The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], November 24, 1919, Image 1

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
VOLUME xlix
i
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1919
14 PAGES
NUMBER 202
Bogalusa Quiet After
Pitched Battle With
Three Leaders Killed
White Labor Leaders Parade Negro President of Local
Timber Workers Down Main Thoroughfare,
Armed With Shotguns, and in Attempt
to Arrest, Result Is Fatal
By Ai»«ftiat«d Prew
Bogalusa, La., November 23.—Bogalusa is quiet today fol
lowing the pitched battle on yesterday in which three white
labor leaders were killed by special policemen and two white
men wounded in a fight over the apprehension of Sol Dakus,
negro, president of the local timber workers.
The American Legion post was organized here last night and members by
acclamation elected Jules Leblanc, former army captain and the only special
officer who was wounded yesterday, as commander.
Three men are dead: Lura E. Williams, president of the allied trades
council and editor of the Free Press, a local labor paper; J. P. Bouchillon,
union man, and Thomas Gaines, union carpenter.
two men are m hospital from gunshot
And pistol wounds. They are S. J.
O’Rourke, secretary of the Allied Trades
Council', and Jules Leblanc, owner of a
garage, a apecial policeman and a for- |
*ier captain in the United States infan- !
try.
NEGRO CAUSES TROUBLE
Sol Dakus, alleged negro agitator and '
head of the negro union, against whom ;
p. warrant for arrest has been sworn, is ■■
At large.
Tames Williams, brother of the slain
Isbor leader, is under arrest on the ,
charge of shooting with intent to'kill.
Twelve members of the Self Preserve- j
r ISon and Loyalty league, an organization
| fcrf 200 tax paying citizens, who are non- |
Union members and non-employes of the ]
Creat Southern Lumber company, which
operates several plants here, are facing
A federal charge in New Orieans of un
lawfully wearing the United States uni
form, the affidavits having been sworn
nut by William L. Donnells, general or
ganizer of the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners, following the
deportation of Ed O’Brien, a union man,
last Wednesday for his alleged remarks
approving the killing of former soldiers
At Centralia, Wash., during an Armis
tice Day parade.
A warrant is ip the hands of the poi’ioe
Chief here for the arrest of O’Brien if
Ac returns to Bogalusa.
The Great Southern Lumber company
{sawmill ,» practically closed down
Awaiting the arrival of a cylinder head
gtrr a giant engine before resuming full
Operation, and is guarded by heavily
Armed patrols day and night, with a
machine gun and wire entanglements
defense.
Reports were received hefe that Wil
■am I* Donnels has telegraphed Attor
ney General Palmer for an investiga-.
tion of the battle of yesterday, and that
Ponnela says that his life has been
ftieratened here.
The outbreak* of yesterday, according
to B. B. Talley, city attorney, Was the
culmination of trouble which has been
brewing for more than a year and devel
oped into armed hostilities upon the pa
rading of the negro labor leader down
the main street of the city by Bouchillon
and O’Rourke, both armed with sbot
guns.
I Dakus, the negro, was wanted bv the
\ golice on the charge of being a d anger
/ eus and suspicious character.
PARADE DOWN STREET
When the parade of the negro in'day
light down Columbia street began,
Bouchillon and O’Rourke, protecting him,
T. A. Magee, chief of police, was noti
fied. Warrants were issued for the ar
rest of Bouchillon and O'Rourke on the
charge of disturbing the peace, and be
cause trouble was almost certain, 45 of
the special officers who had been sworn
tn to serve as policemen in emergency,
fcut without pay, were dispatched to
make the arrest.
The parade proceeded to the garage of
Xum Williams, unfon headquarters. W.
C. Magee of the regular police force, and
Jules T *blanc left the main body of of
ficers at the gate to the lot on which
the garage stood 150 feet back from the
gtreet, and started to serve the war
rants.
Thomas Gainee, according to W. C.
Ulagee, appeared near the garage and
gras ordered to drop his gun.
"Come and get it,” was Gaines’ retort,
the officer Bald, as the former stepped
Inside the garage and warned the men
Inside.
