Evening star., 1932-03-21
Crowd Forces National Guard
Observers to Return to
NelSonviIIe, Ohio.
MANY MINERS BELIEVED
ARMED WITH RIFLES
Governor Threatens Martial Law
Blaming professional Agi-
tators' for Troubles.

1ON. 1colSc WIliCe To-Day an
nounced Ohio leaders of the United
Mine Workers, after a conference
here pledged their cooperation in
maintaining order in the Hooking
Valley coal field
The Governor said the attitude
of the union chiefs made him feel
that he may be able to avoid send
ing the National Guard into the
field as he had threatened after
several acts of violence.
BY the Associated Press.
ATHENS, Ohio, March 21.-An auto.
mobile, bearing Ohio National Guart
officers to mine No. of the Sunday
Creek Coal Co., where a strike of min
ers is in progress, was stoned by 9
crowd of men today. Windshield, win
dows and, headlights of the machine
were smashed, but the officers escaped
injury.
The Guard officers, sent into the
strike region as observers for Adjt.
ed to Millfeld to relieve 10 other Of
ficers who had been on duty during the
night. As the car approached the
mine, members of the crowd Of men
hurled rocks at it. The officers turned
about and drove back to Nelsonville and
reported the incident to Gen. Hender-
son at Columbus and Sheriff Wayne
Wingett of Athens County.
Gen. Henderson termed the stoning
a serious problem" He intimated he
would send machine gun companies into
the field If the Governor decides to call
upon the National Guard.
Many ArmeI With Rifles.
The Guard observers estimated there
were about ! 500 men in the Millfield
district today, and many of them were
said to be armed with rifles.
A tense quiet pervades the Hooking
Valley bituminouS coal fields.
National Guard units are ready for
immediate mobilization following Gov.
cessation of "lawlesSneSs" under pen
atty of martial law.
A series of minor outbreaks during
the past month and half was climaxed
early yesterday by the dynaniting of
a railroad spur trestle and the stoning
of five mine officials by group of men
reported to number about $50.
The disorders resulted from reports
of the reopening today of the No. 6
mine of the Sunday Creek Coal Co. at
Millfield and the Lick Run mine of the
Hooking g. Athens Coal Co. The op-
orators were requested by Gen. Hender-
son to keep the pits closed temporarily
Early this morning more than 1000
striking miners gathered at Millf1eld
for a mass meeting, but fear Of re-
current violence was dispelled for the
time being when speakers renewed
their cautions against extreme means.
Phone Lines Cut.
AS daybreak approached, the miners
still were milling about the village
under the eyes of 35 guards and the
sheriff and group OF deputies OF
Athens County.
Direct communication with Millfield
was not possible because telephone lines
had been cut. Reports from Millfleld
were made to the telephone operator
at Chauncy, about three miles south.
professional agitators" were blamed
by Gov. White for the disorders.
In statement recalling recent in
stances Of intimidation OF working
miners and threatened destruction OF
property, the Governor ordered units Of
the Ohio National Guard Ito be pre-
pared to move to the district imme-
diately in the event further contempt
of the law is shown or the continuance
of acts which threaten the loss Of life
and property"
This violence, this disgraceful law
lessness, can no longer be tolerated, "
the Governor said 1T will be put