Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-23
DEATH TOLL IN
RIOTS IN MINE FIELD
EXCEED rs
CONTINUED from Page one.)

down the men as they tried to flee.
The governor has received no re-
quest for troops from the officials
of Williamson county, and said
that, in fact, the officials did not
want troops sent to the scene.
Three companies of state guards
have been held in readiness to go
to Herrin for two days. the COVER
nor disclosed. but he added that
there apparently was no necessity
of sending soldiers unless rioting
broke out again.
While the governor was talking
to General Black over long distance
telephone he received a telegram
from Sheriff Melvin ThaXton of
Williamson county. in which the
sheriff reported he had twenty to
thirty deputies at work and that
everything possible was being done
to restore and maintain order.
Everything was quiet at the time
the message was filed. the sheriff
said.
Although the telegram was timed
$50 p. m. at Marion, the county
seat, the massacre Of the non-union
men is reported to have taken place
between daybreak and until 0
O'Clock this morning, the sheriff
made no reference to it. or to any
one having been killed.
Despite the fact that Colonel
Hunter, Major Black, Robert Me-
dill, director of mines and miner
ais, and other state officials had
been sent to Marion and Herrin to
watch the situation and assist in
the peace negotiations, the only re-
port the governor received all day
of the massacre was furnished him
by the Associated Press over the
telegraph wire to the court room
here where he is on trial.
When shown the first dispatch
telling of the shooting and how
women and children jeered at dy-
ing men as they begged for water,
Governor Small was inclined to be-
lieve they were exaggerated be-
cause his own observers mad re-
ported nothing.
AS the circumstantial story of
the massacre continued to come IN
kilograms were dispatched to Of
ficials of Williamson county and
to Colonel Hunter asking for veri-
fication, but for hours they went
unanswered. At o'clock General
Black reported from Springfield
that he had no word.
The governor had planned at
tending a circus here tonight with
family party but at 6 o'clock, when
the Associated Press bulletin was
received quoting the editor OIL a
newspaper as saying the death toll
might reach seventy-five, the party
was held up and more kilograms
and long distance telephone mes
sages dispatched.
The governor said he was unapie
to understand why the official news
source should be so many hours
behind the press service.
IL it is necessary to send troops
into the Herrin district. the force
probably will have to be large and
we'll equipped. the governor SAID.
Not only the entire native popula-
ton but the county officials also
are opposed to intervention by the
militia, he pointed out, and the
troops could expect no active local
support. They wuufd nave to carry
all their equipment and food sup
plies, and operate over rough and
broken territory.
The character of the country,
the governor pointed out. is ad-
mirably adapted to sniping by guer-
rilla fighters. 1t would be almost
suicidal, he said. for small body
of guardsmen to try and clean up
the more than 200 square miles of
territory covered by today's dis
orders.
Members OF the governors staff
intimated today that he is consid-
ering going to Marion next week, If
the trouble continues. for per-
sonal investigation.