[,«m Williams, armed, then stepped
*ut of his office. Magee said he ordered
(Continued «u Page Twu)
LEAGUE ID ENFORCE
PEACE INSISTS THAT
J1A1Y BE RATIFIED
Bays Defeat of Ratification
Has Been Received by the
Country With Surprise
and Indignation
By Associated Press
New York, November 23.—Settlement
ct differences over the peace treaty to
permit its ratification as soon as pos
sible after the Senate reconvenes is
urged in a statement issued today by
the Eeague to Enforce Peace, at the
conclusion of a special meeting of the
executive committee.
Former President William H. Taft,
president of the league. presided.
Among others at the meeting were Ed
ward A. Fllene, Henry W. Taft, Herbert
S. Houston, Oscar S. Straus and Her
bert C. Hoover. The leagues state
l ment follows:
' “The defeat of ratification has been
received by the country with surprise
and indignation. The people want
peace. They want peace and they want
a league of nations to guard the peace.
Whose name it hears. which party
brand it wears, they care not at all.
They longed for and expected ratifica
tion before adjournment of the Senate.
“Shall the small minority who oppose
a league of nations in any form de
feat ratification? Shall fifteen sena
tors decide where America shall stand
In this world crisis? Eighty senators
have shown by their votes that they
favor the great principle of tho league
of nations. The Cite of the treaty rests
In their hands. They have the votes.
They have the power. Theirs la the
responsibility. They must get together.
“The failure to ratify the peace
treaty has encouraged social unrest
both at home and abroad. Europe
must have supplies or it will face
starvation and anarchy this winter.
Our farmers, cotton planters, livestock
, raisers and manufacturers have large
] ~ surplus pjr" 'uction which they can
‘ market^- .' in Europe. The rates of
exchat. j ready demonstrate the col
lapso at W national credits. These
ICHtliHt an Page Two)
1
ms NEXT MOVE
IS NOT SO EASY
By Associated Press
Venice, Saturday, November 22.—
A Serbian division, 12,000 strong;,
and composed of picked men, has
been concentrated at Spalato, on the
Dalmatian coast, ready to oppose
(•abriele D’Annoneio, if he ap
proaches that city, according; to In
formation reaching Rear Admiral
Andrews, commander of the Araer
i«4in forces in the Adriatic on boiVd
the armored cruiser Pittsburg.
The American commander is in
wireless rommamcation with the
entire Dalmatian coast and is able
to receive an answer to a message
at any point wiithin flee minutes.
Since tie Kara expedition of D’An
nuneiOy according to the reports,
tiqiiillity has prevailed every
where.
SUIT IKE OFFICIALS
Secretary Glass Forecasts a
Further Reduction in the
Monthly Certificates
Over October Figures
By AMWtated Proas
WMhington, November S3.—Sec
retary Glams tonight forecast a fnr
tkf-v rednetlbn 'la monthly certifi
cate* of the treasury over October
record and announced that on De
cember 1 the semi-monthly lssnes
of treasury certificates of Indebt
edness and tax certificates would
be resumed.
While rates on call money have been
soaring, and the situation in financial |
centers has been the occasion of some i
concern, treasury officials point with
satisfaction to the reduction of gov
ernment securities held by banking in
stitutions during the last five months.
In that period. Mr. Glass’ figures
showed, war bonds and indebtedness
certificates held by financial houses
dropped $825,406,000. Meanwhile, also,
the nation's debt fell to $26,210,905,000,
or a net reduction of $385,000,000 from
its highest mark at the end of -Au
gust.
The reduction in the country's debt
resulted largely from the increase in
treasury receipts through the sales of
war materials. Decrease in current ex
penditures also aided materially.
The new series of indebtedness cer
tificates to be isseued will bear date
of December 1. and be payable on Feb
ruary 16. 1920. The interest rate will
be 4^ per cent. Tax certificates’to be
issued at the same lime at the same
interest rate will be payable March
15, 1920, or on the date on which a
tax installment is due.
