU In main
tanning publ" peace.
Il hope You Viii keep IN touch with
me-
In second letter which the governor
did not make public he notified Sheriff
RlankcnShip that he was sending r.
large detachment o. state police back
into MinGo county To be used as needed