The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-06-18

] W SoilC O41 as pei SSllSuulC wall 10
discussed later. Here we wish to
recite a few facts.
There is no doubt as to the feel
ing of the mill owners and their re.
tainers towards Beal. Altho they
knew that he had nothing to do with
the actual shooting which took place,
the rumor was circulated that he
personally had shot Aderholt, the
chief of police.
There are witnesses who heard
statements made by persons in the
crowd that gathered when news of
Beals arrest came in to the effect
that eff he comes through here We
will take him out and end him.
The procedure of the Gastonia po-
lice officers who took Beal from
Spartanburg" Jail merits attention.
They We're familiar with the plans
of the mill crowd" They knew
without doubt that BeaPs life was
in danger. Yet they secured car
for the trip which could not travel
more than thirty miles per hour.
Beal, who was to be placed in
the Monroe Jail, was taken through
South Gastonia, a journey which
necessitated a considerable detour
from the direct route between Spar
tanburg and Monroe.
Stops Conveniently.
When the machine reached South
Gastonia, the car was stopped and
one of the three police officers went
to get an ice cream soda. While he
was gone bunch of armed men
estimated variously as consisting of
from six to twelve persons-came up
to the car and asked who Beal was.
There was loud talking and threats.
Beal said nothing. The officers
moved off short distance with the
crowd and held conversation with
its leaders. The crowd left.
The officers then took Beal out
of the car and walked with him a
mile or so through a lonely wooded
district. Another car met them and
took them to Monroe.
1t is necessary to subject these
facts to some scrutiny and, taking
into consideration the devious meth
DDS by which the mill owners and
their hangers on operate in Gas
tonia, mill owners principality,
draw certain conclusions.
Why did not the police officers
hand Beal over to the would-be exc
cutioners? Why did not the armed
squad take Beal from the officers
when all facts point to the conclu-
sion that this was the arrangement ?
1t seems clear that in between
the time the news of Beal's arrest
was known in Gastonia, and the
time he appeared with his police es-
cort in South Gastonia something
went wrong with the program. 1t
is probable, as is generally the case
when capitalists and their agents
intend to stage public execution of
a worker by extra-legal means in
broad daylight, that the original
program was for the gathering OF
a mob Of sufficient size to give the
proceedings the character of an I'M
restrainable outburst of popular in
dignation. That this part of the plar
miscarried is evident.
Not Enough Mob.
The champions CT the mill owners
who composed the armed squad were
too few in numbers to make the fic.
ton of a mass demonstration ten.
able. The police officers doubtless
were unwilling to turn Beal over to
the mere handful who demanded
him. They had expected mob OF
a size which would make it possible
for them to maintain plausibly that
they had been overpowered.
How did the police officers dis
suade the assailants from taking
BeaI by force? In all probability
by telling them first, that the gang
was too small to maxi a good show
ing from the popular standpoint and
second, by promising them that they
would have another and better op.
portunity.
The trip through the woods on
foot would appear to have been in
line with such a promise. No adj
vantage was taken of it. Why?
For the reason that the whole
program flivvered-because the only
elements who hate the N. T. w
union and the strikers and Beal ia
the point where they are willing tC
commit murder openly are the mill
officials and the middle class and
professional people clustered around