The morning news., 1891-09-23

OIlEQQdA 70 btl0 Il i4lOA
The people Of Tennessee cannot have pro-
found respect for their legislature ana IL Is
| doubtful il the members of it have as nlgn
opinion Of themselves as they had OeIore
they met in the extra session OF twenty
days which ended at noon Monday. Inc
governor called the legislature toge'nel 10
settle the issues the miners IN the o'lce-
! villa ooal mines raised relative TO the
working OF convicts in the mines But
n didn't settle them. 1t did a great
dsaI Of talking, but it left the issues just
where it found them. t virtually
admitted that it couldn't settle them, and
il told the governor to do the best ne could
TO preserve the peace Of the state. The
members, of course proved themselves
fully equal to the task of drawing their per
| diem pay. No member OF legislature
| ever fails in that respect
The people regard the extra session as
failure; and it was failure that is likely to
have serious results. When the trouble at
the Briceville mines reached a point at
which bloodshed seemed 60 be inevitable
compromise was effected. The miners
agreed to do nothing toward driv-
ing the convicts out Of the
mines before Sept. "a, provided the
governor would call the legislature together
and submit to it the question whether con-
vict labor should be permitted to come into
competition with free labor In the Brice-
vile mines That was satisfactory to the
governor. The military companies, which
had been called into active service, returned
to their homes and the legislature was con-
vened.
But the Legislature did nothing. The
armistice between the miners and the state
authorities ends tomorrow, aud the miners
are in very ugly mood. They are threat
ening to release all the convicts employed
in the mines. II they should attempt to do
that there would be some lives lost, because
the governor. under the existing law, is
bound to give the lessees Of the convictS all
the protection they may need.
1t is true the issues presented to the legis-
lature were difficult ones to deal with, but
it was its duty to deal with them. 1t alone
has the power to say in what
be modified, if modification
OF it is regarded advisable. And that
modification is thought to be advisable
there is no doubt. The prevailing senti-
ment of the state is that free miners ought
not to be compelled to compete with con-
vict miners, and that also appeared to be
the feeling in the legislature. But there
was no one in the legislature. nor outside of
it, apparently, possessed of sufficient ability
to suggest a satisfactory way out of the
difficulty.
1t is pretty safe to predict trouble for the
governor. And it would not be surprising
II most Of the military organizations of the
state should be called into active service te-
fore the end of this month. II they are the
governor will be little more aggressive
than when the militia confronted the pro-
testing miners few weeks ago. Then he
was so anxious to avoid the spilling of blood
that be presented yielding. rather than a
bold, front. He was not in the least timid,
however. He recognized that public sem
timent was with the miners, and he was
willing that the legislature should have a
chance to provide remedy for their griev-
ances. Now, however, the legislature,
having failed TO provide remedy, he will
enforce the law with all the power at his
command. The miners may decide to do
nothing raGh, but to await the assembling
of the legislature in regular session and
make another effort to get the convicts out
OF the mines. The indications are, however,
that they will not depend any further upon
the legislature. but will attempt to get rid
of the convicts by force.