New-York tribune., 1921-05-17
U. S. Will Not
Send Troops to
W est Virginia
Harding, After Conference
With Weeks, Decides Not
to Proclaim Martial Law
in Coal Miners Warfare
Shooting Is Renewed
Shaft House Is Fired On
and Kentucky Governor
Calls for Federal Forces
From The Trtbune's Washington Bureax


WASHINGTON, May 16.-President
Harding feels that the situation exist
ing in West Virginia and Kentucky,
caused by striking coal miners does
not call for the dispatch of Federal
troops and the proclamation of martial
law.
After conference between the
President and Secretary of War W eeks
to-day the latter said that the Presi-
dent did not favor establishing prece-
dent in dispatching regular troops if
it could be avoided.
Secretary Weeks said that late ad-
vices from Major General Read, COM
manding troops in the 9Th Corps area,
embracing the troubled states, were to
the effect that the situation was grow
ing calmer. The shooting, Secretary
Weeks said, was indiscriminate and
/ sporadic, unorganiEad and capable of
speedy termination, providing state
ofF7ciass did their duty. He talked with
Governor Morgan Of West Virginia
over +he phone this afternoon and
learned from the Governor that the
situation is easier.
Sutherland Asks Federal Aid
Senator Sutherland, of West vir-
gina, has been inundated with tele-
grams from residents asking for Fed
eral aid. The Senator has brought
pressure to bear upon the President TO
send troops, but it was said at the
White House that the President con-
templates no such action.
The feeling prevails among officials
that West Virginia, by its failure to
establish national guard, is respon
nlble in a large measure for the reign
of terrorism and lawlessness which the
striking coal miners have inaugurated.
It is said that in the thousands of
mine workers employed in West Vir-
ginia many are illiterate and un-
American. Disturbances may be looked
for at any time, and had West Vir-
trained militia the situation would
never have gone beyond state control.
AS it is, the opinion prevails here that
the state felt all the time that, should
the situation become serious, the Fed
eral government would be asked to in
tervene.
The President feels that the sending
of troops to West Virginia will I'M
press other state executives with the
idea that regular troops are available
at short notice to act as state police.
FRANKFORT, Ky, May 16.-Gover-
nor Edwin P. Morrow late tonight sent
a telegram to the War Department in
Washington requesting that Federal
troops be sent to the Tug River dis
trict, which has been in a state Of
virtual guerilla warfare for four days.
Governor Morrow's request for troops
followed receipt of message from
Governor Morgan of West Virginia,
containing a demand by the sheriff Of
Mingo County for dispatch Of Fed
eral contingent. In his message Cover
nor Morgan recommended that Cover
nor Morrow join with him in 3 request
for troops.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, May 16.-
Declaring that the situation in Mingo
County is "a smoldering volcano, with
an eruption all the more imminent" be-
cause of expected demonstrations next
Thursday, the first anniversary of the
Battle of Matewan, Mingo County au-
thorities tonight again asked Governor
Morgan for Federal troops.