Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-06-24
Governors Investigator
BIames Official For
Lack of Nerve.
NOT TO USE TROOPS
Illinois Guardsmen To
Be Demobihzed Despite
Plea Of Operators For
State Protection.

Springfield, ILL.,, June 24.--(By
Associated Press. LACK of nerve
on the parts of Sheriff Melvin
Thaxton OF williamson county
and the killing OF two union min
ers by guards last Wednesday
were two OF the causes assigned
Tor the massacre OF rs strike-
breakers, in a report made over
long distance telephone to Adju-
tant General Black by Major Gem
eral Milton ]. Foreman, this aft
ernoon.
Waukegan, ILL.,. June 24.-Goy-
ernor Len Small announced today
that he would Immediately order
the demobilization OF the state
national guard units held in read
mess since Friday morning for
possible despatch to the disturbed
mine zone OF southern Illinois.
Troops Might Be Needed.
The military board of inquiry
reported to Governor Small that IL
the mine operators attempted to
send men into to look after their
property and repair their machin-
cry dynamited Thursday II will
provoke further trouble and troops
will be necessary. The report said
the states attorney and sheriff
would look after the burial OF the
dead non-union workers.
Investigation Started.
Herrin, ILL.,, June 24.--(By AS :
sociated Press. "a state military
investigation OF the Lester mine
massacre, which took between rs
and 40 lives, was begun today by
board headed by Major General
Milton Foreman OF the state mili-
tia, acting under orders from Cow
ernor Len Small, issued when the
chief executive became aroused
over failure of local officials 70
take any steps against the miners
who captured and killed the ma
jority OF strikebreakers working
in the strip mine.
General Foreman and his COM
mittee arrived at 5 o'clock this
morning and were met by Colonel
Samuel Hunter OF the adJutant
genraIs office, who was here dur
ing the massacre. His orders to
return to Springfield today were
cancelled and he Immediately be-
came a guide for the military
board. General Foreman and the.
board proceeded Immediately to-
Marion. the county seat where .
conference with States Attorney
d. l.. Duty and Sheriff Melvin
Thaxton was planned.
A tour of the area OF the fight
was made and II was expected
that numerous supposed witnesses
OF the disorders would be called
before the board.
Probe Official LaNty.
General Foreman had been in
structed particularly to learn why
the states attorney had not taken
steps toward eonvcning special
grand jury, why the coroners in-,
quest had not been held and why
these officials repeatedly refused
10 authorize Colonel Hunter to
call for troops, sgen after an in--
dlgnation meeting OF miners was
held the day before the fighting
started and even after the miners
had marched on the mine. He al
so had been instructed, II was un-
derstood, to learn why Sheriff
Thaxton had ignored Colonel
Hunters request that some special
preparations for an emergency bs
made.
Failure OF local officials to send
out enough deputies the night tho
fighting began and during the fol-
lowing day when almost unheard
OF deeds OF cruelty and brutality
we're committed, also was point
10 be Investigated.
Another matter to be looked IN
TO was why numerous requests
from the governor for informa-
tIon after the trouble started were