The total amount at indebtedness
certificates outstanding on the same
date amounted to $1,634,671,000. Tax
certificates outstanding on the same
date amounted to $1,827,586,000. Of this
amount, however. $746,869,500 is pay
able on I>ecember 15. from income and
excess profits installments due on that
date.
Tssues of tax certificates have been
"notably successful" in the past, Mr.
Glass said In explanation of the new
issue. This series witl prove large tax
payers convenient means of handling
the installment due in March, he point
ed out, as well as affording the gov
ernment with funds to "pay its way*
through the period when current re
ceipts usually fall. - !
Consider Long-Time
European Credits
By fnm
Washington, November 23.—Acting
upon recommendation of the Interna
tional Trade conference, recently held
at Atlantic City, the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States announced
today the organisation of a national’
committee on European finance, to study
definite plans for supplying the neces
sary long time credits for Europe’s pur
chases in the United States. Harry A.
Wheeler of Chicago is chairman, and
among members are Henry P. Davison,
Homer U. Ferguson, Myron T. Herrick,
Charles E. Hughes, Alfred E. Marling,
W. F. Morgan, William C. Redfleld,
Charles H. Sabin, Charles M. Schwab,
Alfred H. Smith. William Howard Taft
and James S. Alexander.
Jury (jnaDie to Agree
in Mobile Shooting Case
Mobile. Naremkct M.—(Special.)
A HjBlprr ntfppi lo the eooe of
% Marloh I- Thomas. Sr., femerlr of
I Stw Orleaaa, rkrrfrt with the
! klllloK of Waller^ H. Haahlaa,
promloeit amkrati wheo the
lory Saaday afteimeea reported
that they eoald met akree. The
Jury waa oat 11 hoefe aat stood
11 for eoarletfea wtthoat the «
trear peaalty aat oae for aot
guilty hy reaaoa of taaaalty.
Thoaaaa shot Haahlaa wheo the
latter treat to Thoarto* hoac to
a to* htai fro at earalag ao load that
'he roaaed the aelahhorhooA. Thoar
ea plead taaaalty. The trial, which
waa seaeaftoaal. looted fire day*.
\
Public: “When Are We Going to Nail This One-Up, Uncle?”
Many Burned Beyond Recognition |
In Fire Wh ich Destroyed Dance Hall
By A«M«iat«d Pratt
Ville Platte, La-, November 23.—Twenty-eight persons, mostly women and girls, perished in
a burning building here last night when 300 attending a dance became panic stricken and
stampeded down a narrow stairway and crushed to death or burned. Fifteen are known to
have been dangerously injured. Fourteen were burned to death, their features were unrecog
nizable and identification was by remnants of clothing or by jewelry.
Work of removing the debris of the Deville building, in which the dancers from Evangeline parish were caught,
is still going on and the death toll will not be Known for some time.
It is reported that several mothers, chaperoning their daughters, perished, but saved 20 babies which were in n
nursery room of the dance hall. While those in attendance were fighting like beasts on the one exit, a narrow
stairway to the side street, and relatives from the street were attempting to fight their way up to rescue the mem
bers of their family, mothers seized babies and hurled them over the heads of the struggling mass of men, women
1 1*11 . sL a. _ a. a. _1 1 C_1 1
Some who were snatched from the
fighting heap at the foot of the stairs
died in the hands of men carrying them
high over the heads of the crowd in the
streets.
OIL STOVE EXPLODES
The fire originated in the rear of
Martin's grocery store in one corner of
the Deville building on the lower floor
when an oil stove exploded. While a
packed moving picture theatre was run
ning in the same buildinge a cool head
ed leader instructed the crowd to de
part orderly. None of these was in
jured.
The flames spread so rapidly that
soon the entire lower floor of the build
ing was ablaze before warning was
given the dancers. The three hundred
persons in the dance hall which occu
pied the entire second story of the
building were seised with panic and
rushed pell mell to the only door which
led to the stairway down the side.
