Evening star., 1921-08-30
Presid ent Calls
Army Officers
to Confer.
SOLDIERS READY
TOMOVE AT ONCE
Two Regiments Await
Orders s-One at Camp
Sherman, Ohio.

The sending Of federal troops into
West Virginia's coal region to restore
order entered the realm of probability
today when military officers of the Army
| were called into conference by President
Harding to consider that question.
/ Decision as to whether federal troops
would be sent to West Virginia. how
ever, will await conference to be held
at the White House this afternoon.
Gen. Bandholtz and Secretary Weeks
were asked to return to the White
House, and it was expected that certain
Information which would have direct
bearing on the question OF proclalmlng
martial law or dispatching troops would
be available in time for consideration at
| the conference.
Decision Awaits Conference.
The announcement that the final de-
cision as to dispatch of troops would
await an afternoon conference was
made by Secretary Weeks after he had
spent two hours with the President
1t is understood that the delay in reach
ing a decision was due to desire to
obtain additional information from the
scene of the disturbances.
The President and Secretary Weeks
after hearing delegation from West
Virginia, headed by Senator Sutherland.
who urged that Gov. Morgan's request
for federal troops be granted. called into
conference Maj Gen. Harbord, acting
chief of staff, and Brig. Gen. Bandholtz.
Need Only Word to Start.
War Department officials said only the
word from President Harding was neces-
sary for them to begin movement of
troops into the West Virginia fields
by the general staff. and it was said that
in the event 1t was ordered 1t would
probably involve two regiments, already
prepared and awaiting orders to move.
One of the regiments was said to be
the 18th Infantry. located at Camp
racks. The other is at Camp Dix.
N. ].
The White House conference was on
Gov. Morgan's second request for
troops.
Delegation Follows Appeal.
Receipt of the appeal was followed
within an hour by delegation sent
quest. The delegation was headed by
Senator Sutherland. former Gov.
w. A. McCorkle and Secretary OF
State H. S. Young, and included F. N.
John L. Dickinson of Charleston.
bankers and business men of Charles
ton. They were received by Secretary
Weeks. Assistant Secretary Vain
wright and Maj. Gen. Harbord, deputy
chief of staff, who were in conference
the visitors arrived.
The West Virginia delegation, ac-
companied by Secretary Weeks. later
called at the White House and went
into conference with President Hard
ing.
Senator Sutherland said on leaving
the White House the question the
President was considering was
whether the state had exhausted
every effort to restore order. The
senator contended, however, that the
paramount issue was the preserva-
ton of law and order, regardless Of
what the state might have done in
that direction.
Declines Lewis Request.
President Harding has declined to
accede to the request of John L..
Lewis, president Of the United Mine
Workers of America, for a conference
between miners and operators to
thrash out the West Virginia coal
troubles.
While the text of the Presidents
reply to Mr.. Lewis was not made pub
lie at the White House it was said
the President had informed Mr.. Lewis
that he saw no necessity for a con-
ference inasmuch as special Senate
committee would meet at Williamson.
w. Va, on September 10 to hear
further testimony. The White House
said the text of the Presidents letter
might be given out by Mr.. Lewis.