The Lamar register., 1922-07-05
An Atrocious Crime

Details Of the massacre IT Herrln.
Illinois, prove it 70 have been the most
brutal and horrifying crime that has
ever stained the garments Of organ
ized labor. More than score Of men
vere murdered in cold blood. after
they had surrendered 10 the union mob,
after the purpose Of the attack upon
the mine had been accomplished, and
all need for yiolence-ever from the
rsost extreme standpoint Of force Is
3 justifiable remedy-had disappeared.
make It a tragedy that stands alone
IL the records Of labor wars.
butchery utterly without excuse, an
appalling disgrace 20 organized labor,
disgrace to the State Of Illinois, q
disgrace TO the American nation il
/ l. incredible that such an event could
occur in an enlightened country, yet
il did occur. ana every report coming
from the sccne adds 10 the enorTnity
OF the crime.
It appears from the statements Of
wounded survivors that the men work
ing at the Southern Illinois Cornpsny's
mine had been deceived as 70 the
nature Of the employment they were
! undertaking and were not aware Of
the risk they were assuming. This,
I il true, reflects seriously upon their
employers, but II does not mitigate
ir the least the offense Of the murder
els. On the contrary, il makes it all
the more dcplorable. For these, it
seems, were not deliberate strike
breakers, understanding the situation
and prepared to fight If need be, but
ordinary workmen taking advantage
of the opportunity to get job. Ap-
parently they took no part in the
fighting at the nine, the armed guards
attending to the work Of defense.
When all surrendered they were sur
rounded by the striking miners and
started tow.-d Herrin. How they
were massacred o. the way. under
circumstances Of unspcakable brutal
ity, is told in the news dispatches
| from the scere. all of which are in
general accord.
And now, what of the responsibility
of the officers of the law? That
trouble had been expected is indicated
by the arrival Of Col. Hunter in the
district last Sunday, by the report
from Waukegan that Gov. Small had
stated that three companies Of State
Guards had been held in readiness for
two days, end by the conferences
between Lester. the president of the
mining company, Col. Hunter and
Sheriff Thaxton. II was known that
the company had determined to operate
the mine and was importing men for
that purpose. Wednesday morning, il
appears, truck loaded with men for
work in this mine started from Car
bondale. On the way it was attacked
from ambush and three of the men on
the truck were shot. Wednesday after
noon a large nmber of striking miners
went to the mine. They were fired
upon by the mine guards and two of
the miners were killed and ore serious
ly wounded. The number Of striking
miners was increased by new arrivals
and the situation soon took the form
of a siege, firing going on through
the afternoon and night from both
sides, apparently without any casual
ties, unless the report is true that
two guards were killed when the
powder house was blown up. At OF
about sunrise the men in the works
surrendered. The massacre seems to
have occurred between and 10 o'clock
Thursday morning.
1t is thus evident that nearly twenty
four hours elapsed between the attack
on the truck and the butchery, and
the masscre did not take place until