New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-21
Rioting and Bloodshed
Rampant, Says Govern
or, Turning Strike Area
Over to State Police
Bans Arms, Parades
And Radical Press
Miners at Once Appeal
to Non-Union Men to
Quit and Offer Aid

CHARLESTON, W. Va, Nav 20
Governor Morgan to-day issued a
proclamation declaring martial law in
Mingo County. What has been term ed
lockout strike" has been in prop-
ress IN the coal mines of the Mingo
held for almost year and. accord;n O
10 the Governors proclamation. q
state of war, insurrection and riot
IS and has been for some time in
existence"
Soon after the Governors procla-
nation appeared Charles F. Keenev.
president of District II, United Mine
Workers of America, in a signed state
ment called upon all non-union miners
in the Mingo field to strike and nron.
ised them union benefits while thew
we're idle
Large bodies OF armed men," Gov
ernor Morgan said in his proclamation
have assembled in the mountains Of
Mingo County and fired into and shot
up public and other buildings and fired
INTO passenger trains while passing
over tie Norfolk & Western Railroad
MANY lives have been lost and much
properly destroyed as result, and riot
ana oloodshed are still rampant and
pending"
AS Long as Necessary
Governor Morgan also declared that
the county authorities were unable to
put down or control such insurrection
and riot, and have been and are now
poWerless to enforce the law" and had
called upon him as Governor of the
state and commander in chief of the
military forces.
Governor Morgan's proclamation re-
cieed that the period of martial law
snail remain until the necessity there
Tor ceases to exist, provided, however.
that the civil courts of Mingo County
shall continue to, have jurisdiction Of
and try all crimes, misdemeanors and
otenses against the civil law"
The proclamation then details the
rules which shall control the civil
population as long as martial law shall
be in effect.
Public assemblage is forbidden in
any part of the county except by
special authority, as are parades or
demonstrations against the authorities.
No person except municipal. state
and Federal authorities, militia. police
and other officers of the law are per-
mltted to carry arms or have them IN
their possession. Explosives, ammuni-
tion or other munitions of war are
also forbidden, except at their homes
or places of business"
To Arrest Agitators
All military and other officers shalt
have the right of way in any street or
highway through which they may pass,
and any persons entering or remaining
in Mingo County, "for the purpose of
interfering in any matter whatever
with the rights of citizens or property
of Mingo County shall be arrested, de-
tanned and imprisoned"
All persons are admonished by the
Governor to observe and carefully and
rigidly comply with the civil laws of
the state mad with the "letter and
spirit of this proclamation and these
rules and orders, and any person or
persons violating the same in Mingo
County shall be arrested, disarmed, de-
tanned and imprisoned"
Among the most drastic paragraphs
in the proclamation is the following.
No publication, either newspaper,
pamphlet, handbill or otherwise, re-
fiecting in any way upon the United
DeN%NSo oA NiaS oIAsCo VI w Sob virginia
or their officers, or tending to influ-
ence the public mind against the Unit
ed States or the State of West Vir-
ginia or their officers, may be pub
lished, displayed or circulated in Mingo
County, and the publication, distribu-
ton, displaying or circulation of any
such publication above specified is pro-
hibiited and any person or persons
violating this paragraph shall be ar
rested, detained and imprisoned"
Major Davis in Charge
Major Thomas B. Davis, acting adju-
tant general, is designated command
ing officer of the militia and made the
agent of Governor Morgan in Mingo
County with full power and author
ity" to inforce the proclamation. All
officers and members of the state
police, the Sheriff of Mingo County
and his deputies and all other peace
officers are empowered to assist Major
Davis, under penalty of arrest and i'm
prisonment should they fail.
West Virginia has no National
Guard, but an enactment Of the late
Legislature appropriated funds for a
Continued on page three)