The Washington herald., 1921-05-18
ARMED MINERS
PLAN TOlFlCHT, !
OWNERS CLAIM.
Officials Fear New Battle
Will Break Out To-
morrow.
PRESIDENT HALTS
SENDING TROOPS
Attorney General Starts
Probe to Determine
U. S. Policy. ,.

WILLIAMSON. w. Va. May H.
Quiet reisned along the seven mile
battle front" of the Tug River to-
day, but peace was as absent A.
ever Groups of armed men were
in the small mining towns along
the Ningo County border State po-
lice on the West Virginia side and
militia on the Kentucky side pa
trolled the mining settlements and
there was no shooting.
Coal operators declare they look
for another outbreak of hostilities
on Thursday, which is the anniver-
sary of the battle of Matewan" last
year. in which ten were killed. The
operators want Federal troops anc
a declaration Of martial law in the
fighting area. Union officials scoff
at this.
Unisa Asks Reeexnitiea.
root OF the industrial conflict. which
has already lasted since last July,
with two periods of control by Fed
eral troops and between a lot of in
termittent and sporadic shooting
ASoNh ofot ChaFhNs Nhe olneT Win
starting the hostiifties last Thursday
houses and stores were shot up by
and four or five were killed SO far
as can officially be ascertained.
The operators declare II was an
effort on the part of union strikers
to drive out non-union men who are
working the mines. Union leaders
declare the firing was framed" BY
the operators with a view of getting
Federal troops and martial Law and
of driving out the organizers of the
union workers as "deserters."
Claims Are Diverse.
Claims on both sides are SO d.
verse that II will take much siftins
to determine the real facts In the
situation. but meantime the situa-
tion Of the bituminous fields-there
are seventy-six mines in the Will
hanson area, with some '5,Ioo work.
ers on both sides the border--ls
torn by an inaustyial feud. much
like that of Colorado in 1914.
Tonight c. F. Keeney. presidetn
of the miners union. said he, had
finished an Investigation and that
at Blackberry City the shotting
last week was started by machine
guns in the hands OF mine guards
firing from the Kentucky side.
The operators in a message to
Washington authorities declared the
situation has not improved and that
strife is about to burst forth again.
Up to state Troops
President Harding has not permit
ted the despatch of Federal troops
to the turbulent strike areas in West
Virginia and Kentucky because Of a
hrrn belief that the States should
police their own territory and that
the States can do so efficiently.
The President made this very
clear yesterday to members OF the
Cabinet. during discussion OF the
strike troubles and the appeal of the
governor Of West Virginia for Fed
eral force.
President Harding will send
troops to the strike area IL he is
convinced that they are absolutely
necessary to preserve Law. and re-
store order. But he does not be-
lieve that the State governments in
West Virginia or Kentucky have ex-
hausted their power to handle the
strike situation.
f Attorney General Daugherty- is
studying conditions In the strike
area with a view to advising the
President what steps the. Federal
government can take to end iawless-
ness there. ... :
Mr.. Daugherty made this an
nouncement yesterday afternoon.
The Attorney General expressed con-
cern at the turn affairs had taken at
Williamson and declared it was the
duty of the State of West Virginia
to take all possible steps to end the
hghtins and protect life and prop
erty before appealing to the Federal
government. .'-...- : -.
Nevertheless" he said. lit may be-
come necessary for the government
to take. some kind of action. / am
told trains are subject to serious de-
lay at Williamson, and that fire.
quently passengers are forced to
crop on the car floors to escape vol
leys o: bullets =