Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-12-19

/ to do, were beaten Up" or thrown
into Jail. One experience in Chains
jail was sufficient. Those who got
out before the election voted Is they
were expected to vote.
Election Brings Violence
With the approach of November 4
veritabIe reign of terror spread over
Logan County. Men who declared
their intention of not supporting the
Chain candidates were manhandled,
beaten and jailed by Chain deputies.
Miners who refused to join the Chain
procession were frequently ''fired"
from their jobs. Mine officials who
did not get behind Chains candidates
were told to find employment else
where.
For purposes Of convenience Chain
designates himself as a Democrat.
This is entirely superfuous. Any
party label would serve his purposes
just as well. His right hand bower in
the control Of county politics is W. R.
Thurmond, president Of. three coal
companies, and former president of
the Logan Coal Operators Associa-
ton. Thurmond is chairman of the
Democratic County central commit
tee. For all practical purposes, Cha
fin is the committee, and Thurmond is
the rubber stamp. -
officials Told to Steal Election
A few days before the election.
pistol Slipping Walker, a deputy
sheriff who is also professor" of
manual training in the Logan schools,
called a meeting of precinct officials
to. give them their final instructions.
Walker is Chains political mechan-
ician. Standing on platform before
the assembled precinct officials, Walk
err demonstrated the manner in which
ballot should be folded so that the
markings of the voter could be seen,
and incidentally, it is claimed, addi-
tional marks put on it if desired.
Walker is quoted as having said at
the conclusion of his remarks:
'If you don't get the election it is
your fault, not ours. We have shown
you how to do it."
In the days that preceded the cleo
ton charges were trumped up against
prospective anti-Chafin voters, and
they were either beaten or thrown
into Jail. Usually they received both
punishments. They were then told
they could have their liberty if they
promised to support the Chain tick
ct. If they refused they frequently
received a second beating.
Attempt To Assault Lawyer
Chauffeurs who drove the automo-
biles of Republican speakers over the
county were attacked and beaten by
deputies.
NJ. F. Matheny, a lawyer at Char
lesion, came to Logan and made q
Republican speech. He went to a
private home to spend the night. AT
midnight deputy sheriffs entered the
house, went to the second floor where
Matheny was sleeping, and started to
break open the door of his room.- Thu
! woman who lived there went to the
second floor with a revolver in her
hand, and drove the deputies from her
house.
E. T. England, attorney general OF
West Virginia, was scheduled to make
some Republican speeches in the
county. This is his home county and
he practiced law in Logan before he
became attorney general. On the day
before he was to come here a friend
telephoned to him and begged him to
remain out of the county
"They are threatening to kill you
if you come over here, and we believe
they will do it," the attorney general
was told. He did not enter the
county.
Deputies Beat Minister
Rev. Alfred Eubanks, a colored
preacher, made a Republican speech
one Saturday night to the members
of his flock. On the following morn
ing as he was on the way to his
church to minister to the spiritual
needs of his congregation he was at
tackled by deputy sheriff and two
strangers, and severely beaten over
the head with a pistol. He was then
arrested on a charge Of resisting an
officer, arraigned before a Chain
justice" and given the usual fine and
jail sentence.
L. C. Boyd conducted boarding
house at Barnabus. He registered as
Republican. He says that soon after
he registered he was summoned to
the Office of Jenk Gilmore, superinten-
dent of coal mine there, and asked:
do you know this is Democratic
company"
Boyd said he didn't know the COM
pany had politics.
81 want to tell you this is a Demo-
cratic company; you go down and
register as Democrat" he says ne
was told.
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