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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday June 30, 1921
Mingo County – Governor Orders Army to Enforce Martial Law on Union Miners
From The West Virginian of June 28, 1921:
CHARLESTON, June 28.-Governor E. F. Morgan by proclamation here today reaffirmed his declaration of martial law in Mingo county and commanded the assessor to enroll all persons liable under the law for military duty.
He also ordered the sheriff to draft 130 men or to accept 130 volunteers who are to be mustered into the service of the state for 60 days to enforce all orders promulgated by the Governor.
Governor Morgan in his proclamation recited that “a state of war, insurrection and riot” still exists in Mingo county and that the judge of the Circuit court, the sheriff and the prosecuting attorney have declared they are unable to control such “insurrection and riot” and have further represented to the Governor that there is “grave and imminent danger of greater and more serious trouble in that county.” The Governor pointed out that West Virginia is without an organized militia to enforce its law and the legislative act providing for the organization of a national guard which was passed last April 28 is not yet in effect. Because of this the Governor calls for active duty 130 men of the enrolled militia of county “to execute and enforce laws of West Virginia, the proclamation of May 19-21 and the present proclamation.”
Governor Morgan directed that the men accepted by the sheriff for military duty shall be organized into two companies of 65 men each. Command is placed in Major Thomas Davis, acting adjutant general, who is directed to complete the organization by having the men themselves elect their own company officers.
Governor Morgan in his first proclamation of martial law placed its enforcement in the hands of the state police and civil authorities of Mingo county. A number of persons were arrested under the terms of the proclamation and their cases were taken to the supreme court of appeals. Decision in the case of A. B. Lavender [A. D. Lavinder], organizer for the United Mine Workers of America, was handed down last week the court deciding that the prisoner should be released as there was no military occupation of that county.
The proclamation made public today is designed to meet the situation by creating a military force in that county.
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[Emphasis added.]
From The West Virginian of June 29, 1921:
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote Mother Jones Princeton WV Speech Aug 15, 1920,
-Steel Speeches, p227
https://books.google.com/books?id=vI-xAAAAIAAJ
The West Virginian
(Fairmont, West Virginia)
-June 28, 1921
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072054/1921-06-28/ed-1/seq-1/
-June 29, 1921
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072054/1921-06-29/ed-1/seq-1/
See also:
Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday May 24, 1921
Mingo County, West Virginia – Martial Law Used Against Union Miners
-UMW Organizer A. D. Lavinder Held Incommunicado
Tag: Mingo County Coal Miners Strike of 1920-1922
https://weneverforget.org/tag/mingo-county-coal-miners-strike-of-1920-1922/
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Workers Song – Dropkick Murphys