The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-08
MORGAN OFFICERS
 ORDERED ID USE
 FORCE WITH STRIKE
KiIby Cites Law Against Pick eting and Promises Proc lection to Nonunion
 Men and Property

Montgomery, July 7.-(Special.) J. Governor Kilby, in an informal state ment tonight, declared he would use every power of the state government to prevent violence during the strike of railroad shopmen in Alabama. His statement follows the sending of strong telegrams to Sheriff J. ". May of Morgan county and D. C.. -Almon, solicitor of the Eighth judi cial circuit, in which they were told of reports that striking shopmen were openly violating the anti picketing law enacted in 1921.
 Will Investigate
 Simultaneous with the statement of the governor it became known that l.. L. Phillips, state law enforcement chief. and his squad of deputies had left Montgomery and would arrive at Albany and Decatur some time Satur- day for the purpose of investigating reports that nonunion mon had been threatened. that pickets had been established about the railroad prop erty and that fears were entertained for the safety of the mon who have been employed during the past few days.
 "The state government will protect ! It's citizens from the lawness," said Governor Kilby in commenting on re- ports from Albany and Decatur. "De- cisive action will be taken the mo- ment information comes that overt acts have been committed or there is any indications that the rights or any citizens are being restricted by any other citizens or class of citizens. stnte VIII Settle
 Alabama has law against pickett ing, If this law Is being violated the state government will take the proper action for the vindication of the law and for the punishment of those who would disregard it. It should be un- derstood at the beginning of this strike by all citizens alike that the state government will protect it's citizens whether they be union or inonunion men," Text of Message
 Governor Kilby's telegram to Sher- if May follows:
 T call your attention to act of the Legislature, approved October zSi l1921, known as the anti-picketing L law. I am informed that this act Is being openly and wantonly violated in your county. The law makes 1t a crime for any person or association or persons to use force. threats or in- | limitation or other unlawful means to prevent any other persons from engaging in any lawful occupation or | business.
 Tt is a violation of the criminal | laws of this state for any person | without a just cause or legal ex- | cuse. willfully or wantonly to do any | act with intent or reason to believe that such act will injure, interfer' l with. hinder, d bty or obstruct an, lawful business in which persons ar' | employed for wages. Any person wht l pickets the property of another Il 1 guilty of crime and should be ar l rested, convicted and punished.
 strikers or union men have nc more right to disregard or violate this statute than any other statute 1 It Is your duty as sheriff to enforc, this statute by arresting those wh
 violate or refuse to observe 1t, as 1
 Is any other statute.
 You have the authority and powe
 and 1t Is your duty as well as min
 to see that the laws of the state ar
 inforced. You will therefore appoin
 and deputlze as many deputy sheriff
 of Morgan county as Is necessary t
 preserve the peace and to protect tn
 property of citizens of Morgan coun
 ty. Appoint men who will inforce tn
 law, even though they be the owner
 or agents of the property sought t
 be destroyed or unlawfully inter
 ferred with by the strikers or mobs.
 Governor Kilby's telegram t
 Solicitor Almon follows: T am in | former that criminal laws of thi
 state are being openlySand notorious
 ly violated in your county by unio
 labor men who are now on a strik
 in the shops of the Louisville an
 Nashville Railroad company at Al
 bany. I am informed that the act
 the legislature. approved October 2!
 1921, acts 1921. pages 31 to 33.
 being openly violated by thes
 strikers; that they are using unlaw
 ful means to prevent other person
 from working In the shops of tn
 Louisville and Nashville Railroa
 company and that they are doin
 other unlawful acts, denounced b
 this statute, with intent to hinde
 and obstrrct the lawful business c
 the Louisville and Nashville Railroa
 company and that they are doin
 other acts which the statute denomi
 mates as crime. under the laws C