Bloody Williamson by Paul M. Angle Read Free Book Online Page A

must be brought to task for his iniquities, and the offender of small wealth must be brought to task also.” But the sharpest reproof of all came from President Harding. In the course of an address to Congress the President referred to Herrin as “a shocking crime” that shamed and horrified the country,” as “butchery … wrought in madness,” and asked for legislation extending the jurisdiction of the federal courts so that such “barbarity” could be punished.
    The President’s address was read before Congress on August 18. On the following day he received a telegram from John H. Camlin, president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, informing him that despite appearances the people of Illinois were determined that the mine rioters should be apprehended and punished, and that his own organization had taken steps to see that there would be an effective prosecution. “There is, of course, a conscience in Illinois which will not tolerate such a disgraceful thing,” Harding replied. “It will be very pleasing to me and reassuring to the whole country to know that this conscience is finding expression.”
    In his telegram Camlin referred to a letter that his office had sent to each of the state’s 102 chambers of commerce two days earlier. In this communication the Illinois Chamber declared that neither State’s Attorney Duty of Williamson County nor Attorney General Edward J. Brundage had adequate funds for prosecuting the murderers, yet they were the only officials in the state who could take action. Contributions totaling at least twenty-five thousand dollars were requested, and a quota was assigned to each local chamber.
    In this emergency the State of Illinois is on trial [the appeal concluded]. Our citizens visiting elsewhere have been compelled to hang their heads in shame. The world is asking us, “What are you going to do about it?” We believe the only possible answer is that the business men of this state willcontribute of their funds to the utmost in order to prove to the world that justice still reigns and human life shall be safe in Illinois.

    Williamson County in Relation to the Principal Cities of Illinois
    On the day this letter was released Judge Hartwell summoned a special grand jury to convene at Marion on Monday, August 28, to investigate the Herrin killings.
    All over the country editors commended the Illinois Chamber for its action, though many wondered why Illinois, one of the wealthiest states in the Union, had to depend on a private organization for the money with which to prosecute murder. (The reason was to be found in a political feud between Brundage and Governor Small. In 1921 Small had vetoed a large part of Brundage’s appropriation, leaving him barely enough money for the routine functions of his office.) Only a few Illinois papers spoke out in opposition, taking the position that it was the duty of the state in its official capacity to enforce the law, and not the concern of a chamber of commerce.
    In some places, however, the action of the state chamber aroused more than theoretical dissent. Months earlier the Illinois Chamber had planned to make a tour of southern Illinois in late September. The schedule called for a half day in Marion, with a barbecue and a visit to a mine. After the massacre, the half day was cut to forty-five minutes. When the state chamber issued its appeal for funds, an officer of the Greater Marion Association asked that the city be omitted altogether. “I do not believe the average business man in Marion,” he informed the state secretary, “is in a proper frame of mind to make a genial host for your party.” The trip was abandoned.
    Much more important was the reaction of the United Mine Workers of Illinois. Two weeks after the state chamber asked for contributions, Frank Farrington, the miners’ district president, and other officers conferred with the union’s lawyer. After the conference Farrington pledged all the resources of the