Kansas Governor Henry Allen of Topeka writes Adjutant General Charles Martin to instruct him to take whatever means are necessary to operate the coal mines in southeast Kansas with voluntary labor. In November, 1919, coal miners in southeast Kansas went on strike. The Kansas Supreme Court created a receivership to operate the mines pending the end of the strike. This strike had been preceded by a series of strikes and discontentment from the miners surrounding pay and general working conditions afforded by the mining companies. Stating that a strike was a danger to the public, the Governor ordered the Kansas National Guard to protect the coal fields in Cherokee and Crawford counties and arranged for men from surrounding states to work in the mines.