The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-24
CEN. FOREMAN
SENT To PROBE
HERRIN RIOTS
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
as a whole. Ninety per cent miners
in population, and 100 per cent
anionized, Williamson county has
shown a decided disinclination to
welcome any outside interference in
the massacre, which is looked on as
a personal affair which should be
ignored by the rest of the world.
Persons on the street have been
heard repeatedly to remark that IL
troops had been sent their guns
4 would have been taken away from
them.
People Resent Probe.
Comment on the streets expressed
resentment over the, sending of the
military board, although officials
said they would gladly cooperate
with it
Colonel Hunter, who, the gov
ernor said, might have been in
fuenced wrongly by local opcials
because he is a native of Marion,
said that he was certain the board
would not aim any investigation at
him.
81 did my duty and even exceed
ed it at times" he said. Il have
given almost continuous reports to
my superiors at Springfield. have
repeatedly stated that the local Of
/ fcials were lax in their prepare
tons for the trouble expected, and
in the Investigations of it. l am
, glad the governor has taken this
step, for it will bear out my own
official reports"
Sheriff Thaxton and Mr.. Duty
both promised cooperation.
Threaten Mine Caretakers-
The situation in the county was
made considerably more tense for
short time last night when scores
of caretakers guarding the mines
during the strike, through agree
ment between owners and unions,
quit work under threats from
groups of miners. Shortly after
wards Hugh Willis, district board
member of the union, and other
officials persuaded them to return
after miner guards had been sta
toned to protect them. Had the
men remained away, millions of
dollars worth OF mines would have
been ruined through flooding with
In a few days. These caretakers
I are not mine union men.
The fact that the men were being
/ coerced into quitting came to the
attention Of Colonel Hunter yes
/ terday afternoon. With county
and union officials he imm ediately
conducted an investigation which
verified the reports. He then tele-
graphed Adjutant-Genera Black of
| the situation, stating that if the
miners were unguarded he expect
ed trouble with which the local
authorities could not cope. He said
aid would be necessary.
Unions VIII Protect.
Mr.. Willis and Colonel Hunter,
assisted by the sheriff aid the
states attorney, worked until early
lnis morning TO assure the mines
OF protection.
The men have gone back to work
ana they will stay back under pro-
lection of the mine unions Mr.
Willis said today. Threats made
70 them were by irresponsible in
uividuals and not by any union
officially" :
I Search for bodies continued to-
uay at some points in the country,
Ithough the searching parties
We're few.
1 twenty-five bodies had been re-
ofered and it was said certain
4 found. "
/ concerning the property loss, no
~suhite estimate could be made.
ue buildings at the mine which
ere burned did not amount 10
Lach. but damage to one steam
ao'ei blown up, the pumping
ISM dynamited and two or three
uslght cars of coal burned, prob
seiy ran close to 500. 900. Two
Htagnt cars of food supplies were
AAen. The mine could be operated
sen, out no one could say what it
4 u cost to put it in shape, for
operator officials can be found
sAto The company itself will have
a. make an estimate.
Goes Over Scene.
4 me members of the commission,
vsnpanted by newspaper men.
- at once by motor car to the
H,hEed Lester mine, arriving
HNuy after O'Clock. General
saan looked over the wreckage
me mine. where a car of coal
stu burning on a siding.
an,sIom the ruined mine the COM
aEs'en was guided by Colonel
auer down the road o5. death,
sssfe 4S hours ago the victorious
~ which stormed the mine,
kssgged its prisoners for two miles
haif before they were shot
: Ia pickers were coming up
maosty road this morning.
aa.aae commission was shown the
where C. K Mcdowell. su-
3utendent of the Lester mine,
~. dubbed to death with revol
because, hampered by wood
es, he could not keep up with
narchers. They saw the woods