The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-15
MARITAL LAW WILL
 BE NEXT STEP IN
 STRIKE RIOT AREA
President Decides on Drastic Step Following Messages Declaring People Being
 Shot Down Like Rats
ny Assoclated rress

Williamson, w. Va, May 14.-Rel- ativc peace has been restored tonight
 to the mountains and valleys of
 Mingo county, West Virginia, and Pike county, Kentucky, after a pitched industrial battle that had lasted since
 Thursday morning. Only desultory I firing was going on tonight at isolated
 points and authorities reported that efforts were being made to arrange truce.
 Frankfort, Ky, May 1.-Two com panics of Kentucky national guards men today were ordered ;o hcCarr. Ky, in Pike county, where state of virtual war has been oR for the last two days. Gov. Edwin F. Morrow is- sued the order when ft appeared that United states troops would not he sent to the district as s',c present time. The troops will bc under the command of Maj. Frank LusScc of the office Of Adjutant General Jackson Morris. They consist of company or 20 iron, MOrehead under the command of cap- tain David B. Thompson and an auto matic rifle company os 70 men from MOrehead under the command Of Capt. William k. Proctor.
 Washington, May Proclana- tions were signed by President Hard ing late today declaring a state of martial law in Mingo county, w. Va, and Pike county, Ky, along the inter- state border, the area affected by the coal strike riots. The proclamations were turned over to Secretary of War Weeks, to be issued should reports from the troubled region make such action necessary.
 At the war department orders were prepared immediately after the sign ing of the proclannations, informing Maj. Gen. George w. Read com manding the Fifth corps area at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, of the Presidents action, and ordering him to hold a sufficient number of troops In readiness to move to make martial law effective In the area compre- hended by the Presidents pfoclama- tons.
 IMPROVEMENT REPORTED
 When President Harding decided on the drastic action, as result of con ferences with Secretary Weeks and Senator Sutherland of West ytrginia.< 1t was contended that the proclama- tions shoud be issued mplediately. A few moments after they were signed however, q telegram was received 2 thas White House from Governor Mor sr Kentucky anH Heuilcing thHf tlse n To 0ssi ho st. apdsss tsat sa'sItss jas sae ar I It was ais t1foEAi1 sSss ast caused the postponement of the issuance of the proclamations.
 President Harding was influenced in
 his decision, it was acknowledged, by l his conversation with Senator Suther- | land. The senator took to the White
 House a number of appeals from citi-
 zens of West Virginia. declaring that
 the situation was beyond the control | of the state authorities and that fed
 eral aid was necessary. One telegram
 from c. R. Wilson, at Huntsonton, said people of Matewan, w. Va. were being shot down like rats.
 I PASSENGERS ENDANGERED
 Earlier in the day Secretary Weeks
 had transmitted to theAPresident tele- | grams from the governors of Kentucky
 and West Virginia describing in de- ! tail the situation asnd asserting the need for federal troops. One such message from Governor Morgan of l West Virginia forwarded a protest
 from w. J. Jenks, general manager i of the Norfolk and Western railroad. declaring that passengers and em- 1 ployes travelling on the roads trains were in danger from flying bullets. that telegraph and telephone wires
 were being shot down and could nor l be repaired. owing to the constant I fusillade and that passengers were | compelled to take refuge beneath the seats of the cars to escape Injury. I Governor Morrow's telegram conyey- l ing information that the situation
 looked more hopeful which caused
 the withholding of the martial law ] tContinued on Page Three)