The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-01
PROCLAMATION OF
 MARTIAL LAW IS
 ALREADY SIGNED
Will Be Promulgated Unless Armed Bands Heed Demand of President to DiSperse
 By Noon Today
By Associated Press


 Washington, August 31.-The federal government stood ready to- night to act in West Virginia should tomorrow's reports show lack of compliance with President Harding's proclamation calling on all persons engaged in unlawful and insurrec- tionary proceedings" to return to their homes.
 Two regiments of troops. of
 1000 men each, one at Camp Sher-
 man. ohio. and the other at Camp
 Dix, New York, were I'm readiness
 to move into the state on mo
 mcnt'. notice, war department os-
 ficiais said.
 proclamation declaring mar
 tisI law in five West Virginia
 countfe. has been drawn up and
 signed by the President ready for
 promuigatiop.
 Officials. however, remained still hopeful tonight that neither of these steps would be necessary, although their spirit of optimism had been lowered during the day by dispatches from the disturbed area telling of clashes between bands of armed men and state authorities and containing no indications of a disposition to com ply with the Presidents proclama- tion. Decision as to whether the fed eral government will order troops Into the state and declare martial law "a step which has not been taken in any state since the days immediately folio wing the Civil war--7will depend on conditions as reported by Briga- dier General Bandholtz at noon to- morrow. the hour fixed as limit by President Harding. General Bandholtz left Washington late today and on ar irving in Charleston early tomorrow will begin a survey of the situation.
 VIII Cover Five Counties
 The martial law and the use of troops to enforce it. if found to be necessary by General Bandholtz, 1t was stated, will be confined to Kan awaha, Fayette, Boone, Logan and Mingo counties, comprising section in the southeast of the state.
 Reports from. several points in the 
 Secretary Wteka by Governor Nor gan during the day. They said that the resented orders to dsperse, de- claring they would force the govern ment to declare martial law and threatening to blow up troop trains In the event soldiers were sent into the state.
 A telegram signed by members of the White House delegation which conferred yesterday with Secretary Weeks reached the war department late today from Charleston.
 Have just returned to Charleston and find miners from nearly every camp in the Fayette- Boone section rushing to Logan Boone line. We per- sonally saw several men on our re- turn with high powered rifles in au tomobles rushing to the trouble zone, The governor is just advised from Lo- gan that firing is taking place near the Logan Boone line. State Is rush ing endorsements to that point from every available station. Miners openly state, according to reports to gover- nor they will not obey Presidents proclamation. Necessary that federal troops be sent at once if loss of life is to be avoided. More than 5000 men
 
 and more on their way"
 General Bandholtz on leaving Washington carried a letter from Sec retary Weeks to Governor Morgan. It said:
 You have received the Presents proclamation ordering the insurrec- tionary element in West Virginia to retire peaceably to their homes by noon on September l, 1921. I am send ing General Fl. H. Bandholtz, the bearer of this letter. with instructions to report to me the extent to which the order of the President is obeyed In case it becomes necessary to send federal troops this officer is designa ted to command them. May l ask that you will afford him every possible assistance and cooperation in the way of offices. stenographers and clerks, quarters, telephone, etc.
 "T very earnestly hope that 1t may not become necessary to employ fed eral troops. If they are used 1t will be to restore peace and order in the most effective and prompt way. The problem will be regarded by the mili- tary authorities purely as tactical one"