The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-17
TROOPS CLAMP
LID ON MINERS
CIVIL LIBERTY
Soldiers Rule Illinois City,
Despite DenialS of
Martial Law.
THOUSANDS AT FUNERAL
Three Persons Form Mob
in TayIorviIIe, According
to Sheriff'S Idea.
BY DAN KIDNEY
Times STAFF Writer

BY DAN KIDNEY
Times stan Writer
TAYLORVILLE, Ill, Oct. IT,
Christian county, Illinois, turned out
its citizenry almost en- masse on the
Christian sabbath to join with
mourning miners at the grave OF
Andrew Gyenes, first miner casualty
caused by state troopers quartered
here.
Burial of Gyenes gave residents of
Taylorville and the surrounding
community their first opportunity
to express publicly their grievance
over the loss of certain civil liberties
that for generations, in American
communities, have been termed
'inalienable rights"
Many weeks have passed since
Christian county citizens have been
allowed to gather, for right of as
sembly has been forfeited.
Should more than three halt for
few minutes on Taylorville streets,
they are told to move along" by
civilian youths in uniform, carry
ing fixed bayonets on army rifles,
members of one of seven companies
Of the Illinois national guard quar-
tered here.
Not Under Martial Law
Although it may seem so. both to
the casual visitor and the long
suffering citizen, Taylorville and
Christian county are not under mar
tial law.
No one is more emphatic on that
point than Colonel Robert w. Davis
in command of the $50 troopers.
There is no martial law about
this" Colonel Davis said Sunday.
I'VE are just down here helping the
sheriff"
The sheriff, he explained, gave or
ders to keep the streets cleared and
any group congregating for more
than five minutes and consisting of
more than three constituted a mob
in the colonel's Interpretation of the
sheriff's orders.
Next to the. soldiers, Sheriff C. H.
Weinike, by whose orders they are
here, is the most unpopular man in
the county. He is not a candidate
for reelection.
Feel Poverty Pinch
Those who are candidates are
by and large, openly declaring
against the presence of the troops
and some are trying to outdo others
In their avowals of support for the
Progressive Miners of America.
This is the new union group which
has broken away from the United
Mine Workers of America, follow
ing the signing of a reduced Illinois
wage scale of SIS day. The former
wage was $50, but that wage
agreement terminated last April.
Many miners have not worked
since that time, and their families
already are feeling the pinch that
comes with colder weather and its
accompanying need for better food
and warmer clothing.
The Progressive unions quarrel
with the large Peabody Coal Corpo-
ration forms the basis of the local
strife and finally gave excuse, fol-
lowing small street fight, for the
presence of troops in increased
numbers.
Assail Working Conditions
Peabody, long labeled an insult
subsidiary, desires to operate its
four large mines in this vicinity. 1t
has agreed to the SIS scale with the
United Mine Workers, and locals
approved it, three to one, they claim.
But the progressives contend that
they were sold out" by the old
time union officials, and that while
the SIS scale is satisfactory, working
conditions at the Peabody mines are
not.
Picketing developed which finally
resulted in the shooting of Gyenes
by a beardless soldier boy. who ran
away. Gyenes died from shock and
los of blood.
Because of the soldiers, they took
his corpse to the public square in
the neighboring village of Pawnee,
in Sangamon county, which is not
suffering from military occupation,
for the funeral services.
But he was brought for burial
to Oakhill cemetery here. where lies
George Franklin Bilyeau. shot Oct
IL, 1898. in the miners struggle
which later brought about the eight
hour day in the industry.
1,5OO Cars at Funeral
The miners have erected tower
ing monument to Bilyeau, and talk
of similar action for Gyenes is
already abroad
Fifteen hundred cars were at the
funeral services and the grave.
Many we're miners and theil
families, but others we're citizens
bowed in sorrow with the age-olc
complaint of troops quartered upor
an unwilling citizenry.
1t was their first chance at mass
protest, without being lodged with
out trial in the county Jail.
Troops ceased their patrol during
the funeral. but began again as soor
as taps were sounded for the victim