The Washington herald., 1921-09-30
WEST VIRGINIA
REBUlLDS GUARD:
FEARS new WAR
State Authorities Hasten
To Complete Prepara-
ti0ns for Defense.

CHARLESTON. w. Va, Sept. %.
West Virginia is re-establishinr
her National Guard. This is one
means by which she is attempting
to promote peace in her troubled
| mining regions.
AS one goes ,oout over the State
ne finds little evidence that the
connict over unionism is any
nearer settlement than ever, or
even that Vt Is being handled in a
more conciliatory way. Your cor
respondent. who spent six weeks in
the State last winter reporting the
situation fully at that time, finds
tnat the relations between nom
union operators and union leaders
and sympathizers are more bitter
than ever today. AS the attorney
general of the State E. T. England,
says: The situation is unchanged
The fundamental issue. namely, or
Sanization of the miners versus no
organization, is still unsettled. The
operators will never let the men
organize in the nonunion field, if
they can help it"
What will be the result?" he
was asked.
Il don't know" he replied.
Seek 8,4OO Men.
The re-establishment of the Ma
tional Guard is proceeding under
authority granted by the legisla-
ture last spring. 1t is in the hands
of Adjutant General Harnock.
former lieutenant colonel overseas
The ultimate strength planned Is
6.400 men. but the number allotted
by United States army officials for
this year Is 1900.
So far six companies have been
inspected for Federal recognition.
These. are a rife company at Will
hanson, county seat of Mingo
County: a rifle company at Logan,
seat of Logan County: two COM
panies at Welch, seat of Mcdowell
County; a machine gun company at
Charleston. State capital, and a
rifle company at St. Adams. The
other companies being recruited
are: One more at Williamson, two
at Bluefield, three at Huntington,
two more at Charleston and one at
Walton. There are fifteen COM
panies in all.
Heart of War Zone.
Williamson, Logan, welch and |
Biuefeld are all in the heart of
the nonunion territory. Hunting |
ton. which is to have three COM |
panies, is at the head of swo val
leys leading into that territory. |
Charleston is not far away. IL is |
thus evident that the strength OF |
TIE National Guard is being con-
centrated as protection to the
nonunion field. Cities throughout |
the State, it is declared hN Maj. |
Thomas c. Davis. of headquarters
staff, have put in requests for COM
panies.
There is evidently a misunder-
standing in regard to the admis-t
sion of members of labor unioHs.
Maj. Davis assured your .c1rr2-
spondent that no member of a union
would be admitted. 1T Is a ma ::cnal
rule of the National Guard" he
said. mot to accept members Gf
labor unions. At any rate. We arc
adopting that practice here
Forces at Hand.
Later Adjt. Gen. Charnock ceni'd
this. He said the objection was
made against radicals" not against
union members as such. He said
that a number of union men had
joined and that any unioa man
who was "a good, solid citizen"
was eligible. He added. however.
that many unions were opposed t.
their men joining.
The bulk of the membership IS
from professional and busi
ness people. The State has a State
force of about 10 men
in addition to its National Guard.
There are also 700 United States
troops still here as a result of .hc
recent armed march" through
Boone County toward Logan. These
With the large number of Isputv
sheriff in some of the counties.
the forces available for
preserving peace in the mining re-