The younger and weaker were
trampled down by the surging mob
which screamed and fought. In the
fight on the stairway those who came
from the street dragged down many
as they snatched at the fleeing who had
succeeded in climbing above others.
Several who did not rush‘“into the
stairway jam escaped ‘through the
windows to a roof over the street and
made their way to safety by climbing
down the posts or leaping into the arms
of eager men who had jammed the
street below.
Calls for fire fighting equipment an$
for doctors and nurses wvere sent to
neighboring towns. People rushed
from the country to assist and some
were in time to aid the firemen who
were handicapped by the tob-janamed
street. The Deville building and a
barber shop were destroyed before the
flames were under control.
The Opelousas. Louisiana, motor fire
truck, arrived after a run of 45 minutes
over a rough country road of 18 miles.
At JSunice, La., a fire apparatus and
200 men were on a special train when
they were stopped by the news that
the fire had been checked.
NURSES BUST,
Surgeons and nurses from Eunice,
Bunkie and other towns began arriv
ing last night in automobiles and have
been at work every since. The hotels*
some private residences, have been
turned into small hospitals under the
direction of local and visiting doctors.
Red Cross women from several miles
around have arrived and are at work
under the direction of Miss Lucille Con
way.
The dance was attended by towns
[ people and many of the rural residents.
All night people wandered the streets
I in search of relatives who attended
! the dance and many mothers found
their children alive today.
At a garage where the bodies of the
■dead were assemfbled mothers with
screams or moans Identified their
daughters by a small piece of clothing,
a necklace or a finger ring.
REACHES ITALIAN
njBUCSATURDAY
With One Thousand Men
He Is Greeted at Zara
by Ring of Church
Bells
■y AmkIsM P<w»
ltome, Saturday. November J2.—
How that detail* of Gabriele IVAn
nauaio’a reeem* exploit on I he Dal
matian coast are being permitted
publication la the Italian press, af
ter the lapse of nearly a week,
some (trophic accounts of the prog
ress of the InsurKeat poet’s ndven
tsre are eomlaie to light. One nar
rative by an eyewitness who ac
companied D’Annunslo on the ex
pedition to Zara describes the
events of the voyage and arrival
picturesquely.
D'Annunzio, says the account, at the
head of a band of 1000 men, set out
from Flume at midnight on November
13. the torpedo boat destroyer Nullo
leading the vessels of the little fleet.
At about 8:30 o'clock Friday morn
ing, the narrator relates, as D’Annun
zio and his staff stood on the deck of
the Nullo. eagerly scanning the Dal
matian coast for a first glimpse ox
Zara, a destroyer was observed ap
proaching the Nullo. The craft was
identified as the destroyer Indomito.
Her commander, speaking through a
magaphone. said:
‘‘filii Excellency. Admiral Millo, asks
whither you are going.”
"I. Gabriele D'Annunzio. commander
of the city of Flume, am going to
2ara ” was the thundered resnonse.
“ALL RIGHT,” THE ECHO
“All righft” quickly came the reply.
At the earn* time the sailore on the
destroyer Indomito waved their arms
and caps, shouting:
“Viva Italy! Viva D'Annunzio.”
The news soon spread in Zara that
a convoy Hying the flag of Fiume was
approaching the port. All the church
bells started ringing and the popula
tion flocked into the streets.
Although nobody knew what Admiral
Millo's course would be, nobody seeX"**
to have the leant fear of the possibility
ICmttaeel m F«*c T»»'
TREATY FAILURE IS
uMnnAi \fimnnv”
SAYS HUN LEADER
“Give Americans Opportu
nity to Study Document,”
and “Trusts They Would
Avail Themselves of It”
I
By Associated Pres* ^
Berlin, Saturday, November 22.—Rejec
tion by the United States of the treaty of
Versailles would be a “tremendous moral
victory for the cause of universal pegpee '
in the opinion of Herr Schuccking, Ger
man pacifist leader and a member of the
German peace delegation. Speaking to the
Associated Pres j today, Herr Schuecking
expressed the teliet that delay In ratifi
cation would “give Americans a further
opportunity to study the document,” add
ing that he “trusted they would avail
themselves of it"
Nerr Schuecking declared that the
treaty, as it now stands, is “merely an
instrument of one-sided imperialistic poli
tics and directly the opposite of President
Wilson’s peace, which would be dictated
by righteousness.”
