The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-23
LAX OFFICIALS
CRITICIZED FOR
MINE KILLINGS
Investigator Advises Gov.
Small County Authorities to
Blame To Investigate But
No Results Expected.
MASSACRE IS DEPLORED
(By Associated Press)

fBy Associated PresS)
HERRIN, H., June 23-Official in
vestigation of the mine war which
killed from q to 45 here began today
on the response of insistent demand
from Governor Len Small by loca
authorities when Coroner McGowar
announced that an inquest would be
held Immediately and State Attorney
D. Lewis stated that a special grand
jury would be convened following the
request to investigate the massacre
The states attorney expressed the
opinion that no definite results would
be obtained through the investigation,
saying that it was practically impos-
sible to obtain evidence. He insisted,
however, that every possible ster
would be taken, and telegraphed Gov.
ernor Small an official statement &c
that effect.
WAUKEGAN, June %. Governor
Len Small this afternoon received q
telegram from Col. Samuel NJ Hunter
representative of the Acknowledgement
at Herrin, placing the blame for the
mine rioting which led to the massa
ere of more than 25 non-union work
men on the shoulders of the William
son county officials.
Col. Hunter, who was sent to Her
rim week ago to report to the gov.
ernor and Adjutant-General Black on
the situation, told the governor in 10
days message that he found the VIII.
hanson county authorities could not
handle this situation and that they
should have asked for troops before
the rioting started. Reports we're in.
circulation in the court room where
the governor is on trial, that Mr.. Small
has decided to remove Sheriff Thax.
ton of Williamson county for failing tc
preserve order. 1t also was rumored
that the governor would recall Col
Hunter and MediIl, director of mines.
for failure to keep him posted on
developments.
Demanded Response.
The governor sent midnight mes
sages to Williamson county authori.
! ties. emphatically demanding imme-
diate response to his kilograms re-
garding the disorders there yesteer-
/ day and prompt action in restoration
of order and the punishment of the
| strikers and their sympathizers re-
sponsible
The governor went to bed after
sending the kilograms and ordering
the mobilization of troops still with
| out official information as to the ex-
act extent of the Herrin outbreak In
| his messages, to Sheriff Thaxton and
! States Attorney Duty, the governor.
! emphasized that state troops were pre-
pared a advance into the riot district
and place IL under military law If the
county authorities did not immediately
bring lawlessness to an end.
| Mobilization orders were issued By
| the governor from his hotel here,
where he is quartered during his trial
on charges of conspiracy to defraud
! the state. The governor retired in the
hope Of getting few hours sleep be-
fore receiving a report fran Adiutant
/ General Black, at Springfield.
MARION, Ill, June 23.-Sheriff Mel
win Thaxton, of Williamson county, to-
day replied to Governor Snall's re-
quest for an official report of the Her
rim mine battle, saying that "the situ-
alton is we'll in hand. There is no
danger of further outbreaks and there
: is no need for troops"
! WASHINGTON, June 2s-Declara,
tions that those responsible for the
southern Illinois mine disorder should
be prosecuted to the fullest extent OF
the law were made today by Secretary
of Labor Davis in a statement issued
after a conference with President
Harding The secretary said one of
the unfortunate features of the diso7-
der, which. he added, the department
of labor deplored deeply, was that the
death of the score or more of work
ers accomplished nothing toward set
tlement of the coal strike.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, June 23.-John
L. Lewis in statement here today
declared The United Mine Workers
Of America are not to any degree re-
sponsible for the unfortunate occur
renee at Herrin, H." He said the or.
ganization of which he is president
never encouraged or condoned lawless-
ness.
SPRINGFIELD, H., June 23.-John
H. Walker. president of the Illinois
federation of labor issued a statement
! TO-DAY blaming the forces of greed that
profittered so shamelessly during the
war" for the mine battlh at Herrin.
WEST FRANKFORT. H., June 20
-Four Mexicans believed to have
been among the non-union miners
operating the strip mines of the South
ern Coal companies near Herrin were
/, found near here this morning and
were forced TO leave town by a force
of several hundred men. Later one
of the Mexicans was found dead. He
; had apparently committed suicide.
1 CHICAGO, June 23-Mobilization O.
the 132nd infantry of the Illinois Ma
tional Guard, ordered by Governor
: : Len Small in a midnight message
: from Waukegan, to hold itself In readi
: ness for duty in the southern 1llinoi:
mining region, began early today.
Governor SmalPs order was re
, layed from Adjutant General Carlo
: E. Black at Springfield to Colonel Wi
, I L =