Evening star., 1939-05-18

the last to hold out against
United Mine Workers Union, all
other groups in the eight-Stdte
Appalachian area hdUing signed
union shop contracts. When Ken
lucky operators started to operate
1Uithout contracts, Gou. Chandler
sent National Guard troops to
keep order and to protect miners
tUho 1UiSled to 90 to 1Uork.
BY the Associated Press.
HARLAN, KY, May 18-Gunfire
between militiamen and an am
pushed group climaxed the tense
ness in bloody Harlan" County's
soft coal fields today. No casual
ties were reported.
Brig Gen. Ellerbe Carter, in
charge of National Guardsmen here,
said he would make a thorough
investigation" of the shooting. after
receiving a report to this effect:
A group of six miners ascending
by cable car to the pit head of High
splint Mine No 2, approximately 20
miles northwest of here, were fired
upon about $50 m. from wooded
hillside.
-Four Guardsmen stationed at the
mine fired into the woods. Their
shots we're returned and several
rounds were exchanged before the
militiamen rushed the hillside.
The troopers reported they found
only quantity of empty buckshot
shells in the woods.
Dynamite also figured in the days
disorders. w. E. Arnold, Harlan
manager of the Kentucky Utilities,
Inc, said a 20-minute electric power
failure, affecting half the county,
resulted from the dynamiting of a
power line pole in a mountainous
section near Benham, IL miles east
of Harlan.
The power was switched to an
other circuit
The shooting was the first to be
reported involving soldiers since
they moved into the county last
week end on orders of Gov. A. B.
Chandler.
~tONo A&ooPo AeSoAys
Before the gunfire incident, the
full strength of the Kentucky Ma
tional Guard-2,3 300 men-had been
made ready for duty in this Sec
ton.
In announcing additional troops
were available, Gen Carter said:
The situation will be handled If
1t takes all the National Guard in
Kentucky"
Previously, the general had de-
clared the troops ARE under orders
to shoot, and to shoot to kill if
necessary"
Tension increased along picket
lines at the mines and where militia
men placed blockades along the
highways.
This field is the largest bituminous
area In the Nation holding out
against the union shop contract Of
the United Mine Workers &C. I. o.
There are more than 10000 in the
Harlan County field.
Federal Conciliator John Conner
was expected here today from WASH
ington to act as mediator in an
effort to settle the miner operator
differences and end the strife be-
tween the two. Gov. A. B. Chandler
also offered his help to end the
deadlock.
Mr.. Conner, about So comes from
Huntington, w. Va. He has been
with the Labor Department since
1888 and is rated one of the service
top men. He is a general trouble
shooter and has not specialized, but
has a knowledge of the coal industry
1880 in Harlan Area.
Arrival of 448 fresh militiamen
hiked the strength of the troops in
the Harlan area to about 1,25O. Gen
Carter said approximately 1,1OO
more men are ready for call.
These fresh troopers, Gov. Chan
dler said at the State Capitol, will
be used to plug weak spots"
Despite preparations of the militia
for any eventuality, there was a
spark of hope for success at re-
sumption of negotiations between
Operators ana union representatives
Of the Harlan field today.
This hope came in the brief. first
public statement of w. j. Cunning
ham, president of the Harlan Oper-
ators' Association, who said:
THE operators are perfectly will
Ing to stand on the wages and hours
clauses of the old contract and to
sit down and discuss the union
clause"
1t was the only indication to date
that the owners were willing even
to talk about the union shop.
Five Groups Sign Contracts.
Harlans mine owners saw the last
Of the five Southern Appalachian
associations, which quit the New
York conference with them, reach
agreement with the John L. Lewis
U. M. w. yesterday when Hazard
Southern Appalachian and Virginia
operators signed up.
The Kanawha in West Virginia
was the first to fall into line. Then
(See COAL, Page A-4)