The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-06-24
COZ. SMALL AROUSED
At LOCAL APATHY
Called for State Investigation of the
Bloody Occurrences at
Herrin.

II Herrin. H.. june "a tBy the Asso
ciated Press).-A state military inves
tigation of the Lester mine massacr,
! which took between 25 and 80 lives
| was begun to-day by board headed
by Major General Milton Foreman oi
! the state militia. acting under order,
from Governor Len Small which were
issued when the chief executive became
aroused over failure of local officials
to take any steps against the miners
who captured and killed the majority
Of strike breakers working in the strip
mine.
General Foreman and his committee
reached here to-day. They were met
by Colonel Samuel Hunter Of the ad
jutant generals office and proceeded
10 Marion, the county seat, where con
ferences with States Attorney Delous
l.. Duty and Sheriff Melvin Thaxon
we're planned.
A tour of the area of the fight was
made and il was expected that numer-
Gus persons believed to know some
thing Of the disorders would be called
befote the board.
General Foreman had been instruct
ed particularly to learn why the states
attorney had not taken steps toward
convening special grand jury; why
the coroner's inquest had not been held
and why these officials repeatedly re
fused to authorize Colonel Hunter to
call for troops, even after an indigna
tion meeting Of miners was held the
day before the fighting started and
even after the miners had marched ON
the mine. He also had been instruct
ed, il was understood. to learn why
Sheriff Thaxton repeatedly told Colo
mel Hunter that he could handle the
situation and vet ignored Colonel
Hunters request that some special
preparations for an emergency be
made.
Failure Of the local officials 10 send
out an adequate force OF deputies the
night the fighting began and during
the next day when almost unheard of
deeds Of cruelty and brutality were
also was point to be in
vestigated.
Another matter TO be looked into
was why repeated requests from the |
governor for information s1er The |
trouble started we're ignored by coun
ty authorities and why, when he was
receiving scores of telegrams from pri- |
vate citizens telling Of the outragss
he was continually informed by the
that tho situation was well
in hand and that the troops were not |
needed.
Populaoe Hostile to Investigation
There was little doubt that General /
Foreman and his board would not re
'eive wecome Of any particular cor
iiality from the county as a whole. 80
Der cent miners in population. and loo
,er cent unionized. Williamson eoun-
v has shown decided disinclination
o welcome any outside interference in
he massacre which is looked on as a
PERSONAL affair which shall be ignored
" the rest of the world. Persons on
he streets have been heard repeated
Y to remark that If troops had been
ent their guns would have been TAX
n away from them.
Sheriff Thaxton and Mr.. Duty both
romiscd cooperation.
The situation in the county was
made considerably more tense for
hort time last night when scores of
arctakers guarding the mines during i,
he strike through agreement between
wners and unions quit work under
hreats from groups Of miners. Short.
T afterwards. Hugh Willis. district :
GARD member Of the union and other :
Mon officials persuaded them to re- /
urn after mine guards had been sta I
oned TO protect them. Had the men '
smained away. millions Of dollars i
orth Of mines would have been ruined '
ironrh flooding within a few DAYS. c
hose csretskers are not mine union y
len. "
Search for bodies continued to-day v
some points Of the county although I
ie searching parties were few Twen-
1.-TWO bodies had been recovered and
was considerfi certain that many
ore stiil could he found. 7
Concerning the property loss. no def
he estimate, could he made. Tie
nldincs az the mines which were
Irncd did not amount to much. but &
mage to the one steam shovel blown v
;. the pumping plant dynamiied and o
70 ~ three freight cars Of coal 4
lrned probably ran close t. sl00. y
n Tuo freight cars ~ food supplies a
rra taken. The mine could fe 0per- q
a -. A. -. -. IL - 49,. :,