The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-23
PROMISES TO THE MINERS.
COZ BUCHANAN ASKS THE DEFIANT
MOUNTAIN MEN TO YIELD.

He Prefers That the Convict labor Oues-
tion Shall Bo Dealt with by the Legis-
lature-A Special Session Called Aner .
Conference with tho ENJOYS From the
Miners-They Return to tho Mines and
Peace or Conaict VIII 10 Decided at =
MISS Meeting To-day-Probabiiity That
q Compromise VIII he Effected Uatu
the Law 10 Repenied-Many Dimcuities
in tho Way or Repeal-The Strange
Life OF the Mountaineers Seen By .
SIM Reporter-woird Scenes at the
Midnight Meeting OF the Men Danish.
ment or tho Convicts and tho steps That
Led to N-starvation so Long as the
Stocksde Was FIlled-The Troops SIN
wnriike on tho University Campus.
KNOXVILLE. July 22-At o'clock this after
noon Gov Buchanan, attended BY Attorney.
General Pickle. received the committee OF fvs
appointed by the Coal Creek miners ut. their
meeting last night for conference on the con-
Wet labor and militia trouble. Tho committee
consisted OF A. T. Smith. S. b. Pickering. John
Hardin. Joshua T. Thomas. and Samuel D.
Moore. They brought with them several Of the
best lawyers In Knoxville. The conference was
held In the Governors room at the Palace
Hotel. md lasted until $3.50 o'clock. When tho
miners came out there were pleasant smiles on
their faces. which had been most sombre whom
they went in. They refused at first to talk OF
tho Interview because 1t was not complete.
Finally they were induced TO tell the sub.
stance Of what happened and 1t seems strange
that they should feel 80 we'll satisfied.
The Governor also gave his version. which
differed slightly from that OF the miners who
seemed to think the Governor had been most
conciiatory. The Governor says the miners
went over their grievances. He was firm with
them. telling them that the law must DO
obeyed. and that tho convicts must be per.
mittsd to return at once. II tho miners
would agree to that and behave themselves,
he would bring their case strongly before tho
Legislature ut q special session which he
would call. He declined to Interfere with tho
corporations employing the convicts.
Tho miners say that he talked good deal
about the honor Of the State. and urged them
to let their case go for while and that all
would be righted at the special session OF the
LEGISLATURE. The stories agreo In the main.
and in the further fact that the Governor
agreed to send the militia home tomorrow
night II the convicts are allowed to return.
The committee asked for delay OF one day In
which to lay the matter before the miners.
They had no authority to act finally. So tho
Conference adjourned. and the committee at
once toleCraphed tho result TO Coal Creek,
following their telegram themselves on the
train this evening.
THE CALL FOR THE MASS MEETING
Tho word Is now travelling through oil tho
mountain districts, and tomorrow about
noon mass meeting will be held. There 10
little doubt but that the whole affair will no
peaceably adjusted until the Legislature has
had chance to act upon the law. Tho
Governor has given notice for the filling OF
vacancies in the Legislature preparatory to
calling special session.
The miners have BY no means ceased war.
like PREPARATIONS. Thirty mountnineers came
down to Knoxville today and bought VIM
chester rifles. good many miners were
around the Coal Creek station today waiting
for the telegram from the committee. All
were armed with guns. But their talk was far
more peaceable than It was yesterday. whoa
they were threatening to lynch Gov. buchanan
should he appear in Coal Creek. They
made no attempt to act as censors OF press
de.patches as they did earlier In tho trouble.
On Monday night they guarded the telegraph
wires and read all dispatches that the 10.
porters sent As some OF them could scarcely
read 1t would have been amusing had there
been fewer revolvers in sight. When those
censors said. guess you'd better cut that
out" the guess was enforced with look in the
direction Of the long guns lenning against the
writing table.
or course. Knoxville did nothing to-day but
look at the Briceville affair from all its stand.
points. Two things were fingered upon most
The lesser was the chance Col. Sewer missed
on Monday to make brave stand and get
killed and immortalized for his valor. The
greater topic was Gov. Buchansns action.
Some lawyers think he had no right under the
State Constitution 10 call out the militia without
the sanction Of tho Legislature. Some people
insist that he was not even called upon to send
troops TO Briceville by the Sheriff. who alone
had the right to demand troops. All agree
that he has got himself in o sad mess through
not being able TO stand upon tho exalted
ground he at first took.
SOME SIGNING FOR BATTLE.
A more distressed and disgusted set OF
militia than those Of the State OF Tennessee.
now assembled in force on the university
grounds. has never been seen. These young
men are signing for battle. Col. Sewer signs
loudest Of all. And tho worst pill they have
been called upon ito swallow is the poor
child" way In which the miners speak OF them.
Tho only militia who have no longing to get to
the wild mountains where the miners live are
the III who wore surrendered and who res
treated on Monday. Thoy say tho miners
would make mince meat OF all the militia In
the State Of Tennessee. and they ought to
know.
The Jail here is packed with convicts. aAd
about fifty are Quartered In vacant store
room. These loan from the second-story win
dows for air. and On uglier set OF faces could
not be framed in q window. Thousands of
people pass along to get q view OF
them. They seem to enjoy this. laugh.
ing and making faces all the time. The
fact that the Governor Ia to call
q special session OF the Legislature has NO
special significance to the mining trouble.
The last Legislature, q Farmers Alliance
body. 40 bunGled public business and so neg.
lected IL that the special session was deter.
mined upon long ago to repair some OF the
more serious Of these errors In his message
TO the reassembled Legislature Gov. Buchanan
will recommend the ending OF leased convict
labor in Tennessee and the building OF penl.
Tertiary. Tho finances OF tho State arc so en-
tangled that It is feared the western and middle
Tennessee members will not permit the pass