Evening star., 1920-11-27
CALLSU.S. TROOPS
|NM|NE STRIKE
West Virginia Governor Asks
Federal Martial Law in
Minqo County.
cH1LLIcoTHE, Ohio. November Q

CHlLL1COTHE, Ohio, November 70.
-Four hundred and fifty soldiers OF
the Sd and 18th Infantry entrained
here. at noon for strike duty in the
Mingo county, W. Va, coal strike
zone. They were insrvmmand of Col.
Hall of the 18th Infantry.
CHARLESTON, W.. Va, November
2z-Gov. John J. Cornwell announces
that he has asked sthe Soyernment to
send federal troops into the Mingo
county. w. Va, coal strike zone. and
added that as soon as the soldiers
took charge he would ask President
Wilson to declare martial law.
Mai. c. r. Thompson of the general
staff Of the 5th Army area. at Fort
BENJAMIN Harrison, Ind, reached here
this morning and Immediately caiaea
on Gov. Cornwell. No announcement
was made as to the purpose OF his
visit, but it was unofficially stated
that Mai. Thompson was here In con-
nection with the movement OF federal
troops into Mingo county, ordered last
night by Maj. Gen. Reed
L. 8. Troops Lately n Control.
Federal troops controlled the Mingo
region for some time. but were with
situation quieted down. Since that
time many disorders have occurred.
| a number of persons have been shot
| and killed and gangs of undermined
| men have attacked coal properties.
| The state government Is totally un-
i able to cope with the situation In
Mingo county. the governor said. Il
hope with all my heart, he added,
that martial law will be declared
| Immediately after an investigation
! 10 hYf q totally n.
able to venture an opinion upon what
| eventual military action will be-"
The governor said that he had con-
| ferred with Mingo county Ohicials on
made the request for troops. and that
they had expressed the opinion that
| the soldiers could handle the situ-
alton without martial law. In his
/ statement tonight the governor said
he did not concur in that view. "for
the time of temporizing is past"
Governor Makes statement.
| The governor issued the following
| statement last night:
"One week ago last Sunday night
Judge Bailey, Sheriff Blankenship,
President Bishop of the county court
and Prosecuting Attorney Bronson Of
Mingo county conferred with me at
length as to the situation there. They
were of the opinion that il they could
secure 100 new deputy sheriffs and
that with those and the state police
the situation might be controlled. The
trouble had become more acute daily.
I'm the meantime, it seems to have
been impossible to secure the depu-
ties. Wednesday night 1 had a wire
from Judge Bailey, Mr.. Bishop and
Prosecuting Attorney Bronson, Civ
ing the reason for the failure Of the
plan mentioned and making an urgent
request for the return of federal
troops. Is much as / regret to again
call upon the federal government for
aid. ] have no other alternative ]
have, accordingly, asked Gen. Reed to
send them. and am requesting the
ting the county under military control
allowing the circuit court however. to
proceed with the trial of offenses
heretofore committed. =
Everybody has had fair warning.
''The local authorities have had
with the situation. Men were as
saulted and beaten before, in the
!presence Of soldiers. who were power
less to prevent 1t. / refuse to make
snna sSn % pSsts sest 9f to them Ssa, ~, have
tion. Our state police force is not
sufficiently large to handle it. mas
much as / have been obliged to call
in the federal troops again. thought
it proper to ask the President to issue
deal with the situation. That l have
DONE"
Awaiting Presidents Reply.
State officials here waited today TO,
President Wilson's reply to the gov.
ernor's request that the former de-
clare the Mingo region under martha
law. In asking that the zone be placed
u nder military law. the governor said
that Mingo authorities believed the
! soldiers could control the situation
W thout martial law. but that he die
not concur in this view.
CAMP SHERMAN, Ohio, Noyembe,
27-Capt. e. L. Brine, commandint
: the provost guard. left yesterday aft
ernoon for Mingo county. w. Va. II.
was supposed to have gone to max.
, preparations for . possible movement
Of troops into the coal-strike region
, but camp headquarters would no
] confirm his errand.