The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-01

day GoN. flemlnR unueItooh w HNN
capital for the Democratic party out oil
the miners strikes in this state. The
effort was not creditable to the COVER
nor from any point OF view. Indeed,
the less tho mine workers troubles are
dwelt upon in this campaign, tho better
must it be for Gov. Jennings party
Referring TO the Republican state plat
forms declaration in favor Of a law
THAT shall prevent the invasion OF
West Virginia by an armed force such
as that which the Democratic governor
OF West Virginia recently permitted to
invade this state to interfere between
West Virginia miners and employers"
the governor says that the Marmet
company, at whose mines at Raymond
CITY trouble occurred, is composed oil
Ohio Republicans, and he continues:
ON tho LIST Of January, 1891 tile miners IN the
employ OF this corporation struck tOr higher
wages. Their demand was denied, although the
rate OF wages asked for wGs paid at every other
colllery, believe, IN the kanHwhA valley As
result the mines closed down until the follow
Two hundred negroes to take the places Of the
white striking miners. Armed guards TO protect
these negroes were furnished from the eonstltu'
ency OF the Republican owners oil the mine VINO
soni them there paid them, hHd them sworn in
AZ special constAbes. aid put in charge, OF the
sheriff and justice OF the peace and thus the
Raymond City mines were again put III opeth'
ton, and another step III the Republican scheme
OF CoonZIng West Virginia With negro voters
was successfully taken. 1t is expected that
every one Of these two hundred Or more negroes
will east Republican vote this iali.
At considerable greater length the
governor asserts that these negroes
we're brought into the state fourteen
months before the next general election
BY design, so that they might legally
vote in November, '92.
Now, q review OF the facts in the case
must satisfy anybody that Governor
Fleming was in a position to know the
facts, and that in his speech last Satur-
day he did not state them correctly.
Not of the colored miners referred
to camo from beyond the bounds OF
West Virginia. They were simply
taken from Fayette and Kanawha
counties, where they had been working,
into Putnam county.
THE fASlb NAoEs
The history of the Raymond City
troubles reflects anything but credit
upon the Democratic party In Janu-
airy, 1891, the miners employed by the
Marmet company at Raymond City de-
handed an increase Of one-fonrth OF
cent per bushel for mining. The COM
pany refused, and the men struck, 265
men being thrown out OF employment.
The mines were allowed TO lie idle for
nine months before any attempt was
made to start them up. On September
l3, seventy-two armed men from Gin
cinnati arrived at Raymond City, in
command OF Capt Wiseman. The next
day, Monday, these men took possess
sion OF the mines, having been sworn
in by justice Of the peace as special
constables. They we're not in charge OF
the sheriff at any time.
OF the seventy-two men fortystwo
wore the uniform OF the Ohio National
Guard. All we're armed with Win
chesters. They marched from the G. &
o. railroad across the Rsnawha, through
the streets OF Charleston and past the
State Capitol. 10 the K. 4 NJ. station,
where q special train was in waiting to
y convey theln TO Ray City.
The day these guards were sworn in,
ythirty-tour colared miners were brought
to the Marmot works from Coal Valley,
and few white minors we're added,
coming from CRmphell's Creek. They
were all nor-union lninSrs Not enc
came from any state but Wes. Virginia,
30 that tho governors idea oil co!oniz-
ing scheme is not we'll founded. Tha.
the governor must know cliis appears
from the history Of the case.
THE GOVERNOR CALLED ON.
On Monday District President 81. r.
Moran and the local executive commit
tee waited on Governor Fleming, &C.
companiod by their attorneys, Judgc
Ferguson and State Senator Watts. Tho
governor was asked to investigate the
situation Mt Raymond City, and see il
the state laws were not being violated.
In compliance with this request Adju-
tant General 0xley anc Secretary Of
State Ohlsy wero sent 10 the Marmet
mines, and a!ier an inquiry they for
mally reported that the armed men
from Ohio had been sworn in by the
civil officers OF Putnam county, aud
were acting within the law.
An appeal was :hen made by the
miners officials 20 Governor Campbell,
OF Ohio, who sent al officer OF tho Ma
tional Guard to Raymond City to inves-
tigate. In the meantime the guards
had taken the precAut;on to remove
their Ohio uniforms, with one cXcep-
ton. One man was still wearing 1t,
and Governor CampbelPs envoy COM
PEELED him to take it off,
These guards remained ct the mines
through September and October. Then
warrants were sworn out for them on
charges OF carrying concealed werpons
and other ofenses against the state
laws. They had q preliminary hearing
at Winfield, bu! pending the action OF
the grand Jury they all left the state.
The mines have been run by "scab"
labor ever since, and the old miners
were scattered, many Of them being
compelled to go TO Ohio to secure en-
ployment.
Governor Fleming still maintains
that there was no law to prevent armed
and uniformed men from Ohio being
brought into West Virginia to do guard
duty, because they were sworn in as
special constables.
OTHER MINE TROUBLES.
This is not Governor Fleming's only
connection with labor troubles in coal
mines. tthe Montana and MonOngah
mines, in Marion county, union miners
have been supplsnted by others. Gov
ernor Fleming Is a stakeholder in the
Montana Company and director OF
Monongah. Men we're discharged at
Ahnnn ..ai,.sn IL !. u - 49, =. -