The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-16
CONyEGTs yS. HAHOREFss
The Proposal to Employ C0nyicts fn tssts
Tennessee Mines aikely to CaE,se
Trouble.

The Proposal to Employ C0nyicts fn tgsc
Tennessee Mines aisseIy to Cause
Trouble.
[Cincinnat Commerciall
KNOXVILLE Tenn, Aug. 8, 1S77.-Now
that the labor troubles that have con-
vulsed other sections OF the country
are anieting down and trade is being
resumed, the Indications are that East
Tennessee, which was fortunately
passed by in the railroad strikes, Is
destined to experience calamity be-
side which the former appears trivial
the introduction Of convict labor in the
coal mines OF Anderson county. at what
is known as Coal Greek, about thirty
miles from this city. on the Knoxville.
and Ohio Railroad.
Hitherto the only eonvicts employed
in coal mines in this State have been in
those at Sewanee, which are owned bS~
the lessees OF the penitentlary, but lG IS
now designed to introduce convict labor
at other points, beginning with the
mines Of the Knoxville Iron Company.
at Coal Creek. There are several otheg
companies operating at this point. viz. =
the Black Diamond, Franklin, Ander-
son County Cooperative Coal Company
and Central mines, all Of which would
be seriously affected by such competi-
| ton, and would be forced either to en-
| ploy the same class Of labor or close the
mines altogether, resulting in either
event in the dismissal Of the miners and
the virtual depopulation Of the village,
which is essentially q mining COM
munity.
Last winter the miners employed i'm
all the mines, except one. struck for
higher wages, and that single exception
was the one operated by the Knoxville
Iron Company. The men were working
under @ yearly contract at lower wagssg
than that demanded by their striking
brethren, yet they steadfastly refused
to join them, and for months lab0r8G
on, carrying out the terms Of theiE,
agreement in the letter and Spirit
which was Of immense advantage ana
profit to the Iron Company, which for
several weeks enjoyed a monopoly OF
other companies. It would naturally
be supposed that such conduct on the
part OF its employees would have been
appreciated by the company in ausS-
tion, but at the time Of the expiration OF
the contract, instead Of increasing the
wages Of the miners to that paid by
other companies, the Iron Company r8-
fused to do go, and the men who were So
loyal to their interests were left In the
as best they might.
Three days since Gen. Cheathan1, an
officer Of the Penitentiary, visited the
mines to ascertain the drift OF public.
} sentiment, to which point he was accom-
panied by the sheriff of Anderson
I county. He was treated with the great
est courtesy, and does not appear To
have anticipated any serious trouble
The miners and citizens have prepared
memorial to Gov. Porter, praying
that the convicts be not allowed 90
come, but whether it will prove availiDg
0 remains to be seen.
j The attorney of the miners, J. NJ.
: Ray. Esq, had an interview to-day with
: Major Thomas O'Conner, one Of the les
:, sees, as did also q committee Of their
number, but it was unsatisfactory,
though very cordial, and the COMMITTEES
left on the night train for Nashville to
: urgently demonstrate with Gov. Porter
v and the other lessees against the perpe-
q tration of the grievous wrong.
r The people Of East Tennessee are as
law abiding as those Of any other State,
but they are also as tenacious OF their
rights as any, ana while they will e1-
haust all legal remedies before resisting
oppression, yet they strongly object to
j seeing their villages depopulated and
t made penal stations in order to increase
: the wealth of a favored few at their ex-
> pense.
:, At the mines the excitement is very
;, high, but the recognized leaders are
| cool and sagacious, and it is hoped that
the firm though respectful stand taken
: by the citizens, regardless OF sect or
e party, will cause the authorities to re-
: consider their determination to send the
8 convicts here.