The New York herald., 1922-07-12

OF this telegram pushed his spectacles
up his forehead after reading u and
said:
Wei. you can never make me believe
John Lewis intended 70 have anybody
go out and do some killing. I should
say he was merely settling a disputed
point In The routine OF his business But
] VIII say that John Lewis was unfor-
tunate In his choice of language. Every
body down here knows how the union
miners feel about these things and how
certain words inflame them. I should
say that the word outlaw rlled them so
much but when Lewis officially told
them that those fellows out at Testers
mine were to be treated like any other
strikebreakers l should say 1t was about
the same as saying Hike out there to
the mine and clean EN- out / don't
believe John Lewis gave the matter
enough thought. or may be he didn't
know how bad conditions were down
here. He's had quite lot on his mind.
of course"
Comment on the Message.
The Lewis telegram was published In
the Williamson county newspapers on
June 20. The Marion Daily Republican,
for example. led the paper" with 1t and
Senator Sneed's telegram to Lewis. 1t has
ben reported that the original was
posted In the United milne Workers
headquarters at Herrin. An officer Of
the union told the correspondent that nc
believed 1t had not been. On June 20. in
It's account of the massacre of that day
the Marion Daily Republican said
An Indignation meeting was held In
the cemetery in Herrln on Wednesday
morning. June 81. at which time the
feeling was running high and the tele-
gram OF John l.. Lewis. calling the
steam shovel men common strkebreak-
was read. Soon after aoon mob
raided three hardware stores In Herrin,
obtaining a few guns and revolvers and
500 rounds OF ammunition OF all kinds.
The mob then went to Marion. but only
obtained ammunition at two places"
The attack on the mine started at
sab O'Clock that afternoon.
Z. L. Slusher. acting district board
member of the United Mine Workers.
says that the telegram was not read
at the cemetery meeting. Senator
Sneeds formal statement. is:
"Mr. Lewss telegram in no way or
manner was read to a mass meeting,
or was 1t construed to the effect by
the men In an inflammatory way. be-
ing considered only as matter Of In
IOrnduOn, pointing out the status OF
the steam shovel mems union with the
American Federation OF Labor in reply
to Mr.. Testers statement. carried In
the press. In my judgment, as
well as that Of every other citizen who
understood what Mr.. Lester proposed,
or rather what he did do In surround
Ing his property with imported gunmen
and men imported for the purpose Of
loading the coal under the above CTR
cumstances. lies the blame for this whole
horrible affair.""
Support for the theory that serious
trouble was brewing several days be-
fore Lewis sent his telegram Is found
in the fact that Col. Samuel Hunter OF
the Illinois Adjutant-Generals office ar
rived In Marion on Sunday June Is, to
investigate threats of disorder. Col.
Hunter kept a diary of bis efforts to
preserve the peace. IT begins:
The Flag OF Truce.
Sunday June 1S-Advised OF possible
trouble in the district around Herrin
and Marion. Notified States Attorney
and Sheriff to arrange conference with
all sides represented. At this confer
apca urged Lester tn close down rr,ire