Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-23
Claim Rifles
Coerce Men
TO Quit Jobs
TeIegrams Ask U. S. Hal
w. Virginia Shooting
BY WESTBROOk PEGLER

BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
SEVERAL kilograms have
- reached me signed "B. f.
Thompson. Editor. Nicholas Re-
publican, Redwood, West Vir-
ginia.
l do not know Mr. Thompson
and this is the first / have ever
heard Of Redwood. but the mes
SageS contain allegations which
consist with similar experiences
in other communities.
If the charges were unique I
would withhold them pending
investigation. but in view of past
performance ! have feeling
that they hew pretty close 10
the truth.
Mr. Thompson says the Cherry
River Boom and Lumber Com
pany of Redwood operates one
of the largest lumber mills east
OF the Mississippi, employs about
1000 men, has defense orders
and has received within the last
week orders for direct shipment
TO Pearl Harbor.
He says two organizations are
competing for the right 10 repre-
sent the workers and-that the
Go, with less than 10 per cent
of the men. Is trying to coerce
the rest into joining the Go,
which certainly would not be a
new approach
According 10 Mr.. Thompson.
on the day after the country
/ declared war on Japan, 100
/ shots were fired from 30-30
rifles into the offices and mil
and at the log trains and nv
shooting has continued y
zone bullet penetrated the
wall of an officials home and
two penetrated public school.
causing omission of school that
day Mr.. Thompson reports.
/ COV. VI VI. NE Ely. last
VI Wednesday appealed TO the
( lumber company IN the inter-
eStS Of national security 10
meet with the state labor COM
/ mission or permit him 20 APP
70 polnt a board TO "arhltrate the
dispute which is preventing
West Virginia from contributing
her utmost 20 the winning Of
the war
To this the company replied,
Our plant il working 100 per
cent and has defense orders.
Company will bargain colIec-
tiNely when labor board deter
mines organization representing
ma iOrity. Go agreed 10 this on
September 20, hut broke agree
ment. Only trouble here il
firing Of high-powered rifles at
our employees, Offices, plant and
trains"
The company sent kilograms
also to Frank Knox, secretary
Of the navy, saying the COM
pany and more than 90 per cent
OF the workers were ANXIOUS 10
DO their American duty and
asked whether the government
could RESTRAIN these >aboteurS."
THERE was another telegram
10 Mr. Knox. Secretary az
War Sumson and J. Edgar
Hoover signed w II wilson
saying
II have n son in navy last
heard from At Pearl Harbor. No
word since japanese attack. Son
and myself employed in Rich
wood being fired upon fror
ambush with rifles. Deman
protection a. American citizens
engaged in production, national
defense"
Another telegram. signed
Redwood IoEgcrs and Lum-
bermen> Union addressed 10
+ MeSSrS Knox StmSon. Hoover
and Senator Tom Connally OF
Texas. said
Representing more than 90
per cent Of employees Cherry
River Boom and Lumber Com
panN we are engaged I'm produc-
ing national defense material
and are being fircd ON from am
bush with high-powered rifles.
threatened and CoerCed nv Go
organizers and adherents. De-
mand protection i'm our efforts
To cooperate 100 per cent i'm
national defense"
MIR THOMPSON reports that
Al Mr. Hoover replied that
the matter had been referred 10
the attorney general and that
Captain Adkins L. s. y. tele-
4 phoncd from Washington. re-
queSting details.
He adds that in addition 70
the Redwood boy. unaccounted
for AZ Pearl Harbor. another
/ Redwood boy has been reported
killed in the attack there.
Mr. Thompson has son in
/ the service. ,.
He says the state government
agencies have passed the buck.
caused delays and shown SYM
/ pathy for the Go and that
--nn4I- alta+-~laA++44es l..4+4s--+ 4---aiteil-
the governor appeal for concilia-
/ ton on arbitration
-. 4