“Take, for Instance,” he said, “the pro
vision v/hich gives England’s dependen
cies one vote each. The United States,
with a solitary vote would trail far be
hind English interests in the league, and
would probably be doomed to become her
hand-maiden.'”
CHINESE SITUATION
ENTERS INTO PEACE
TREATY PROBLEM
Adoption of Shantung Res
ervation by Senate Causes
Apprehension in Offi
cial Tokio
By Ausciatad Prm
Tokio. Wednesday. November 1*.
The adoption of the Shantung res
ervation by the United Staten Sen
ate canned aome apprehension here
aa to hoa, If It were embodied la
the German pence treaty. It would
affect the Chinese situation. The
foreign office has declined to com
ment on the question. It has re
iterated, however. Its Intention to
endeavor to open negotiations with
• China on the Shantung question aa
soon aa the general ratification of
the treaty la announced la Parts.
Representative Japanese are express
ing the fear that the recurring criUcIpm
of "everything Japanese does,” as they
put it, is likely to create the Impres
sion that there is some basis for the
idea of deliberate unfriendliness. eThey
say that any economic advantages
which Japan obtains in Shantung are
duplicated by other countries in other
parts of China.
At a dinner given in honor of Viscount
(Continued an Inge Two)
GIST OF THE NEWS
GBNEKAL
Many dancers are burned to death in Louisiana dance hall.
Expected government will play its hand in strike today.
Hun leader pleased at failure of treaty.
Bogalusa quiet after shooting of labor leaders.
Mexico’s answer to final warning due this week.
Farmers urge operation of nitrate plant at Muscle shoals.
LOCAL
Mrs. S. D. Weakley dies at her home in Birmingham.
Publishers of the south to convene in Birmingham today.
Revival of Industry due after settlement of labor troubles.
cv.ittv spending million and a half on roada
a
Government to Play
Hand in Great Coal
Strike at Early Hour
Both Operators and Miners Resting on Their Last Say and
Awaiting Move of Administration Force, While
Country Hangs in Balance of a Coal Famine
By AMMlattd frtu _ .
Washington, November 23.—The intervention of Fuel Admin
istrator Garfield tomorrow in the lagging negotiations, of bitu
minous operators and miners of the central competitive field
was expected tonight to bring to a clir^ax the long-drawn out
conflict and clear the way for speedy settlement of the strike
situation, which has put the country on the verge of a coal
famine.
Although the day brought no new developments here, as mine owners and
workers awaited action by the administration tomorrow, it was evident that
both sides recognized that a settlement could not long be delayed.
No formal meetings of ai.y sort were held; Thomas T. Brewster, chairman
of the operators, and John L. Lewis, acting president of the United Mine
Workers, remained here, but many operators spent the week-end out of the
city. I Reports received by operators from
Crew of 18 Perish ,
in Lake Superior
By Associated Press
San It Ste. Marie, Mich., November
23.—•Hitch teen petNoius comprising
♦he ere Tea of the ■♦earner Myron, are
believed tonight to have been added
to tW victim* of Lake Superior'*
fury of tke pant two week*. Caught
In a ♦errifUr northwester, the Myron
foundeded n mils* and a half off
White F'iah point la*t night and
early today wink In four fathom*
of water.
The I'nited State* subchaser 138
alao waa neouring the bay tonight
for powalble survivor*. The beach
in covered with lumber, the Myron'*
cargo, but not a body had come
ashore up to late today. The R*le j
continued tonight and there waa lit
tle hope that pawning stramcm could
have plicked up the lifeboat*, which.
It I* believed, were swamped In the
mountatnou* nea*.
