The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-11
Mob Rule IN West Virginia

The frequent labor disturbances along
the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road in West Virginia should attract the
prompt and energetic attention of the au-
thorities of that State. 1t would appear
from occurrences running through the last
six months that the mob rules there with
despotic hand. asserting its authority over
the constituted laws of the State, the rights
Of corporations and all the industrial inter-
ests of that section. When the Labor
Leagues organized in the mining districts,
and controlled by foreigners-who construe
the liberty of this country to mean license
to crafty every impulse and subordi-
nate all laws to individual behests-wish
to accomplish an object, if it is necessary
to their purpose, they deliberately take pos
session of the railroad, in defiance of the
authorities, and travel to the point they de-
sire to reach, without paying or offering to
pay the fare chargedto the travelling public.
1t was the case when several months ago
they took it upon themselves to anticipate
the law and hanga negro man, for an Of
fence that hanging was too good for MIN.
1t was in this way they essayed to consti-
tute themselves the regulators Of society,
and proceeded to Hinton and whipped some
twenty or thirty colored men. because of a
difference between a white youth and a
colored man. 1t was in this very way that
the miners from the Nuttallsburg works,
proceeded to the Fire Creek Works and
compelled the employees to leave their
work land in this way the same high-handed
proceedings were threatened at Quinnemont
last week. The proprietors of these two
properties have invested between $500, 000,-
and 100000, and employ from 300 to
500 hands. The arrangements with their
employees were perfectly satisfactory to
those directly interested, but because the
Nuttallburg miners thought differently, they
deliberately proceeded to one of he'respec-
tive seats of operations and ordered the sus-
pension ofall work, with the intimated alter
native of violence, unless the order was
obeyed. The miners, many of them ne
groes and not admitted to the League, know
very well the consequence of resisting the
demands of this mob's despotism, and with
no sufficient organization or authority to
stand by them, they reluctantly abandon
their work, and cause the suspension OF one of
these important industries. We have no
data at hand to justify calculation as to
the loss to the companies operating the
furnace and coking industries at Quinne-
mont, and the coal and coking works at
Fire Creek. or that entailed upon the Rail-
road company. 1t is no inconsiderable
amount daily and imposes hardships upon
the miners who have thus been forced to
yield to the order of an organized, lawless
force, too powerful to be resisted, which
they are not able to bear, as nearly all OF
them have families to support.
But this loss is comparatively nothing
when the higher interests involved are
brought under consideration. The idea that
an organized mob should with impunity as
sert unchallenged authority in one OF the
States of the Union, trample upon its laws
and contemptuously disregard the constl-
tuted powers of Commonwealth, is
monstrons to think Of So far as we have
heard, no demonstration toarrest these high
handed proceedings has been made by the
State authorities. The Governor seems OBJ
livious that the Commonwealth he presides
over has laws to enforce, a dignity to vindi-
cate, and authority that should be respected.
The mob, at will, takes possession OF the
greatest wealth producing section OF his
State, and subordinates vested and individ-
ual rights to its behests, without protest
or even a word of expostulation. Capital is
at its mercy labor covers before it and
there is no one sufficiently impressed with
the obligation the oath Of office imposes, to
see that the laws designed to protect labor
and capital are enforced.
The rule of the mob in the industrial
districts of West Virginia, and the impu-
nifty with which all of its despotic DEGREES
are enforced, is becoming serious matter
for the consideration of the authorities Of
that State. 1t not only affects West Vir-
ginia, in her industrialprogress and develop
ment, but involves her reputation as one of
the sisterhood of States composing the ma
ton. If the mob is to rule with despoti c
authority, in defiance of the restraints of
society and the power of the Common
wealth, and the Governor tamely submits
to the degradation, capital had better I'M
derstand it, so that it may either organize
for its own protection, or go where the en-
foroement of the laws is regarded as a
paramount duty with the officers of the vi
cinage.
Gov. Matthews has plain duty before
him, and he cannot escape the responsible
ity it imposes. 1t is his duty to protect
with all the power of the Commonwealth,
and that failing, the power of the Fed
eral Government constitutionally invoked, |
every dollar of capital invested in his |
State and every laborer's rights. 1t ishis
duty to eXterminate the mob, at every
hazard, and at any cost, and assert the au-
shority and supremacy of law and the dig
1ity OF the Commonwealth, let the conse-
luences be what they may. He has no other
alternative, consistent with his own self-re-
;pect and the duties he owes to society and
20 the Commonwealth of which he is the
chief Executive officer. There is not the
Ihadow of an excuse for the lawless rule of
he mob, which assumes to regulate crimi-
lal, civil and industrial laws, in defiance of
he constituted authority of the State. There
re now two important industries suspended.I
m the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio
abroad, employing a large number of men,
" order of the mob, constituted of
1uttallsburg miners, as we learn. 1t was |.
lot because the miners and the proprie-
ors at these suspended works were not
perating tremendously, but for the reason
hat the Nuttallsburg miners wanted things
'orked differently. They had nothing to do
ractically with the other miners and in
ustries, but determined to have affairs OPP '
rated as they wanted them OF force the
lspension of work, throwing out OF en- 4
loyment large number of hands and
lusing to be idle not far from 81, 900, 900. c
Let Gov. Matthews make his appearance S
,fcxr L.