South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-24
MINI
Union Head and Military
Officer Tell of Massacre

but were told 10 leave. on June Il,
the mine actually began production
OF coal with non-uniOn strikebreak-
ers. A group OF miners went TO the
mine for "A conference and 10 urge
the strikebreakers to leave, but the
miners Nwere greeted with machine
gun fire. Two miners were killed.
All the miners In this community re-
sented this and the feeling was so
intense that they arose en- masse,
marched on the mine. and demand
ed that operations cease immediate
~. This request was refused and
they were ordered away. During
the night and the next morning.
miners. incensed over the two dead
comrades. rushed the mine. captured
il and the men and marched them
down the road with the result that
20 to % were killed.
"InsuIted Women
Previous TO the disorder, the
armed guards at this mine acted in
a high-handed manner. They stop
ped people on the public highway
and searched them. They refused
10 let anyone come near the place.
They insulted women. AS a result
the farmers of the community be
came incensed. No man here was
willing to stand for such action by
the trikebreakers."
Mr.. Willis insisted that John
L Lewis telegram that the imported
men should be treated as common
scabs and strikebreakers" did not
incite the trouble. He refused 10
discuss the Lewis telegram, saying
that those received here came from
Frank Harrington. 1t was under
stood that he, made this statement
because Of antipathy to Lewis,
whom he does not mention when dis
cussing mine unions.
James Richie. another union
official. said that the attack on the
mine was made mostly by citizens Of
the community who were not miners
and who were incensed over the
actions Of the guards.
Col. Hunters Story.
Col Hunters statement TO the
reporters said:
"On June IL we notified news
paper stories that trouble was ex-
pected here. We called states at
torney d. L. Duty here and he said
the situation did not look favorable.
1 informed 1 would come TO Marion
with Maj. Davis, and asked him 70
arrange a conference OF mine own
ers. miners and local officials.
When got TO Marion. Sheriff
Thaxton told me the mine was under
armed guards and that there would
be trouble unless the operators were
persuaded TO close II. He said he
did not want troops and that he was
sure his officers could take care OF
any emergency.
''He told Of several instances OF
citizens being held up and searched
by the company guards. He said he
and the mayor Of Marion had been
halted in this way, but that when
the guards took him TO Superin-
tendent c. K. Mcdowell of the mine.
Mcdowell agreed TO disarm the
guards.
Il drove to the mine later and
was halted oy four guards, two
armed, but not until I was off the
highway and on the mine property
I told Mr.. Mcdowell that feeling was
high and that he should close, the
mine. He said his company planned
TO operate. Later / saw Mr.. Lester
and urged him TO close, but he said
he would run the mine. He said he
had % armed guards which were
/ necessary in accordance with a
clause in his insurance contract and
that he did not expect trouble SER
ious enough TO force a shutdown"
Held Conferences.
Col. Hunter then told Of num-
erous conferences with local officials
in each OF which they insisted that
troops were not needed and that
they could handle the situation. He
said that when he was at the mine
he saw several rifles there. although
the men did not seem to carry arms
On this Tuesday before the
fight" he continued. Il was inform.
ed that six hundred miners had
gathered near Herrin in an indigna-
ton meeting I again asked the loo.
al authorities if they wanted troop.
and again they insisted they could
handle the situation. Then we form.
Continued on page two)