The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-06-26
Governor Mathews ON Labor
TROUBLES.

following suecinct account Of the
strikes Of last summer and what
caused them, andalso what he thinks
in regard 10 q repetition Of them
this year.
1.-THE railroad riots began at Mar
tinsburg, The occasion Of them was
the reduction by the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company Of the wages
of its employees The general depres-
sion and stagnation Of business-in
a word the hard times-had genera
ted an unhealthy temper and feeling
Of uneasiness amongst the Working,
men. Certain persons with political
aspirations had endeavored 10 secure
the support ofthe Workingmen by
inducing them to believe that there
was an antagonism behind capital
and labor, and indirectly at least en-
courage them to violence. Instead
of informing the laborers that the
hard times were the result in great
measure Of unwise federal legislation
and instructing them MS to their
rights and duties as citizens, these
politicians pondered to their preju-
dices, excited, them and are largely
responsible for their lawless conduct,
"Soon after the riot began at Mar
tinsburg the local authorities inform
ed me that they were powerless and
unable TO make arrests and preserve
the peace. l sent them the small
force Of volunteer militia under my
control and was soon informed that
they were unable to cope with the
rioters. ! saw that the riot would
continue and that much valuable
properly and some lives would be de-
stroyed unless | asked for the aid of
federal soldiers and Idids so. AS soon
as the federal troops appeared the
rioters dispersed, Some Of them re-
turned to Baltimore, and others, as |
am informed, went to Pittsburgh and
engaged in the riots which very soon
occurred in those places. The strike
of the railroad employees continued
some time, and troops were kept
along the railroad for some days, but
there was no further violence. Com
paratively few of the railroad men
engaged in the riot. There was no
disturbance at Wheeling. The men
employed in the nail mills glass
works and other manufacturing es-
adjustments here, are industrious,
intelligent and law-abiding. They
understand their rights and seek re-
dress of their grievances through lie
gal methods, and the best feeling pre-.
walls. between the proprietors and
laborers of these establishments. |
have no reason to apprehend labor
troubles in this State during the sum
mer, and | do not know upon what
information the impression that there
will DO trouble is based. l know Of
no communistic organizations in this
State-and from my knowledge OF
the character of the laborcrs employ.
ed in the manufacturing establish
ments here, and ofwhpm see u good
deal, l am confident that they would
not Join such organizations, for they
know that there is no pretext for
their existence in thiscountry,
Should there be any attempts on
the part of Communists or other mis-
guided persons to destroy property or
prevent the executions Of the laws,
as soon as it is demonstrated that
the civil authorities cannot preserve
the peace, enforce the laws and pro-
tect citizens, then a military force
will be used, and under such circum'
stances the promptest and severest
means are not merely the only effect
i've ones, bnt they are the most hui
mane-but as / have said there is
no reason to expect riots during the
summer.
As to the Kanawha troubles at the
mines, l only know what has appear
ed in the papers. Ifthere had been
any serious trouble, i know that l
would have been informed of it.
The workingmen shall be protect.
ed in their rights, When their
wages are low and they are hardly
dealt with by their employees and alb
stain from violence, they will have
the sympathy and assistance of all
right thinking persons. They not
only have the right to labor for such
wages as they are willing to accept,
but they have the right TO cease Ia
boring, to strike-and to induce 9th
ors to do so by persuasion and argu.
u,,,,., and thew WI ha protected in
the exercise other r;;sht and in their
property in the same way and to the
same extent that protection is offer
cd to any other class of citizens
They will only be interfered with
when they disregard the law and the
rights OF others and resort to violence.
The government cannot make, or in.
terfere with, the contracts between
citizens, but it must preserve the
peace and secure to all citizens the
peaceful exercise Of their rights.
Register.
Eight years ago there worked as
udoyfln in tba office of the WVtha.