Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-01
ARMED MARCHES
WEAPON OF MINERS

Logan, w. Va. Sept. 1.-fBy A.
T. 1.-The block Of counties involved In
the present armed disturbances. Kama
wha, Fayctte, Boone, Logan and Mingo
forming part Of the southern tier, have
been. on several occasions. the scene
Of individual differences and armed
marches. Extensive coal operations dot
the district and within it are Paint and
Cabin Greeks. Some OF the operations
are unionized, others are not.
In Logan County the entire field lie
unorganizcd except for narrow strip
on the eastern slope Of Spruce Fork
Ridge. close to the Boone County line.
It is in that region and extending
across the county line into Boone that
armed bands have been reported gather
ing for several days.
1t is there that deputy sheriffs. State
police. volunteer peace officers and citi :
zens Of adjacent counties who responded
to call for help from Logan County
authorities are guarding the roads and
trails that lead westward into the heart
of the county. It was there that re-
cent fights occurred when bands intent
on crossing the county en route to
Mingo, were resisted by Logan patrols.
The reason given by the men for a
journey TO the Tug River bank in Mingo
County was 20 protest martial law de-
clared there several months ago. fol-
lowing industrial disorders In the Will
Hanson coal fields.
The first indication of march from
IA a u.hn ('pnnt,. tbrpn0h nonnn and
Logan into Mingo was the assembling
OF groups of men from Paint and Cab
in Greeks mt Marmet. a town just south
Of Charleston. August 20. For several
days thereafter, other bodies Joined
these groups. swelling their number to
several thousand.
The march southwestward started
shortly after midnight August %. Ra-
cine, Boone County, was reached the
first day and the night was spent along
Indian Creek near that place. The next
day found the advance party numbering
500 men at Madison. twenty miles from
Marmet. the rest Of the marchcrs being
scattered ont n few miles behind.
At this juncture, Federal and State
authorities called on United Mine
Workers officials to persuade the men
to abandon the journey. c. F. Keeney
and Fred Mooney, president and secre-
tary, respectively. Of District II. hur-
ried to Madison and addressed the men
who appeared to be without recognized
leaders. The appeal apparently was
successful. for during the next two days
reports were received that the men
were fast returning TO their homes.
The reports we're so encouraging that
Brigadier General Bandholtz. sent to
West Virginia by the War Department
to investigate the march. returned to
Washington.
lie had no sooner reached the ma
tional capital and made his report than
disturbing reports began to arrive at
Governor f. +. Morgan = office that
men waiting in Western Boone and
Eastern Logan counties to join the
narchers when they got that far. had
not dispersed and were insisting on
completion of the march. When these
reports reached Logan County the au-
thorities Immediately took steps to pre-
vent movement across il. Deputy
sheriffs were dispatched to the eastern
hills to offer resistance.
Meanwhile. alarming reports that the
East Logan and West Boone County
bands rapidly were growing larger and
that men from Cabin and Paint Creeks
"Sie H'I'ulhIIS u'roSs bOOHc I ounlN to
join them caused Governor Morgan at
midnight Monday to dispatch an appeal
to President Harding for Federal aid
During this time the Logan authori-
ties We're not idle. Calls for help went
to adjacent counties and hundreds of
citizens, including many ex- service men,
responded to the call. State troopers
from Mingo also were rushed in and
special trains from Charleston carried
arms and ammunition into the county.