Evening star., 1939-05-15


Signing OF a union shop pact
ended, for of 21 Appalachian
Coal Associations, q Sir-1Ueek
mine shutdown. To Harlan
County, Kentucky, ho,UeDer,
1UhoSe mines refused the con-
tract, 1Uere called National
Gudrdsmen to protect the mine
openings. Cor Chandler or
ordered troops there after c. I.
o. president 1Uarned operators
not to use soldiers.
By the Associated Press.
HARLAN, KY, May 15.-Three
thousand coal miners. bent on
picketing, were turned back by Ma
tional Guardsmen with machine
guns today as men returned to the
Harlan County pits under troop pro-
lection.
Operators in the Harlan field,
where one man already has been
killed and another wounded, refused
to sign an agreement with the
United Mine Workers last Saturday
in New York when Is other soft coal
operating areas approved union
shop. Today was the first time most
of the mines had been open since
work stopped April l at the start of
negotiations on the contract.
Claude Howard of Baxter a car
penter for the Harlan-Wallins Mine,
was clubbed over the head with a
pistol by a guardsman in the first
clash between coal miners and
troops.
Mr.. Howard said he was stopped
by a trooper whom he told that he
(Howard was en- route to his home,
but the militiaman refused to allow
him to cross a guarded bridge and
in an argument struck him across
the head. inflicting a deep cash.
Col. Roy w. Easley of the Ma
tional Guard, said he had received
reports that Mr.. Howard backed
into a soldier with his automobile
and attempted to run down another
trooper when he was struck.
Civil and military authorities said
the killing and shooting had no
connection with labor difficulties
but orders were signed calling 200
additional National Guardsmen to
duty as the county lived up to its
name of bloody Harlan"
All Pickets Dispersed.
The miners turned back by the
guardsmen milled about the streets
of Harlan apparently waiting word
from their leaders
Militiamen were sent to the mines
throughout the county during the
night. Machine guns were set up
along the roadside and any effort
of pickets to gather in large number
brought quick orders to disperse.
Col. Easley said
''We will allow peaceful picketing
In reasonable numbers, but will not
permit the massing of men at any
one point"
The colonel warned that if the
men continued ito loiter about Har-
Ian streets they will be given mill
tary escort out of town.
George Titler, secretary and
treasurer of the Harlan U. M. w.
district, declared:
Instead of peace and no intimi-
dation, the troops will not let us go
within miles of coal camp. They
have bridge blocked a mile and a
half from Kits and are blocking
State highways"
Border Highways Guarded.
Col. Easley said precautions had
been taken against the mass move
ment OF union miners into Ken
lucky from neighboring States by
placing troops near the Kentucky
Virginia and Kentucky-Tennessee
State lines.
The colonel reported that at some
places he had found several hur,-
dred union men picketing mine
that only employed about 125
miners"
At High Splint Mine approx
mately 500 pickets were jammed at
the foot of the tipple. Company
officials said no effort to operate
would be made until tomorrow
when troops would be stationed at
the mine
At Dresser, where the highway
divides, leading up Catrons Creek
and Martins Fork Creek, a machine
gun company was stationed aro
miners not allowed on either high
way. Earlier flying squadron
OF miners in automobiles had trav-
eled up and down the roads.
At the Totz Mine of the Harlan
Central Coal Co. there was a threat
ening line OF pickets as the pit was
opened and some men moved into
the mouth of the mine. The pickets
refused to leave, shouting, I'VE got
. right here" until Co. Easley per-
sonally took charge of the situa-
ton. Thirty-five Guardsmen were
on duty there
George S. Ward, secretary OF the
Harlan County Coal Operators As
(See COAL, Page A-3)