L.V. Bassett Asks Governor to Send Troops to Rocky Mount, July 17, 1922

Appeal Made to State Governor

Raleigh, N.C., July 17—L.V. Bassett, representing the city of Rocky Mount, arrived here early today, prepared, he said, to urge Governor Morrison to send troops to Rocky Mount to maintain order. He said the situation in connection with the shopmen’s strike at the Atlantic Coast Line shops there continues threatening, although no serious disorders had been reported to him since early yesterday, when a number of men guarding the shops were kidnapped and carried out of town by a crowd of strike sympathizers. Two of the guards were said to have been severely beaten.

Mr. Bassett said he saw several men, alleged to have been strike pickets, leading an old man named Gray, an employe of the Emerson shops, away from the yards early this morning. He said railroad officials told him that two other men had been prevented by pickets from working in the shops during the night.

“I consider the situation at Rocky Mount exceedingly grave,” said Mr. Bassett. “I believe a very serious tragedy will occur if troops are not sent there to maintain order,” he added.

Nine of Guards Found

Mr. Bassett said railroad officials told him early today that the number of guards kidnapped yesterday was 15 instead of 13. One of the guards, who is said to have been severely flogged, is in a Wilson hospital suffering from a broken jaw bone, according to Mr. Bassett. Nine of the guards have been accounted for, Mr. Bassett said railroad officials told him.

From the front page Adjutant General J. Van B. Metts arrived in Raleigh from Morehead City early this morning to confer with Governor Morrison regarding the dispatch of troops to Rocky Mount. The mayor of Rocky Mount and the sheriffs of Nash and Edgecombe counties appealed to Governor Morrison last night to send troops there to maintain order.

Governor Morrison instructed these officials to submit their request in writing and immediately ordered General Van Metts to report at Raleigh. The Governor had not arrived at his office at 10 o’clock this morning.

From the front page of The Charlotte News, July 17, 1922