Evening star., 1939-05-21

N0S TSSuttSu JIUWt cLpUuttOn W
contract and long negotiations
ouer reneDdl.
~ the Associated Press.
HARLAN, KY, May 20.-United
Mine workers &C. I. o. tonight
called off a scheduled Sunday mass
meeting in this troubled soft coal
mine area following issuance of a
military order of restrictions.
William Turnblazer, president of
the Harlan district U. M. w., issued
q lengthy statement in which he
said:
In order to prevent wholesale
arrests we shall not attempt to have
q mass meeting in Harlan County
tomorrow"
At the same time Mr.. Turnblazer
announced the signing of the first
commercial mine" contract contain
ing the controversial union shop"
clause with the Black Star Coal
Company at Alva in Harlan County.
This mine employed about 300
workers normally. 1t is not a men,
ber of the Harlan County Coal OPP
orators Association, the largest soft
coal operating group holding out
against the union shop
81 Assessments Voted.
Mr.. Turnblazer also said he had
been notified by Sam Caddy, Hazard
district U. M. w. president, that the
1900 to $4,000 men employed in
that field had voted to assess each
man ST per month during June
and July to be used for relief work
in Harlan district. The operators of
this area this week signed the
union shop contract.
Forty-six men were held under
$1,000 bond each tonight after
group in ambush and National
Guardsmen engaged in gunfire, but
tension in the Harlan coal field
strife appeared to have eased with
few mines operating. Saturday gen.
orally is an "off day" for men in
the pits.
The 46 appeared at an arralgn-
ment before County Judge C. E.
Ball. and were held for preliminary
hearing scheduled Monday. The
number of spectators was so large
the circuit court room was used for
todays hearing
Arms Are Found.
The men were arrested late last
night by National Guardsmen some
distance from the spot where the
firing occurred. Lieut.. j. C. Flem-
ing of the troops said two pistols,
q blackjack, a razor and knives
were found in the truck transport
ing the men.
The all-inclusive charge of band
ing and confederating" was placed
against the group. The charge is
similar to disorderly conduct in
police court.
John Padgett, arrested after the
shooting of miner yesterday was
released on $1,000 bond on a charge
OF malicious shooting and wound
ing" after an arraignment hearing
Brig. Gen. Ellerbe Carter, COM
manding the National Guardsmen,
issued the military order giving the
United Mine Workers permission to
hold the mass meeting. On read
ing the order earlier Mr.. Turn
blazer asked:
Who issued this, Hitler or Mus
solini?'
The generals order said the time
and place must be approved by him,
parades would be prohibited, traffic
on certain roads from sections where
there have been disturbances would
be controlled" and:
Union leaders must pledge them
selves and their members to refrain
from speech and action calculated
or tending to create disorders or
which tend to provoke violent pas
sion or action against those desir-
ing to return to work, or the mill
tary.
They must also prevent the as
semblage of noisy groups, cursing,
calling 'scabs' on the streets or
highways, jeering at soldiers, inten-
tional interference with traffic, or
invasion of private property"
The order said that the permit
will be revoked "if there are any
further disorders or shootings or
large gatherings in the vicinity of
the mines today, tonight or Sunday.
Upon violation of any of the
above conditions the mass meeting
will be stopped or prohibited at the
discretion of the military COM
mander."
Appeal Made to President
Mr.. Turnblazer said later he had
sent a telegram to President Roose-
velt protesting the military order,
charging it abridged constitutional
rights of peaceful assembly and free
speech. The President was asked to
give immediate assistance" and re
lief" from the National Guards op-
erations.
Gov. A. B. Chandler, before leav-
Ing Frankfort to participate in
dedication of historic building at
Danville, said Brien Mcmahon, an
assistant United tSates attorney
General had not seen him. Nc
Mahon, In Louisville last night. said
he planned to talk over the situa-
tion with the Governor today. He
said he was going to Harlan as an
observer and to see if civil liberties
Of anyone" was being abridged.
Loadings More Nearly Normal.
ROANOKE, Va, May 20 (R.-
Norfolk and Western and Virginian
railway coal loadings trended to-
ward normal this week as mines
along their lines resumed operating
after q shutdown of six weeks or
more during negotiation of union
shop" contract between the United
Mine Workers of America and the
majority of coal operators in the
Appalachian area.
In the Virginia district, where an
accord with the U. M. w. was
reached Wednesday at Norton, slim
loadings indicated that little coal