The Washington times., 1922-06-23
(
WORKERS
PUT BLAME
ON0vVNERs
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.l
Everything about the mine that
could be destroyed was wiped out by
dynamite or fire.
The wounded in hospitals told Of
acts of barbarism and their stories
find apparent confirmation In the
condition OF the bodies Of the dead.
The outbreak has set a new mark
for lawlessness in Williamson coui.
ty, which for twenty years has been
known as bloody Williamson"
Guards Blamed For Trouble.
The question of responsibility for
the riot probably will not be set.
tied until some outside investigating
body gets into the district.
Union officials put the blame
upon the officials of the Southern
Illinois Coal Company for trying
to operate with strike breakers in
q 100 per cent union territory and
for hiring guards that invited trou-
. BILE. They claim the trouble was
started when a miner by the name
OF Guy Hudgins was shot by a
guard while on his way to Herrin
on q business trip.
Their claims are partly borne out
by Sheriff Melvin Thaxton, who
tells Of q conference with w. j.
Lester. owner of the mine; Delos
L. Duty, States attorney; c. X.
Mcdowell, and Col Samuel N.
Hunter, Of the Illinois national
guard, in which he urged that the
~ Ia Aaaln
Lester stated that he bought ana
equipped the mine for the purpose
OF mining coaN and that he pro-
posed to do 1t.
Colonel Hunter, who arrived In
Marion Sunday to look over the
situation as representative Of Ad.
5utant General Black, Of the Illinois
national guard, said he had kept In
constant touch with the sheriff and
was advised by the sheriff that he
had the situation well in hand e."
Urged Owner To Close Mine.
On Sunday, Colonel Hunter said,
ne was advised of possible trouble
In the districts around Herrin and
Marion. He notified the States
attorney and the sheriff to arrange
a conference with all sides repre-
sented. II was at this conference
that he urged Lester to shut down
the mine. He regarded 1t as
menace to the community to at
tempt to operate 1t under existing
conditions.
Monday and Tuesday, Colonel
Hunter said. he spent the time in
vestigating and was assured by
well under control.
~. he xuQ Hnnftfiad
that a mob Of fifty men had raided
the Herrin Supply Company, taking
six guns, eight rifles. and 5000
rounds Of ammunition. Later the
Mosely store was raided, but the
ammunition and guns had been re-
moved. An attempt was made to
obtain guns and ammunition from
the local chapter of the American
Legion but they had been removed.
At 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon
Colonel Hunter said he was notified
that q mob OF 600 had assembled at
the cemetery near Herrin. Colonel
Hunter said he notified the sheriff's
office and a deputy told him the
sheriff had gone to the boundary
line of the county near Carbondale
TO investigate the reported shooting
of guards on a truck bound for
the mine. The deputy Informed
him, Colonel Hunter said. that he
was the only man on duty at the
sheriff's office.
.. Asked For Troops.
A short time later Colonel Hunter
said he was notified by Superirr
tendent Mcdowell, of the mine. that
the men were starting to march
on the mine. He said that firing
had begun and asked for troops.
Colonel Hunter told him he had no
authority to call out troops with
out request from the civil authorl-
ties.
About $50 o'clock Wednesday
afternoon Mcdowell again called
Colonel Hunter and renewed his re.
quest Tor troops. Colonel Hunter
again said he could not call out
soldiers and Mcdowell asked what
he should do.
Il suggested flag Of truce"
Colonel Hunter said. And asked
him TO see II further trouble could
not be averted. I asked him to
withdraw the men and arrange with
the miners to let his mine lie idle.
He said he would IL would get In
touch with union officials and ask
them also to run up a flag Of truce.
truce. .
AT $50 p. m. got Fox Hughes,
vice president Of the United Mine
Workers, on the telephone and ad.
vised him Of what Mcdowell had
asked ard lie agreed to do IL.
Hughes siid hs and Secretary Davis
would 90 to tl,e mine under q flag
OF truce ind ,sndeavor to call off
their men. I then called Mcdowell
and told Sipc the unioa officials
had agreed to his terms. He said
firing mad ceased"
Colonel Hunten said he later
learned that Hughes had gone to
the mine and that the shooting
ceased until dawn OF Thursday.