Evening star., 1932-08-19
MINERS TO HALT
PICKET CAMPAIGN
Mass Meeting Followed by
Promised Withdrawal
in Illinois Area.
BY the Associated Fress.


TAYLORVILLE, H.. August 49,
The 10000 Central and Southern Illinois
union coal miners who invaded Chris
tian County TO protest reduced IS
wage scale today planned to evacuate
by nightfall. their purpose OF closing
all mines accomplished.
The evacuation was advised by their
leaders at mass meeting staged here
with permission of Mayor Cud Wilkin-
son the strikers were to vote on the
proposal later. Dan McGill of Spring
field said his men would withdraw by
6 o'clock.
The promised departure served to
relieve tension among townspeople.
National Guard troopers at Decatur and
Springfield. summoned yesterday In
preparation for any disorders, remained
in the barracks.
Fourth Nine Shut Down.
The lest of four Peabody Coal Co.
mines, working since last week under
the SIS scale. reduced from S6.l0, was
shut down today. Its workers refused
to run the gauntlet of pickets. Miners
Of three others joined the strikers.
Two Peabody mine guards were dis
armed by pickets at the Kincaid mine.
Company officials charged they were
manhand,ed, the pickles denied 1t.
Two shacKs near Kincaid were burned
and one dynamited during the night.
Strike leaders disclaiIned responsibility.
Plans were discussed for similar in
vasion OF mines in the extreme southern
portion of the State. Leaders urged
them to 20 home for week to rest and
replenish their supplies and finances.
Mines 10 Remain Closed.
w. c. August, superintendent OF Pea
BODY mines in the Taylorville area, said
no attempt would be made to open the
mines until conditions are changed.
He charged that strikers attacked ard
beat a guard end another employe this
morning as they reported for work at
mine No. 9 near Kincaid and took a
gun from the guard. He also said
house on Peabody property near here
where the miners camped last night ha i
been dynamited and two others burned.
I'VE will avoid even a semblance of
violence and are sure miners have
damaged no property SO far said
Daniel McGill of Springfield, a strike
leader.
Our plans are to stop mining with
out force After we have finished here
and do the same thing there"
One Of the districts McGill said would
be picketed was that near Herrin, scene
of bloody riots 10 years ago.
Most Of the thousands of miners spent
last night in picnic grounds and base
ball field, s'eeping in automobiles or lis
tening TO speakers. Picketing began at
6 am. the men riding to the mines in
automobiles which brought them here
yesterday.
Guardsmen Await Call.
Guardsmen today stood ready in
two nearby cities to move into Chris
tian County in event of disturb
ances resulting from the presence of
more than 10000 striking miners in
tent on picketing working mines.
The troops were moved out of Camp
Grant at Rockford early today and sent
to their home armoriss at Decatur and
Springfield, both less than 80 miles dis
tant
Christian County was occupied yes
terday by the striking miners from ad-
jacent counties The occupation was
! made without incident. Sheriff Charles
Wieneke had previously removed the
barricades on highways and sent his
large force of special deputies to their
homes.
The sheriff had intended to resist
the invasion Of the striking miners. as
Christian County diggers were at work
in most Of the mines in the county.
The decision of several locals to join
/ the strike movement, however, caused
the sheriff to abandon his resistance
to the invasion