Evening star., 1936-07-31
.LANDON D|SDA|NS
AL|b| ON TROOPS
Strike Incident Discussed
in Thomas Letter From
Duty Standpoint.
BY JAY G. HAYDEN.
et IN. Dispatch to The Star.

4retia. Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, July 81 (N.A.N.A).-
Gov. ALI M. Landon told only part Of
the story In connection with his send
ing of troops to deal with strike Sit
uation in Cherokee County, Kans.,
when he addressed a letter on the
subject to Norman Thomas, Socialist
candidate for President, Thursday.
The main point which he might
have stressed, but did not, is that he
dispatched Kansas troops only after
Cows. Guy B. Park Of Missouri and
e. w. Marland of Oklahoma, both
Democrats, had sent troops for the
same purpose.
The lead and zinc mines and smell
ters. in which the strike occurred, lie
at the point where these three States
meet. The trouble started in the Mis-
souri, sector and extended to Okla
homa. When the troops stopped the
warfare in these States, it simply
moved over into Kansas.
Landon acted in response to tel
ephone message from Mayor Farmer
of Galena, another Democrat, and
labor union member, declaring that
a large number of armed guards were
mobilizing inside the Kansas border
to march against the Galena strikers
on the night of June %, 1885. He
was importuned at the same time by
both the sheriff and prosecuting at
torney of Cherokee County. These
officials declared they were helpless
to deal with the situation and asked
that troops be sent.
Troops Tarry Briefly.
Landon sent three companies Of
Kansas National Guardsmen, num-
bering about 180 men, on June %.
Three days later third of these were
withdrawn and on July II second
third. July "a the troops were re-
called and two officers were left to
handle the situation. There was no
fighting after the troops arrived.
One of the main sources of trouble
was that company guards had been
sworn in as cpnStableS and, in lieu
of State troops, it was proposed that
the number of these deputized gum
men employed by the smelter and
mine owners be increased. Mayor
Farmer asked that the Governor send
troops primarily to protect the
strikers. Gov. Landon instructed the
troops to protect both sides equally
Landon was urged to cite the facts
above enumerated, and more particu-
Iarly the involvement of Democratic
officials in the situation, in his let
ter to Thomas, but he refused to do
so. He took the view that it was his
duty as Governor, entirely aside from
other considerations, to maintain
order when the local law enforcement
agencies had broken down, and he
preferred to stand on this position
without any alibis.
Telling the story, in his letter to
Thomas, Landon said:
I'm connection with the only serious
labor disturbance that has occurred
In Kansas, during my term as Gov
ernor, in Cherokee County, in June
and July, 1885, acceded to request,
Jointly preferred by the sheriff and
prosecuting attorney of Cherokee
County, that I send troops to main
tain order.
instruction to Troops.
"I instructed the troops, through
the adjutant general Of Kansas, to
maintain order, to disarm all armed
civilians, including the armed guards
employed by the smelter and mine
operators, and those that may have
been armed in behalf of the labor
groups. Guards on mine and smelter
properties carrying deputy constable
commissions were obliged to give up
these deputy commissions. They were
not permitted to carry arms of the
private property where they were en-
ployed as watchmen. The troops were
further instructed to preserve the
peace, and secure execution of all
laws Of the State of Kansas. Gunmen
from other States who had made it
q practice to threaten striking work
ers in Kansas were forced to stay out
Of the State.
1.-The troops, however, were directed
not to interfere with labor meetings
and other activities of the strikers,
90 long as they were peaceably con-
Quoted. This included picketing and
both meetings and pickets were pro-
tected from possible violence of any
kind. My action in this instance pro-