The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-06-06
THE KANAwHA KUMPUS.

The briel dispatch printed in the kEG-
IsTER Yesterday morning IN regard TO
the strike of coal miners in the hanswhs
Valley, created considerable Of q sensa-
ton about the city, and straightwsy ru-
mors were set aAost that the State mill
tia had been or most certainly would be
ordered to the scene of disturbance. Al
though the dispatch describing the action
of the strikers closed by assuring the
public that all was now quiet, yet there
was feeling that trouble might be
ahead. Ever since the extensive strikes OF
last Summer and more particularly since
the communistic demonstrations In CHI
csgo and st. Louis this Spring, there has
been an uneasy feeling in the pulic mind
a feeling that the Summer would not pass
without trouble Hence even improba-
BILE rumors yesterday readily found be-
levers.
Up to this writing We hsye no further
news from ksnawhs; nor, in view Of the
history OF this strike so far
do we see any reason to
expect news of startling nature. In
a conversation with Governor MATHEWS
last evening, who reached home during
the day, he informed us that he had receiv-
ed no dispatch whatever from the Kama
VIVA upon the subject of the strike, and
that he was quite sure that no serious in
fraction OF the law had occurred
requiring his intervention, or
he would have been promptly informed
oft.
AS we gather the facts in connection
with this affair they are about as follows:
, Some two or three weeks ago, Messrs.
MASON u HoGE, coal operators on the
the Kanawha some distance above
Charleston, discharged two or three men
about their mines for cause, whereupon
some of the other miners demanded
their reinstatement upon the alternative
Of q general strike. The proprietors felt
that this was matter in which they
could not afford TO be dictated To-, rs it
involved the whole question of whether
they should hereafter have any say in
the management of their own business,
or whether it should be usurped
by their employees. Therefore, they
wisely informed the miners that, having
discharged the recusants for cause they
could not consent TO their reinstatement,
even to avoid such an undesirable state
of affairs ss a strike of the workmen
would bring about. Thereupon, the men
ceased work, and have been idle since
idle, so far rs useful work is concerned,
bat not idle IS TO works of devllment.
Not satisfied with having caused the
stoppago Of the works at which they had
been employed, and thus cutting of the
opportunity TO honestly earn living for
themselves and Families, they busted
themselves by melting trouble among
the miners at work in other banks.
From the meagre news printed yesterday
morning, we are left to infer that they
have been only too successful in
their efforts in this direction. What the
next step will be We cannot inter; but it
does not seem likely that rioting and
lawless disorder will necessarily follow,
unless the mine bosses shall import other
hands and attempt to put them to work.
If they shall conclude TO do this, the
strong arm Of the law backed by the
military power may be called upon to
protect the new employees in their I'M
doubted right TO labor.