Evening star., 1932-08-24
MINERS BEGIN TREK.
in MOTOR CARAVAN
-FOUR MILES LONG
$4,000 Strikers Expected to
Join Move on Southern
Illinois Fields.
CITIZENS FULLY ARMED
TO RESIST "INVASI0N"
Marchers Garry Food and Blankets
for Siege Intended to Close
Operating Pits.
By the Associated Press.


STAUNTON, Ill. August pa
motor caravan miles long. carrying
striking miners, left here today for an
invasion Of the Southern Illinois coal
fields, where they will attempt to dis
suade their fellow miners from work.
ing under the new S. wage scale.
Mine leaders prophesied the protest
march would be the largest labor march
in the history of the country. They
estimated that at least $4,000 persons
would be in the line of march before
they camped tonight at Dowell.
When word came from Franklin
County that authorities would not per-
nit the dissenting miners to enter, the
strike leaders said ITS all bluff.
Christian County officials said the same
thing last week when we marched on
Taylorville. They withdrew their guards,
didn't they? Franklin County will do
the same"
Cars Searched for Arms.
In line with orders that there were
to be no arms among the marchers.
leaders in charge of local contingents
searched the automobiles. They said
no arms were found Intoxicants also
we're banned. The big push" was con-
Quoted along military lines, with 81
sergeants in charge of preserving order.
Many of the strikers had driven part
Of the night to be at Staunton at the
start. They were met south OF the
part of the State.
pallayil1a nm mon occanoh1ad
this morning to go to the Southern
Illinois fields. but transportation could
be found for only 1900. They we're
to join the main body Of men from
Staunton at Mascoutah.
approximately 5000 of the diggers
were from Springfield. Ill, where they
had gathered this morning for an Or
ganization meeting in park.
Garry Food for Week.
A contingent of 500 men were here
from Pana, each carrying food for a
week and an American flag.
The Caravan was equipped with a
first aid outfit to care for those who
might become i'll or injured Women's
auxiliary groups carried the food and
will supervise the feeding of the march
ers. Most of the groups carried food
enough for four days, but they said
they could stay longer If necessary.
A carnival spirit prevailed among
the marchers. Little Cigar" the 1tal-
ian lad who kept the picket line in
Christian County in good spirits with
his accordian music, pumped away at
his instrument early today, entertain
ing the crowds.
Prepared for Sleeping.
Blankets and bedding protruded from
the automobiles at all corners. At the
first nights camp the men will stay
in the city park at Dowell. which they
were given permission to use. They
will sleep in the cars and on the
ground.
Strike leaders were of the opinion
the objective of the march could be
attained in three days at the most. AT
the end of that time they said they
expected to have the mines closed in
Franklin and Williamson Counties.
We're going down there by invita-
tion," they said, "and they're in SYM
pathy with u.s."
Recounts Swell Ranks.
It was virtually impossible to esti-
mate the number of miners in the
monster parade. They were still arriv-
ing at Staunton when the procession
started South Recruits came from as
far North as Peoria and Pekin and from
as far East as Danvile.
Hundreds came from Taylorville,
where four big Peabody Coal Co. mines
are running with skeleton forces as the
result of successful march on the Tay-
lcrville district last week by thousands
of diggers.
The caravan leaving Belleville was
accompanied by two food trucks and
several hired automobile mechanics to
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