The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-01
IS L0ATH TO ACT
Presidents Proclamation Lies
Signed on His Desk.
Tho "ZerO Hour" Passed, WASH
ingtOn Waits Report.
WEST VA. COUNTIES AFFECTED
Airplanes With Tear Bombs To
Be Used First.
Union Chief Wires Harding
Asking for Guarantee.

sept.
noon today of the time limit fixed by
President Harding by proclamation
for dispersal of the armed bands of
citizens in West Virginias mine disor-
ders found White House and war de-
partment officials awaiting a report
from Brig. Gen. H. H. Bandholtz, the
army's representative on the scene. rs
to the situation.
While officials awaited the report
on which a decision as to employment
of federal troops and a declaration of
martial law will rest, all was in readi-
ness for the federal government to
step into West Virginia should that be
found necessary.
Wait Bandholtz Report.
Trains were said by Secretary
Weeks to be standing ready on the
side tracks at Camps Dix, N. j., and
Sherman, Ohio. to move troops at a
moments notice. Thirteen airplanes
were en- route from Langley Field,
Virginia, to make a survey of the
whole region and report what they
observed. A proclamation declaring
martial law in the counties of Fayette,
Kanawha. Logan, Boone and Mingo
was drawn up and signed, ready for
PRONUNCIATION.
Il will wait for the report from Gen
eral Bandholtz before making move"
secretary Weeks announced at noon.
NO word has been received from him
since he left for West Virginia He
probably will report as soon as he has
surveyed the ground after noon"
Infantry Gets Orders.
As the expiration of the time fixed
by the president approached, COM
munications from West Virginia Off
cials and citizens poured into the war
department and the White House in
an almost steady stream, all of them
messages asserting that the armed
bands were disposed to disregard the
call to disperse and calling in urgent
language for the employment of fed
eral troops.
A third regiment of infantry was
today ordered by Secretary Weeks to
be gotten in readiness at Camp Dix,
N j., for possible service in West Vir-
ginia. This will be the second regi-
ment to leave from the camp, and the
third will leave from Camp Sherman,
Ohio.
orders for troops to move into
West Virginia have been prepared and
the troops will go forward within a
short time after the issuance of the
proclamation of martial law and Seq
retary Weeks expects to be able to
have the federal forces in control of
the situation before midnight
Infantry and machine gun COM
panies are standing by Camp Sherman,
Ohio, and Camp Dix, n. J., awaiting
the word to move.
General Bandholtz will command
the federal troops in the West Virginia
war zone and he is under strict orders
from Secretary of War Weeks to deal
firmly with the situation.
Military aircraft has been dispatched
to West Virginia and it is understood
proposals are before the secretary of
war for use of aerial bombs filled with
tear gas to disperse the armed forces.
Says Harding Must Act.
Charleston. w. Va, Sept. when
state officials reached their offices
this morning and glanced at last
nights reports from Logan county,
they expressed the opinion that mar
tial law in Logan and other nearby
counties was inevitable Should it be
declared Kanawha county, in which
Charleston. the capital, is located,
would be included. 1t was in this
county the first march had its incep-
ton fortnight ago.
AdviceS received at the executive
offices, officials added indicated that
the temper of the men endeavoring to
march to Mingo is such as to preclude
any possibility that they would dis
perse.
AdV1ceS received at the executive or
flee and made public were that the
line OF advance and resistance extends
twelve miles along Spruce Fork ridge
from Hewitts creek to Blair noun
tain. One report from Madison last
night was to the effect that two men
had arrived from Blair, who told
newspaper men they were members of
the United Mine Workers of America.
but. not parties to the conflict They
said that about two thousand men oc-
cupied the territory along Hewitt and
Mill creeks.
Philip Murray, vice president of the
international organization of Mine
Workers, has telegraphed President
Harding expressing the belief that the
men along the Boone-Logan border
would disperse provided the govern
ment gave the men a substantial guar
antee that their lives and properties
would be protected from armed gun
men"