South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-10
EYES OF COUNTRY
ARE0N MARION AS
MINE TRIAL OPENS
Town Near Where Herrin
Massacre Occurred Seeks
VindicatiOn of Name.

MARION. IL. Nov O. - The
attention Of the nation ir
focused on Marion ae the trial %
those Implicated On the Herr.n mime
massacre gets underway
Charges Of tempting 70 initiate
a capitalization war out OF che trials
nov freely. Each side accuses the
other OF trying 90 make this an issue
and each denies.
This should be public prosecu-
tion by public officials with Public
funds, but 70 Is private prosecut. on
by public officials with private
funds" declare the miners. They
point 70 the fact that money for the
prosecution was raised through the
Illinois Chamber OF Commerce.
GOV Smith vetoed half the nee
essary apprcpr for the attor-
ney generals office" retorts the
prosecution without the aid OF
the chamber OF commerce. we
couldnt conduct the case. The de-
Tense is trying % raise a capital
labor dispute 20 beoIoud the real
cause OF the trials
line Up Witnc~~c~
But back OF tho maze Of Industrial
prejudice. charge and counter
charges. intense local partisanship
and other factors. the attorneys FOR
both sides have been zealously at
work. lining up their witnesses, pre-
pairing for one OF the biggest court
battles in the history Of Illinois
So thoroughly is williamson coun-
- being winnowed for witnesses
that there Is hardly q resident who
has not been approached as 20 his
knowledge. or who has not been
brought into partisan frame Of
mind through hearing the case re-
peatedly discussed. Selection OF a
jury. 10 is conceded. viii be a very
long process, owing TO the wide
spread discussion Of the case.
While the trial Is held in Mar
ion and the union men arrest
ed have been held I'm the county jail
here, actual conduct OF the case has
passed beyond the boundaries Of
Williamson country Procedure is
I'm the hands OF outsiders.
States Atty. Delos Duty of vii
hanson county has "a hand in the
prosecution, but only as an assist
ant. Atty Gen. Brundage has ap-
pointed c. W. Middlekauff special
assistant attorney general In charge
OF the case He also secured the lat
ter's leave Of absence from his dUt-
les as ass slant to r.. s. Atty Gen.
Daugherty to- conduct the prosecu-
ton.
Union Council Assists.
4. IS. Kerr. chief counsel for the
Illinois Miners Union a district or
Fanization OF the United Mine Work
ers Of America. is here i'm charge of
the defense Of the miners. other at
tOrneys for the miners union are
assisting him.
And Marion. 10 miles from the
scene OF the bloOdies- riOt.ng I'm the
history OF the coal fields OF Little
Egypt rs this territory is called.
looks to the trials 60 vindicate the
towns good name.
Ever since the nation was shocked
en- June by the killing OF three union
miners and 20 str.kebreakers, Mar
ION has cringed beneath the real or
fancied scorn and adherence of the
rest of the country. The official i'm
vest cations of the Herr-n tragedy
were held here. This swung atten-
zion this way from Herriu. until the
editorials and reports of the press
began fastening upon Marion the
massacre Itself
Marion reseuts this. a desire for
vmdication Is dominant To prove IL
IS not the lawless rough town out
siders may believe Il is. Marion has
pledged itself Co aid in every way
the securing of FAIR impartial
tr3L