The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-15
The Mob in West Virginia.

LUG uiucES MOD IN west virginia Is
again at work, and threatens to suspend the
operations In the coal mines in portions of
that State. The alleged cause OF this OUT
break in the Kanawha Valley and New
River region is that the owner of the mines
at Hawks Nest pays his men only thirty
eight cents per ton for mining, while all other
operators are paying fifty cents. The real
facts are that the miners can make better
wages at thirty eight cents per ton at
Hawks Nest than they can at fifty cents at
he other mines, because OF the location OF
| the mines and the character of the COAL
The difference Is only nom inal but sufficien:
to answer as pretext for the outbreak OF
the lawless spirit Of the organized mob
which has already done incalculable harm
to the industrial interests OF that section
and inflicted stain upon the dignity Of that
State. To arrest the operations at Hawks
Nest, delegation Of miners took possession
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and
moved to Hawks Nest, refusing to pay fare,
and after consultation, influenced number
Of the miners to refuse to work for less than
flfty-five cents ton, and interfered with
others who did not consent to this arrange
ment.
Mr.. Huntington, President Of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad, telegraphed to Gov.
Mathews for the Intervention Of his author
Ity to arrest the lawless proceedings and
protect the valuable interests which have
been put in jeopardy. Gov. Mathews tele.
graphed from New York, as We understand,
for the volunteer company at Kanawha G.
H., and the one at Lewisburg. to hold them
selves In readiness to move to the seat OF the
disturbance. The Kanawha company pro-
ceeded to Hawks Nest on Monday last, and
at last accounts were awaiting further or
ders. 1t is stated that several companies
along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad are
en- route for the Kanawha Valley by way OF
Wheeling and the Ohio River. 1t is the pur-
pose, we understand, to arrest and punish
the ring leaders, and thus put check to the
disgraceful acts which have operated so
harmfully upon personal rights and to the
States interest.
This Is a movement in the right direction.
So long as there was disposition shown to
shirk the responsibility of enforcing laws
and protecting vested rights, the mob was
encouraged In its reckless and lawless pro-
ceedings. Now that the first step has been
taken to assert the majesty Of the law, and
| to deal sternly with its violators, we hope
there will be no halt until the ring leaders
have been brought to justice. It would be well
enough, too, for Gev. Mathews to change the
base of his operations, aud locate himself at
the capital of the State, II not at the scene
of the disturbance, instead Of in New York.
His first duty is to West Virginia. especially
in an important crisis like that which now
confronts him. The experience OF Pennsyl-
vania with this class Of men, furnishes SUI
f1cient evidence that the work he has to do
| will prove to be no child's play, and that it
will require not only all of his sagacity and
judgment, but all of his nerve to vindcate
the dignity of the Commonwealth over
which he presldes as the Chief Executive
Officer.
Since writing the above, we learn that four
companies of volunteers are on the ground
and that number Of the leading men Ia the
miners movement have been arrested. The
disposition Is to deal promptly and energet-
ically with the matter, and give the rioters
to understand that the laws will be enforced
at every hazard. Gov. Mathews has returned
and is giving the direction OF affairs his per-
sOnal attention We take Measure In max.
ing this statement, as there are vast Interests
depending upon the stern enforcement of
the laws in that section.