Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-30
HARDING REFUSES
mine CHIEFS PLEA
Declines to Call Conference to
Consider West Virginia
Troubles
HEARS APPEAL FOR TROOPS

Washington. Aug. 30.-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 Nir-
ginia coal troubles.
While the text of the President s
reply was not made public at the White
House 1t was said the President had
Informed Mr.. Lewis that he saw no
necessity for n conference. inasmuch as
q special Senate committee would meet
at Williamson. W. Va, on September
10 to hear further testimony. The
White House said the text of the Presi-
dents letter might be given out by Mr..
Lewis.
The sending of Federal troops into
West Virginia's coal regions TO restore
order entered the realm Of probability
today when army officers were called
Into conference by President Harding
to consider that question.
Decision as TO whether Federal troops
would be sent. however, will await a
conference to be held at the White
House at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
The President and Secretary Weeks,
after hearing delegation from West
Virginia, headed By Senator Suther-
land, who urged that Governor Nor
gan's request for Federal troops be
granted, called into conference Major
General Harbord. acting chief Of staff,
and Brigadier General Bandholtz, who
recently visited the coal fields as the
War Departments representative
There was no intimation as to the
attitude of the President. but War De.
partment officials said only the word
from President Harding was necessary
Tor them to begin movement Of troops
into the West Virginia fields. Plans
have been made for the movement by
the general staff. and ii was said in
the event 1t was ordered il would prob
ably involve two regiments. already
prepared and awaiting orders to move.
One OF the regiments was said to be
the Nineteenth Infantry, located nt
Camp sherman, o.. and Columbus Bar
racks. The other is at Camp Dix,
N. j..
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 a desire 10
obtain additional information from the
scene Of the disturbances. General
Bandholtz and Secretary Weeks were
asked to return to the White House.
and 1t was expected that certain mtur .
nation which would have direct bear
ing on the question of proclaiming mar
tial law or dispatching troops would be
available In time for consideration at
the conference.
Logan, w. Va, Aug. 30.-(By A
P.)-More than 1000 men. made up oil
two companies of the State police, a
host of Deputy Sherifs and armed vol
unteer citizens from all over Logar
County. were ready today for any
eventualities growing out of the fight
last Sunday morning between State
troopers and a band of armed men oil
the east slope of Spruce Fork Ridge
east Of here.
Captain J. R. Broekus With thu
troopers and large force of Logan anC
Mcdowell Deputy Sheriffs were ou
along the mountain overlooking tn,
towns of Clothier, Blair and Sharles. IL
Logan scores of armed men sent thcii
time in the vicinity of the courthouse
awaiting orders from Sheriff Don Cha
fin, of Logan County, and Sheriff Bill
Hatfield. Of Mcdowell. Automobile
were parked nearby with a driver a
every steering wheel ready for instan
use.
Former service men, many of whom
had seen service overseas. were being
formed into an emergency organization
should they be needed to repel an at
tack from the hundreds of armed mer
who were currently reported to have
gathered between the ridge and th'
western boundary of Boone County.