POLICE V. MINERS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1932, Page 5

POLICE V. MINERS

SEVERAL KILLER

CLASH WITH WAGE STRIKERS.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

NEW YORK, August 24. The “New York' Times” correspondent at Benton, Illinois, says:—

Several are reported to have been killed, and many injured, when police officers checked the advance guard of an army ,of striking coal miners, who are estimated to number between ten and twenty-five thousand, and who are invading Franklin County, in an attempt to “persuade” some 1200 miners there who aro continuing to work (despite their wages being cut from six dollars ten cents "per day to five dollars) to join their movement. Automobile caravans of strikers have, converged on Franklin County throughout the day from the neighbouring communities. The Traffic Police attempted unsuccessfully to re-route the caravans in a different direction. Three hundred Police * officers and specially deputised sheriffs, who are armed with revolvers rifles, and machine guns, are now prepared ' to resist an invasion and to protect the working miners. The situation admittedly is a serious one, with the early mobilisation of the National Guard and the declaration of martial law believed to be likely. The strikers, among whom are many women, have declared themselves unarmed. However, they are in a hitter mood. When they were warned that they would not be permitted to enter the country, they sent back word, “We are coming on! You can’t kill all of us!”

It Is believed (hat the main body have encamped over night, preparatory to starting picketing when the miners* start work on Thursday morning.