Message Has Been Received
by Mexican Embassy and
Was Being Decoded
Yesterday
f , By AiMAfated Pr«M
WMbingtoa. November 23.t—The
anNwer of the Meiiean governmeot
to the fthnrp note demanding the
immediate release of William O.
Jenklna, American conanlar agent
at Puebla, probably will be deliv
ered to the state department to
morrow.
A Ions dispatch bearing on the Jen
kins case. It was learned tonight, has
been received at the Mexican embassy
and waa being decoded today tor pre
sentation to the government.
While authoritative information as
to the attitude of the Mexican govern
ment was lacking, all indications here
pointed to a technical refusal to or
der the release, of Jenkins. Since ills
arrest, it was learned.- additional
charges against the American official
have been formulated, based upon al
leged evidence that he actively assisted
persons in rebelling against the Car
ranza government. Payment of a large
sum of money to the rebels which was
used by them to purchase munitions
and acting In collusion with rebel lead
ers are said to be specific "counts"
in the new indictments.
What was regarded as a hint of Mex
ico’s position in the Jenkins case, was
noted In an article published by the
Mexican newspaper Excelsior, a copy of
which reached Washington today. The
paper stated specifically that Jenkins
second afrest was based upon charges
that he actively assisted the rebels.
The “certain sum of money” ,which
Jenkins is accused of delivering to
the rebels, consisted of, the 300 pesos
he was compelled to pay as ransom
to Frederico Cordoba, the rebel, whose
forces kidnaped him.
The collusion charge is la,sed upon
the fact that Jenkins agreedTo pay the
rebel leader the ransom in order to
save his life and gain his liberty.
Contrary to custom in Mexican
courts, the proceedings in the Jenkins
case on the occasion of his second ar
rest were marked with the utmost se
crecy. Jenkins was summoned to court
where he was placed under arrest. Hit
plea for bail was refused by Judge
Gonzales Franco, "on account of the
gravity of the offense." in every par
ticular the proceedings were secret and
court attaches were warned that they
would be dismissed and otherwise pun
ished if any facts relating to the case
reached the public.
Officials here regard the nature of
the new charges- against Jepklns as
an effort on the part of the Mexi
can government to take the case out
of the hands of the Puebla state au
thorities as both charges are of crimes
against the federal government.
uenerai tnairumi mcci
to Consider Hines’ Offer
i
By AmmIiM PrtM
Cleveland, Hntalwr 70.—Ap
praiimttelr MM* geaeral chalraaea
of the four railroad brolherhooda.
taplictn. flremea, trainmen aad
eondnetora will aaret hero' tomor
row moral ax la reapenae to a rail
from the four chief exeratlrra of
the orgaalaatlona. to eoaolder the
offer of Walker D. Hlnee. director
general of rallroada. xrantla* time
aatd ooe-half for overtime oa the
alow freight aad a ataadard rale
for erewa held away from home
teraalaala heyoad a given time.
A atrthe vote wUI be taken, aad
the qneatlon of afflllatloa with a
political labor party, or approving
the Plamb plaa for handling the
rallroada la aot to be preaeated
to the convention, aceoruing to W.
C. I.ee, preotdeat of the brother
, hood of railroad trainmen.
Whatever aetloa the eoaveatloa
takea oa the director general’a of
fer of time aad a half overtime la
alow aervlee will have ao bearing
oa the brolherhooda’ requeat for a
gcaeral wage laeraaae, Mr. tee
■aid.
1
middle western states snowed mat uv*
coal scarcity already had reached the
famine state and that the cold wcathci
had brought suffering and hardship.
Several operators today declared their
willingness to accept whatever proposi
tion the government might offer. With tin
entire country aioused to the need of re
suming the production of coal on a nor
mal basis, neither the miners nor the
owners of the properties, they said, could
afford to turn a deaf ear to recommenda
tions of the government.
As the situation now stands as regard
wage advances ,the operators have offered
un increase of IX, per cent and the miners
have agreed to accept the 31 cents pro
posed by Secretary Wilson. The possibility
of a compromise between, those tigures.
part of the increase to be paid by the
public in higher prices and some to come
out of the margin of the mining com
panics, was suggested In some circlv .
and it was sail this would be placed be
fore both sides tomorrow.
