The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-24
Prom NinSo Officials

governor Of ives; Virginia.
Charleston. West Virginia.
Dear Governor.
We IN Undersigned. who. because o.
tho otcic:a, positions W" hold. are
charged with the duty 0; maintaining
and enforcing law and preserving order
IN Mingo county fee that we arc an
able 20 core with the serious situation
that conrrnntS us ana under existing
conditions. fcc, compelled TO request OF
YOU shat YOU ask and obtain. II p"SSi-
bic. the aid OF Federal troops IN r"Stor-
ing law nd order in this county.
We feel u ih:S end il will be necrS-
s,r. 70 o'ace tho county under martial
law.
. We na,. ben slow N r"a"hsnG th:s
conclusion bat coalitions ar" surh ;hat
vs. are constrained 20 MAKE OF YOU MS
reaucSt. a'i respectfully urS" thitt.
without delay. you call up'n :he FeErra'
Governmcn: for aid.
Some Of the reasons which mp. u |"
call upon YOU are these:
FirSt-Abnut = year Az" genera.
strike waS ralied In thr d!~tr.r: known
A. the Villa ms.n-ThacSeT Geld Tor
The PURPOSE nf organizing the district.
which. up 20 that timr. had opera'ed on
The Opra shop" plan.
Second-The att, mpt to orGtn:ze was
opposed by ;hA coal OPERATORS and many
~ ,heir employees. and tho c"as pro-
huCtion has returned 70 q norma. cor
orion under most trying CIRCUMSTANCES.
Th:rd-Frum the TIME the. effort was
made to organize IN" field. uat'! me
present there has been almost cpntinu-
ously fragrant violation OF the laws
both civil! and criminal. and much dis
order and to:ti disregard OF the civil
and property rights OF the ncop!H living
here. including not only the property
owners. hu. rha Individuals WI" 1--we
here without rrga ri IL :h":r OCCUPATION
or ;hcir property -tsh'S.
Fourtn-AS 4 result OF thi> condition
dozens nc .uea A4>" bon killed scores
Of Others ia,.. hs.n injured and wound
ri and assaulted. thoUs;, ndS ot men have
hccn taken from tH"'r employment OF
forced - remain away from their en-
p.nyment bnrarsC OF the physical danger
attending ;ac,r continuing at work.
Much property has bern destroyed and
damaged. by dyn mite. by fire and by
Eun fire.
Fttth-ThS county borders. for dis
vance Of sixty miles. on the states OF
Kentucky and West Virginia. and = so
situated. and the top"Sra ply is such
that il &c A serious and difficult prob
laws ard 10 police the county and pre-
won't these law'"-S outbreaks and punish
those guilty thereof
Sixth. 'onditions ~ the past few
weeks HAYS grown WOES. Nnn-reSi-
don't agents are IN n" field. trouble Is
being fnnentAd. trenches and harricadrS
have BEEN construc; ed on the mountain
d. within III" timber line. thousands
e shots haVr b.-,n fired into som" Of
he "nai camps Of this county in some
instances theS. shots mere fired from
,hc woods and hills 90 MiaEo county
and in other Instances were fired from
The woods and hills ~ Pike county. Ken
lucky. Moreover. witaiu the past two
or three Weeks large quantities Of re-
rGa,irS rifles. including some high
power guns and ammunition have bean
shipped into the county and diStriou'ed
among tho law!esS clement.
Srvca:h-BccauSe Of these things. the
undersigned fear that conditions will
continue 10 grow worse and that serious
trouble. amounting 70 blood-Sheh. and
the loss OF HE vii. result. II IS I'M
rniuent that CIV war will result be-
:wcen the two boundaries un.eSS more
ia don" ,han can he lone by N" local
authorities ~ prevent I.
Eigntn-Owing 70 the fact that two
ate in two states are !avulvcd. We find
ourselves una bic :" prevent these acts
&C violence unable 10 prevent and pun
ish thoS' guilty thereof and responsible
therefor aui because. under the laws.
we are charged witt tn" aintsnance
and preservation OF law and order. we
earnestly .:rcs iha' YOU. az Chief Exc
cutivr q :..> STATE. induce the Federal
authorities % tax" charg: OF the situa-
ton.
Respectfully submitted th:S 18th day
e. Ma. la"i
Synod K. u BAILEY
Jud2.. circuit ''"ur, % Mingo County.
W"st Virginia
\ &. PISSON.
Sheriff - VI MO County. West Virginia.
: y. Stokes
Frosecu'tnc ATTORNEY Of Mingo County.
West Virginia