HARDING WILL NOT SEND FEDERAL TROOPS TO WEST VIRGINIA & KENTUCKY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 16, 1921, President Warren G. Harding, after conferring with Secretary of War John W. Weeks*, decided not to send Federal troops to West Virginia and Kentucky to assist in quelling lawlessness during a coal miner's strike.
The War Secretary had been informed by Major General Reed, commander of the 5th corps stationed in the area, that "the situation was growing calmer."
The President had been asked to send troops by Senator Howard Sutherland** (R-West Virginia) who was under pressure from constituents.
The New York Tribune reported that officials blamed West Virginia, which had no national guard, for not being able to deal on its own with "terrorism and lawlessness."
*John W. Weeks (1860-1926) served as Secretary of War 1921-1925.
**Howard Sutherland (1865-1950) was born in Kirkwood, Missouri & educated at George Washington University. HS served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1913-1917 & U.S. Senate 1917-1923.
SOURCE
"U.S. Will Not Send Troops to West Virginia," The New York Tribune, May 17, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