MYSTERIOUS TROOP MOV K
By Associated Press
Richmond, V'a., November 33. Kive corn*
panics <$1 Virginia National Guard troops
were sent to \\ iso county, a bituminous *
coal center today. No explanation of con
ditions which would require the US**
troops was given, the guard officers hav
ing been pledged to secrecy and Adjutant
General Stern and Governor Davis refus
ing to give out any information on the
subject.
Some weeks ago it was stated Governor
Davis failed to send troops to Wis
county on request of Att.ornev General
Palmer. Slate Labor Commissioner
Hirschborg visited the region at the time,
but declined to make a statement on his
return to Richmond, referring inquirers
to Governor Davis.
TROUBLE LOOMS LARUE
By Associfltoi'. i'nir.!
Richmond, Va., November 33. Go erm r y
Westmoreland Davis l it tonight for St
Charles, Dee county. Virginia, ' tier.* he
will tain per*om.l charge of the T/JO mlli
tlatucu sent from various state pome,
this morning. A long distance tvlephon*
message toni^it f.fom fit. Charles. a h-‘
tie mining « a aj> neat* me Kentucky Ah ',
said that the town resembles an hMk'I
camp. Radical miners are reported > •
have mounted high-powered guns on vw
hillside and to have opened fire on m i
attempting to enter shafts which Mu .;
been closed down since the coal strike
! order was issued several weeks ago.
Threats also have been made, according
to long distance advices, that in jvcm
the miners persist in resuming work the
mine entrances will be blown up. This
latter threat y* said to nave caused tin
appeal to Governor Davis for assistance
S't. Charles is on the Kentucky-Virgin1.*
state line. The coal shafts are said to ox
tend from Virginia through into Kentucky
and indications tonight were that tint
Kentucky authorities would be asked to
assist in restoring order, since the extsu:
t.ff the shafts permitted the men to escape
from one state into the other.
It was stated tonight by those in close
touch with Governor Davis that some * •
the miners claimed the trouble resulted
from refusal of certain operator* to per
mit certain strikers to re-enter.
OUTLOOK BRIGHTER
By Arsocfated Press
Charleston. W. Va.. November 23. - j
Improved conditions in the-non-union {
coal fields of Southwest Virginia and
prospects of additional mints opening
< i on tin ur«l on Page Niue.l
Number Is Approximately
Double Pre-War Force,
and Recommended by
Maj.-Gen. Barnett
By AMOcUted Prut
Washington. November 25— A perma
nent enlisted strength of :'7.48T men for
the marine corps, approximately double
the pre-war force, is recommended by
Major General Barnett, commandant, in
his annua! report.
Early action by Congress Is urgent, as
delay would mean loss of rank for tem
porary officers who would be retained.
Opportunity to qualify for permanent
commissions should be given all preeent
temporary officere eligible for transfer,
the report said, adding the recommenda
tion that such commissions be made pro
bationary for one year.
Attributing much of the success of the
marine corps in the war to tha system of
dradwing its Commissioned personnel
from the ranks, the commandant said
the "highest efficiency" would be served
by adherence to this policy, which at
tracts the highest class of recruits. Gen
eral Barnett Recommended that the pree
ent two, three and four-year enlistment
terms be made permanent.
The report declared the taking of Blanc
Mont ridge during the war by the Sec
and division, to which the marine bri
gade was attached, was an “achievement
whose brilliancy rivals the record or tne
marines in Bellau wood."
Four members of the corps received
the medal of honor, four the distin
guished service medal, and 349 the dis
tinguished service cross, 137 were award
ed the French Croix de Guerre and IS
the French Legion of Honor. Total ma
rine corps casualties In Franoe, the re
port showed, were 11,BBC with K14 killed.
The demonstrated value of aircraft in
handling guerillas has Isd the marine
brigade commanders In both Haiti and
Santo Domingo, tha report eald, to ask
for additional pianos and personnel.