The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-24
THE PoCAaoNrAs STRIKE.
Some Facts and Flgures Elucidntipr tho
Situation,

PULASKI Va, Aug. s2.-tSpccisll-I have prop.
cry refraned from writing anything about the
strike among the miners At this pl acc for fear OF
adding fuel to the flame already too hot.
with all respect to enterprsing reporters of en-.
terpfising papers 1t can he truly said that much
and e. aue 20 premature agitation Of vexed
has now reached point, however, when ap;ts.
tion or at least exposition, will best gu bserve the
interests OF all concerned
10 give resume of tho facts leading up to thu
present status, the Southwest Virginia Improve
m m hn company postcd notice to its employees
on July 2ltn last, stating In substance that the
company felt impelled through combiuatjon of
circumstances TO reduce the wages paid the men.
largement OF the car from TN cubic feet to 9p
cubic feet, the enlarged car to be loaded at the
same sam price as the smaller car formerly in use
me changc In size OF car was justified upon the
grounds that the Flat Top region, with whose
operations the Southwest Virginia improvement u
Company was in direct competition, were using
car the same size az that proposed by the
Southwest Virginia Improvement Company.
ms seemed fair enou h, and after a miners
to see that certain minor points were settled. and
TINS Sommittee reported back to the miners that
sumcd and continued for week. when the men
went out again, discharged their former com.
m 1,,u charging the members thereof with con-
spiracy with the company, and appointing an
oth'r committee, which has not as vet been ahl,
to approach settlement OF the controversy.
Inc present committee claim for the miuers
that the manager, mir. g. 3. +. Burnley acted In
bad faith with them, and that certain poipts or
concessions con agreed upon were not adhered to,
and hence the second going ont.
On the other hand Manager Burnley claims
that he has acted in perfect good faith. and that
ne 70 willing and able to demonstrate the truth
Here lie radical difference OF opinion. which
can only be settled by arbitration and the sooner
TINS conclusion Is reached by both parties the
oet.er Ior the miners, the company and tho town
Unfortunately for ready solution OF the points
AT ISSUE there seems to be a feeling among the
miners that Manager Burnley Is inclined to be
rannical arbitrary and inconsiderate, when, as
matter OF fact, he 10 no more than rigid dis
cipiinarian, perhaps too much so for free
to Judge and should not enter into this pari
controversy, as this Is busir cse matter nfrect
ing great many interests and should be viewed
repeat, that arbitration is now the only means
OF settlement and 1t SCENE that the citizens O,
Pocahontas= that the merchants and proper ty
ences between these kindred elements. cspitsl
and labor; otherwise there may be trouble. slncc
the situation demands settlement and
titon Of those Narrowing @ay see scenes re es
acted recently in other part Of the country. On,
; ale has been heretofore free from such dircr.
enccs and II we establish a precedent OF srbI.
trston in the inception we may through tbis
means avert many collisions In the future
word about Pocahontas. No better evidence
OF the law abiding character of the cItizens of
town than is afforded in the present tryinn IN.
sta Ice: "Poca." has had some hard thi1ea said
about her, but she has redeemed herself, Tor dur.
bath-lke. quiet, ans the men seem to vent their
feelings In reasoning together instead of inter,.
pcrancc
The sergeant informed ME to-day that he bad
never known the town more law abiding and
that especially at night was everything quiet the
mcnsccmins to rcaliZc that they were under
cong critical test and being resolved to quiet
themselves like men rather than rioters.
ZAP