The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-14
AMAzONS DEFY
STATE SOLDIERS
"GeneraI'' Annie StOVich Says
"Bring on Your Guards"
Leads Victorious Army of 5000
WOmensSOuth.
WANTS TO CLOSE EVERY Mine
Make Men Swear Allegiance to
Alexander HOWat.
Oklahoma State Border Line
Oklahoma State Border Line
Objective of AmazOns.

Pittsburg, Kan, Dec. II
Headed by the girls band Of
Arma, playing martial music,
General Annie Stovich, the
Joan Arc of the Amazon army"
led her invading hosts, already
weary and footsore, into the en-
envy country, this afternoon.
The marching women, wives
and relatives of Alexander How
ats striking coal miners, had al
ready closed down practically
every mine in Crawford county
and were bent on closing even
the mines in Cherokee county
the anti-Howat stronghold. They
hoped to accomplish this objec-
tive before the arrival of troops,
already reported to be entraining
at various points in the state.
Defy State Troops.
Word that troops were coming only
increased the pent-up fury of the wo-
men. Men viewed the situation with
alarm, for it was believed that even
bayonets will not deter the strong,
highly temperamental foreign women
who compose the bulk of the march
ing hosts.
The army began its march at dawn.
&C erar' Annie Stovich of Ringo
Y as the .-oan of Arc who appeared at
the head of the advancing columns as
it swung south toward mine No. 49
of the Central Coal & Coke company,
four lies from Franklin.
Italians, Poles, Slavs, Austrians and
a big scattering of Americans com
posed the rank and file.
The mine was quickly captured"
and the workers forced to flee. 9th
ers as they came up out of the shaft
We're made to kiss an American flag
and take an oath not to return to
work until ordered to do so by Alex
ander Howat.
sheridan mine No. 10 was next
visited on the southwark march. The
WORKERS had fled
"On to Scammon" then became the
battle cry, and the overland journey
of nineteen miles was begun.
Crawford county, the northern end
of the field has been completely cap
tured. The towns of Franklin, Ringo
Mulberry, FrOntenac and Chicopee are
under control of the Amazon army
All mines in that district are closed.
I'VE are going to every mine as far
as the Oklahoma line" General
Annie Stovich declared. The first OBJ
jective will be a few strip mines along
the border between the two counties,
about six miles south of this city.
AS the army swept on its way, led
by a group of girls singing songs, it
presented a striking appearance. The
flaming colors affected by the foreign
women, predominated. There were
silk stockinged women, some without
stockings, some with hats, others with
caps and others wearing bright col
Ored shawls.
Bring on the militia" shouted the
leaders. we will fight their bayonets
and bullets witt. our bare hands"
They denied however, that they In
tended to attempt an attack upon the
Columbus Jail in Cherokee county to
hberate the strikers imprisoned leader
Alexander Howat.
Deny Jail Attack.
At II o'clock, the supply train" a
number of automobiles driven by
striking miners and filled with pro-
visions drew up to the marchers and
a halt was called for lunch. After a
half hour. the march was resumed.
Every effort was being made to reach
the Scammon district mines before
troops arrive, to close them as they
have closed the mines of Crawford
county.
Following insistent reports that
mob of women marchers was headed
toward Pittsburg and that the seizure
of Van A. Bittner, representative of
the international miners union here.
was planned, a squad of American I.e-
gion men was hastily formed for duty
at a hotel which is headquarters for
Bittner.
The first appearance of the woman
mob was at Central No. 40, northeast
of Pittsburg this morning. The mine
was not in operation but several com
pany men were ordered awav by the
women who had come to the mine in
motor cars. The procession extended
more than a mile in length.