The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-04-13
Proclamation From Governor Geary.
HARRISBURG, April 7, 1871


Pcan,yiemia ss:
10 the name and by the authority
Of tho Common wealth Of PENNSYLVANIA
| John w. Gcary, Governor of the
said Commonwealth,
a PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, The recent suspension OF
work by tho miners in the antracitc
coal region Of the State, and the SUBJ
sequcnt imposition by the Transporting
companies of probbitory ratcs, have
cntaled great and manifest evils upon
miners, operators, can.umers, manu-
lacturcrs, and others; aud whereas
all efforts of the Executive aud the
friends Of law and social order have
failed to harmonize the conflicting in
tcrcsts, and bring about IN amicahlc
adjustment OF the existing difficulties
and whereas, the recent investigation
before committee Of the Senate ha.
failed to provide any remedy for exist
ing evils, or to accomplish auy,hing
towards the desired adjustment, or tC
give promise Of relief to a suffering
people and whereas, rs usual in sucl
cases, the unnatural, aggravated. and
unlawful conflict between labor and
capital has resulted, as | am advised
in breaches Of the peace and the de
struc'ion Of life and property ut the
city Of Scranton and other places il
the mining regions Of that vicinity
and assuming the shape of mob vio.
lercc on the part Of the miners and
others, further thrcnteus the lives and
property of law.abiding citizens. aud
calls for prompt aud efficient rene
dies
Now, therefore, I, John W. Gcnry
Governor Of the said Commonwealth
by virtue Of the power and authority
vested in me by the Constitution aud
laws, do hereby proclaim and declare
FIRST, That it is unlawful for any
person or association Of persons by vi
olencc, threats. or other coercivC
means to prevent any laborers or min
ers from working WHEN they please
aud alike unlawful by such violence
or threats to deter or prevent tho own
crs or operat ors of mues from employ
ing whomsoever they may choose IL
employ. and at such wages as may b'
agreed upon between the employer
and the persons employed.
Second, That il is unlawful for any
railroad or other transportation com
pany, in snbvcrsion Of the objects o
its creation, to impose rates of freigh
or transportation intended to be ano
which are substantially prohibitory, o
to combine with others TO effect til
same ends, and thus create, prolong
or aggravate existing evils.
Third, That it is Unlawful at al
times and under all circumstances 70
persons to assemble in u riotous or tn
mnltuous manner, and under grievan
ces, either actual or pretended, to com
nit breaches Of the peace, destroy pro
perty. or endanger or take the lives O
others, and thus subvert and nullif
the laws. aud subject. tho good nam
Of the State to humiliation aud re
proach.
| Fourth, That reliable information
having been received that these Ri
bus assemblaGes are too large and pow
erfal TO be dispersed or suppressed b
the local ant horities Of Scranton. whic
have called on mo for aid, / have in
voked the military power Of tho Stat
to suppress the riots and mobs a
Scranton, and wherever else 10 til
Commonwealth such unlawful assem-
assemblages may be found aud upde
the colyiction that the time has com
for o complete settlement for the pres
cnt anc future Of the uulawful con
plications and difficulties under wnic
tho people now suffer, l have also il
voked the civil power Of the Stat
against the railroad and other trans
portation companies for the misus
fsnd abuse Of their corporate rights an
privileges, aud will enforce all Il,
remedies auihorizod by the laws 4
the iaud, and call upon ell militar
organizations TO hold themselves !
readiness to support the civil author
tiles whenever thorounto required. an
lupou III civil magistrates, oficsrs, an
oitissns Y shsis several spheres
7. I.'.I |I " y. M. ~ I.